Have a Virgin New Year With These Great Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Heather Fowler
Not everybody wants to get drunk on New Year's Eve. Anyone throwing a gathering or running any sort of celebration over the holidays should encourage revelers to choose designated drivers to make sure all your guests make it home safe. But just because someone is responsible enough to stay sober for the night doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to have delicious drinks to help them celebrate! These are some great non-alcoholic cocktail ideas to reward them!

1. Non Alcoholic Holiday Wassail - You can't have Christmas without Wassail!

1 gallon apple cider
1 large can unsweetened pineapple juice
3/4 cup tea, black or herbal
In a cheesecloth pouch:
1 tbsp. whole cloves
1 tbsp. whole allspice
2 sticks cinnamon

A crock pot makes this an easy beverage to prepare for a crowd. Simmer slowly for up to 6 hours. If it evaporates too quickly, add water.

2. Nada Colada - a tropical treat without the buzz!

2 cups pineapple juice
1/3 cup cream of coconut
1 ½ tsp. rum extract
½ cup crushed ice

Combine ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
Garnish with pineapple slice and add a sugar cane swizzle stick, if desired.

3. Fuzzless Navel - the non-alcoholic version of the classic drink. Bound to be somebody's favorite!

2 oz peach nectar
6 oz orange juice

Pour peach nectar and orange juice into a chilled glass filled with ice cubes. Stir well and garnish with a slice of orange.

4. Virgin Nog - Most nog you buy in the store is non-alcoholic, but the sugar adds a little something extra.

1/2 cup eggnog
2 tbsp sugar

Combine the eggnog and sugar in a blender. Blend at medium speed, slowly adding 3 cups of crushed ice. Blend until smooth and frosty. Pour into a parfait glass, and garnish with almond slivers and a dusting of nutmeg.

5. Kill the Cold Smoothie - a great drink that can help you shake those winter colds!

1 slice Ginger
1 cup (hot) Water
1 cl Lemon

Take a one-inch slice of ginger and juice one-quarter of a lemon, and add both to hot water. Add cardamom if desired.

6. Apple Cider Punch - Nobody can resist warm apple cider in the wintertime!

4 qt Apple Cider
3 sticks Cinnamon
6 oz (frozen) Orange Juice
6 whole Allspice
6 whole Clove
6 oz (frozen) Lemonade
1 cup (Packed) Brown Sugar
1 tsp (ground) Nutmeg

If you use the whole all spice and cloves, tie them in cheesecloth. Heat the mixture. Stir occasionally.

7. Cranberry Punch - a holiday staple!

1 1/2 cups Sugar
4 cups Cranberry Juice
4 cups Pineapple Juice
1 tbsp Almond Extract
2 qt Ginger Ale

Combine first four ingredients. Stir until sugar is dissolved, chill. Then add ginger ale just before serving. Add ice ring to keep punch cold.

8. Fruity Virgin - a delicious citrusy treat!

2 oz Grapefruit Juice
2 oz Mandarin Juice
2 oz Lemonade

Shake juices and strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Add lemonade, garnish with a slice of Ugli fruit, add straws and serve.

9. Virgin Mary

dash of salt and pepper
dash TABASCO SAUCE ®
dash Worcestershire sauce
4 oz. Tomato juice

In a glass filled with ice, add tomato juice. Add a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, salt and pepper. Garnish with a celery stalk.

10. Shirley Temple - the perennial mocktail favorite!

4 to 6 oz. Ginger Ale
1 oz. grenadine
1 oz. lime juice
Maraschino cherry
Orange slice

Pour ingredients over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with cherry and orange slice.

~

And don't forget to provide water and plain juices for anyone who wants to avoid drinking, or who wants to alternate alcohol with other beverages!

Resources

Bellaonline.com
Drinkswap.com
Thatsthespirit.com
Drinksmixer.com

Published by Heather Fowler

Heather is a freelance writer specializing in psychology, yoga, mind/body wellness, cat care, Buddhism and meditation, books and reading, and history (especially Women's History), travel, and local events in...  View profile

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