Non-Alcoholic Drink Recipes

So you've set up your bar for non-alcoholic drinks (see my article How to Serve Memorable Non-Alcoholic Drinks), and now you need some non-alcoholic drink recipes. Below I've listed ten basic non-alcoholic drink recipes that should satisfy virtually any guest at your party.

All non-alcoholic drink recipes are for one drink unless otherwise noted.

1. Mock "Champagne"

Into a chilled champagne flute, combine equal parts of club soda and ginger ale. Add a little less than 1 part chilled white grape juice. Serve this non-alcoholic drink immediately with a napkin. For a pink champagne non-alcoholic drink, add a touch of grenadine syrup, or follow the recipe below.

2. Pink "Champagne"

In a champagne glass, combine equal parts of apple cider and cherry-flavored sparkling mineral water. Add slightly less than that amount of cranberry juice. This non-alcoholic drink can be rimmed with sugar or Splenda. Serve immediately with a napkin.

3. Virgin Mimosa

Rim a champagne glass with sugar or Splenda. Fill with equal parts of apple cider and orange juice, and the juice of half of a lemon. Garnish with a twist of lemon or an orange slice. Serve this non-alcoholic drink with a napkin.

4. Virgin Piña Colada

In a blender, combine 2 T. each of coconut cream (or heavy cream or milk) and pineapple juice, a slice of pineapple (diced), and one cup of crushed ice. Blend until frothy and pour into a tall glass. Garnish this non-alcoholic drink with a pineapple slice and a maraschino cherry or fruit kebab. Note: you can also prepare this drink in a shaker. Serve with a straw and a napkin.

5. Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri

Into a blender, add cracked ice, 3 to 3½ ounces frozen strawberries, ½ ounce sweet and sour mix or an ounce of fresh lime juice, a dash of grenadine syrup or sugar to taste. Blend until smooth. Pour this non-alcoholic drink into a chilled daiquiri glass. Garnish with strawberries. Serve with a straw and napkin.

6. Virgin Margarita

First, rim a cocktail glass with a wedge of lime and then kosher salt if desired. (Note: Kosher salt tastes less salty.) Into a blender full of ice cubes, put equal parts of frozen limeade and frozen lemonade concentrate (partially thawed). Fill with ginger ale. Blend until smooth. Garnish this non-alcoholic drink with a lime slice and serve with a straw-stirrer and napkin immediately.

7. Virgin Mary

For this non-alcoholic drink, fill a tall Collins glass with ice. Add 2-3 dashes each of Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. Add a pinch of celery salt and a pinch of pepper. Fill glass with tomato juice and stir. Garnish with a stalk of celery and a lemon slice. Serve with a straw and a napkin.

8. Dolce & Gabbana

A non-alcoholic drink with diet Coke and grenadine syrup - named for its initials DC & G. Other cola drinks include lime and cola or the Roy Rogers, grenadine and regular cola. Garnish with a cherry, then serve with a straw and napkin.

9. Mock Mojito

Crush mint very well in a mortar and pestle. (You can get a mortar and pestle in any kitchen store and even sometimes in a dollar or discount store.) Put 2 T. sugar in the mortar and mix it with the crushed mint to create a paste. This should almost look like pesto in consistency when you're finished. Put the mint-sugar paste in a glass and squeeze the juice of half a lime on top of the paste. Fill with ice and add ginger ale. Stir well. Use lime slices and/or wedges to garnish and serve this non-alcoholic drink with a straw and napkin.

10. Virgin Tequila Sunrise

Fill a tall glass with ice and add orange juice. Pour grenadine over the ice and juice and let it sink to the bottom. As you drink the sunrise, the grenadine will slowly rise to the top of this non-alcoholic drink. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry. Serve with a straw and a napkin.

If you are unfamiliar with any of these non-alcoholic drink recipes, I suggest you try them before the party day and work out any kinks you might have. Also, keep non-alcoholic drink recipe cards at the bar in case you forget what ingredients go into any particular drink.

If you want to be a little fancy, on a whiteboard or a neon message board with a black background write down the non-alcoholic drinks you will be serving. You may have seen such boards used for menu boards outside restaurants and cafés. It makes it easier for the non-drinker to decide what to order. I found boards like these expressly designed for use at a bar or party at this website. They have bar products also. This extra bit of attention will add a nice touch to your bar or party.