To Your Health! - Five Non-Alcoholic Alternatives to Champagne

In addition to the many fine alcoholic beverages standing by to serve as a festive "toast" to the New Year, there are also equally great non-alcoholic alternatives. A non-alcoholic salute to Auld Lang Syne is something that everyone can share, including children, recovering alcoholics, pregnant women, designated drivers or people who would simply prefer not to "imbibe." Whether you are going to be dining in style, grazing at a buffet spread or just snacking on cheese and crackers at home, here are five exciting and festive possibilities suitable for saying good-bye to the old year and saluting the new:

Ace Pear Cider

Apple cider has long been a classic alternative to champagne but something new has been added - Ace Pear Cider. Brewed by the California Cider Company of Sebastopol, CA, this is 100% pure, local apple juice whose flavor has been enhanced and complemented by the addition of pear essence. It is very pale gold in color with a fine stream of bubbles and is meant to be served in "flute" glasses like champagne.

Eggnog

A traditional milk punch originally brought from Europe, a celebratory holiday bowl of eggnog was a custom eagerly continued by the Colonists. The special unique taste serves as a perfect platform for additions of whiskey, rum or sherry (or all three, as George Washington preferred) but a chilled "nog" also makes a festive addition to any holiday party even when not "spiked" with alcohol. Rather a project to make, non-alcoholic eggnog also comes in several popular commercial venues, including Dean's Regular and 2% Reduced Fat Eggnog.

Seven-Up

This sparkly, crystal clear carbonated beverage was invented by Charles Leiper Griss and debuted in 1929 under the name "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda." It survived the Wall Street Crash of 1929 which occurred a couple weeks later and went on to become one of America's most popular beverages. Theories abound about why this potion came to be known as "7-Up" but one thing is certain - it is universally popular and festive enough to be served in "flute" glasses as a non-alcoholic toast to ring in the New Year.

Vernor's Ginger Ale

There are two varieties of ginger ale - golden (dark colored and strong flavored) and the newer "dry" ginger ale which most of us in this country are more familiar with and which has become a popular "mixer" for alcoholic beverages. Ginger ale doesn't need to be mixed with anything to provide a festive bubbly touch served in flute glasses.

This delightful champagne alternative is bottled under many brand names but Vernors is one of the most famous ... a brand of golden ginger ale aged for four years in oak barrels before bottling and America's first soft drink which originated in 1866 - many New Years ago.

Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice

Welch's Grape Juices began life in the 1860's as the invention of Dr. Thomas Bramwell Welch who dubbed his beverage "Dr. Welch's Unfermented Wine"- a product which was achieved by filtering and bottling fresh grape juice, then boiling the bottles to kill the naturally occurring yeast which would have caused fermentation. The popularity of Welch's Grape Juice was boosted by the Prohibition era. Today, both white and red sparkling juices have been added to the Welch's family of products. They are delicious and provide a bubbly festive touch when served in flute glasses like champagne ... and poured out of bottles which are a lot easier to open!

Here's to Us!

No matter what you celebrate with, hopefully we will all be safe and lifting a glass at midnight on December 31. A Happy and Healthy New Year to you all!

Sources:

Various websites
Long, happy personal experience