It’s a strange fact of history that alcohol has always been associated with celebrations. Ancient Greeks drank wine out of an urn called Krater at gatherings, medieval Anglo-Saxons drank from round-bottomed drinking glasses which you had to empty every time because it could not be set down. Ancient Neolithic settlements brewed alcoholic beverages from barley and oats, cured with meadowsweet, and infused with deadly nightshade, henbane, and hemlock for a hallucinogenic effect.
But even though alcohol has a long history with human civilisation, we’re more aware today of its detriments than ever before. Aside from the long-term damage to your liver, immune system and brain it also impairs your cognitive function while drinking and we’re all aware of how painful a bad hangover can be. For these reasons among others, there’s been an uptick in the number of people choosing to live an alcohol-free lifestyle.
To some, that might seem like losing out on the fun, but with the right drinks, you won’t feel like you’re missing a thing. Here are some cool options to get you through New Year’s Eve sober and smiling.
Lemon Lavender Mocktini
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 ½ tbsp. lavender simple syrup
- ¼ tsp. Grenadine
- 3 dashes bitters
Method:
- Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice, strain and serve in a martini glass.
Mock Winter Sangria
Ingredients:
- 1 pear, diced
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- ¼ cup fresh raspberries
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 2L ginger ale
Method:
- Add all the ingredients except the ginger ale into a large bowl or pitcher and leave in the fridge for 3-4 hours.
- When serving, pour in the ginger ale and serve with ice.
Moscow Mule
Ingredients
- ½ cup ginger beer
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 3 tablespoons club soda
Method
- Mix ingredients in a copper mug ¾ full of crushed ice.
- Stir and garnish with a lime wedge.
Cinnamon Pear Cider
- 4 pears
- 1 apple
- 1 orange
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 6 cups water
Method
- Core, peel and chop all the fruits and add with the spices to a large pot.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for about an hour.
- Blend to a smooth finish, and then strain into glasses. Serve hot or cold.
Cranberry Mockjito
Ingredients
- ½ cup cranberry juice
- ½ cup filtered water
- Fresh mint leaves
- Cranberries to garnish (optional)
Method
- In a shaker, muddle mint leaves and then add in your cranberry juice.
- Shake with ice and then pour into a tall glass.