'Tis the season for having fun at parties! When my sister Sam was pregnant with my niece, I was a freshman in college. We went out to dinner and it was at a popular restaurant in Philly with a fully stocked bar. The problem was that we both couldn't drink. So we asked if they had any alcohol-free cocktails, and sure enough they gave us a list and we were served with this pink raspberry drink in a martini glass and everyone thought we were sipping on a cocktail. They even garnished it with a cute little candy swirl.
Whether you're simply going out to dinner or are at a party and don't want to count how many drinks you're having, mocktail it up! Here are some fun and non-alcoholic cocktails to order at the bar or even make at home instead of the old "Diet Coke" routine.
1. Shirley Temple
Throwing it back to our childhood of maraschino goodness, the Shirley Temple is simple and sweet with no need for booze. You take Sprite, add some grenadine, and top it off with a cherry. Mix it up so all the grenadine goodness is mixed throughout and enjoy!
2. Roy Rodgers
The Roy Rogers is more masculine, but is the same idea as a Shirley Temple. You use Coca-Cola instead of Sprite, which basically makes a higher scale cherry Coke. What's even better is that the Coke looks like whiskey or rum, and everyone will think you're drinking some serious booze. Little do they know that you're actually enjoying sweet sugary goodness.
3. Club Soda and Lime
If you don't want the sugar and just want something fizzy to sip on, club soda with a simple lime wedge is always a great choice. People can even think you're drinking vodka and you just mixed in some seltzer. Add a splash of cranberry juice for a little extra zing.
4. No Tequila Sunrise
Want a light and sweet drink with a punch of pineapple? This drink is a classic take on a tequila sunrise but is completely alcohol-free. All you need is pineapple juice, 7 Up, grenadine, and some maraschino cherries for garnish. If you want the fun layered look, you can pour the grenadine into the drink after the pineapple juice and 7 Up so it settles on the bottom.
5. Cinderella
Who hasn't wanted to be the princess with the glass slipper? The Cinderella mocktail will have you dancing at the ball while being completely sober. All you need is club soda, some grenadine, lemon juice, orange juice, and some pineapple juice. It can give you the sparkle you need while keeping you fully functioning and hangover-free.
6. Mock Champagne
At weddings or big celebrations with lots of people, you usually have champagne and a toast. If you can't consume alcohol or just don't want to, fear not, your champagne glass can still be filled! Fill it with apple juice or ginger ale. You can still enjoy the toast and even taste the bubbles.
7. Anything "Virgin"
With any drink, there's always the "virgin" way of ordering it. Ordering a drink "virgin" just means minus the alcohol. Choose your favorite beverage of choice and just order it without the booze.
The greatest examples of these are classic cocktails like piña coladas and strawberry daiquiris. Simply order a piña colada or a daiquiri virgin-style and no one will be able to tell the difference, as they look exactly the same.
Ordering those fun and fabulous drinks with the little umbrella or a cherry in them is always fun to do and if you're not drinking for health or personal reasons, that's perfectly fine! Drink those non-alcoholic cocktails with pride knowing you'll be enjoying the evening and able to wake up the next morning without feeling the aftermath of alcohol. Put your own spin and get creative with these mocktails with different mixes and flavors.