Serving Fun, Fancy, and Delicious Mocktails at Your Event
To some, an anniversary party, wedding, or corporate event without a spirit to sip as they make their rounds simply isn’t appealing: Many folks equate the free flow of adult beverages with fun and letting loose.
However, this definitely isn’t the case for everyone. In fact, there are a number of reasons some guests will pass on alcohol, including religion, health issues, personal convictions, or aversion to the taste. These guests deserve tasty, interesting drink options, too, and, as their host or hostess, it’s up to you to deliver.
To that end, let’s talk about creative ways not only to serve non-alcoholic drinks but to present them, as well.
Have a conversation with your venue. To get started on planning a full bar experience that serves up trendy specialty drinks with or without the alcohol, make sure to discuss your plans with your venue. Their bar staff may have experience mixing up unique and yummy concoctions, and they might even boast a signature mocktail or two. You also should ask if your venue is open to taking recipe suggestions from you in case you have some ideas in mind. If they are, you also can ask friends for recommendations.
Do better than straight soda.
Yes, soda is standard, go-to non-alcoholic fare and the first drink of choice for a dry bar, but for some, it’s also boring. How about a soda station, where your guests can create custom refreshments with a selection of ingredients? You could stock the station with syrups laced with fruit flavors or options like mint, berries, ginger, honey, rosemary, crushed flowers, and other fun and surprising choices to spice up their soda. Also, mixing limes and lemons with Sprite or a similar beverage makes for a tasty limeade.
Making Water Great Again.
If you’re looking to offer fun, light water options, which are great for kids, there are many ways to go about it. Lemonade is always a good idea, but you can also provide water infused with lime, cucumber, or strawberries. Not only do these drinks mix well with dinner, but they also make a great accompaniment to mid-day lunch events or brunches.
Go crazy for kombucha.
You may have heard of kombucha, a fermented and sweetened black or green tea, but did you know it mixes well with cherries, rosemary, lavender, or berries to make a great alcohol-free beverage? Put it on the drink menu at your next event, and delight your guests.
Serve alcohol-free cider.
For teetotalers, cider is a suitable substitute to champagne for making toasts, so why not jazz it up with fruit juices for a flavor kick. Try blackberry, cranberry, or grape juice mixers.
Present a pressed-juice station.
Fun for health nuts, kids, or anyone looking for a refreshing drink, these juices are great ideas to serve at luncheons, showers, or at your garden-style wedding reception. Liven up your juice staples of apple, white grape, and orange with pomegranate juice for an outside-of-the-box option.
Offer herb-infused options.
Mix lavender lemonade with honey, or shake up a ginger-apple mocktail using ginger, lemon slices, ginger beer, and apple juice. Mint, basil, and rosemary can be combined with soda, too. How about a mint julep made from ginger ale, lemon juice, and mint? The choices are many!
Choose the fancy glasses.
This is a big one! One of the joys of having a nice drink is partaking from a beautiful glass, like an elegant tumbler or a champagne flute. Don’t leave your sober guests out when it’s time to toast or have a drink in hand — make sure their glass, like everyone’s, matches the tone of the event.
Have all drinks made at the same bar.
This aligns with the “drink from the same cup” advice offered above and keeps your guests mingling while ensuring those passing on the alcohol don’t stand out.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to liven up a dry bar and make sure all your guests have fun, interesting, and tasty drinks throughout your party.
A final tip: We suggest offering at least three non-alcoholic options at your event. With the many ideas we’ve given you, that shouldn’t be a tough task.