Make it a Mocktail Party!
This topic is an interesting choice for my first blog post, considering I make my living serving alcohol, but, the holidays can be a hard time for our sober friends & family. Whether they’re just starting their sober journey or have many years under their belt, the holidays can be a trigger time and it can be tempting to join in on the festivities. Only providing canned soda & sparkling water to your sober friends is like making your cousin sit at the kids table because she’s 30 & single. It’s time to give them some creative options at gatherings and create a space where they don’t feel left out because they’re not drinking alcohol. Also shouting out here to those mommas-to-be, guests who are under 21, or those who have never enjoyed alcohol!
One the easiest and my favorite options is to provide a bubbly bar! If you’re feeling super motivated and have a juicer, fresh is the best way to go. If not the Simply brand or Natalie’s juices are always a hit! Both brands are clean & fresh without any added sugar or unnecessary ingredients. I like to provide a mix of juices & purees. The syrup brand Monin has a green label line that is free from all artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or sweeteners (guava & strawberry rhubarb are up there as two of my faves!). For the bubbly part, get Gruvi!! Gruvi is based in Denver, CO (support local!) and makes an alcohol-free Dry Secco & Sparkling Rose. An 8 pack is equivalent to 3 bottles of wine and only costs $32.50.
A fun & unique option is to have a shrub & syrup spread! Choose 3 or 4 shrubs or syrups alongside sparkling water or club soda, add a fresh cut citrus garnish & voila, mocktail heaven! Some of my favorite holiday flavors are cranberry rosemary shrub, blueberry thyme shrub (see recipe below!!), or spiced cinnamon apple syrup! Simply add ice to a glass, add 1.5 oz of either shrub or syrup, top with sparkling & stir! Serve fresh sliced lemon or orange wheels as garnish. My favorite alcohol free spirits to pair with this are Amass Botanic Spirits or Seedlip Spirits, both made with botanical extracts.
Another easy option to have on hand is Hoplark HopTea, based in Boulder, CO. For beer & tea lovers alike, you don’t have to sacrifice the craft beer experience or flavor! They have figured out a way to brew tea like beer, WITH hops & no added sugars or fermentation! With flavors like Thai Basil & DDDH Citra White tea (yes that’s a triple dry hopped tea!), there is something for the hop lover in everyone!
A very cool way to use non-alcoholic craft spirits is like you would use alcohol, in a spirit forward classic cocktail! Check out Ritual Zero Proof for their Whiskey & Rum alternatives! Flavors of vanilla, stone fruit & sugar floss mimic the oak flavors you typically get from a barrel aged spirit. They are perfect for recreating an old fashioned or hot toddy! Provide your guests with an array of different flavored bitters to choose from (for the holidays I love orange, black walnut & chocolate); maple, honey or simple syrups, and let them play with creating a new & fun flavor profile! Always have those Luxardo cherries & orange peels on hand! No muddling necessary, just add ingredients to a mixing glass, stir & strain over a sphere ice cube.
The best part about this is that these are all great options for your friends who ARE choosing to imbibe this holiday season! I hope this helps to elevate your holiday parties, get your guests involved and I promise, your sober friends will thank you!!
Cold Process Blueberry Thyme Shrub
1.5 cups blueberries
4-6 sprigs of thyme
Zest of a lemon
1.5 cups sugar
1 cup vinegar (recommend apple cider or white wine vinegar)
Muddle berries in a sealable glass container. Add sprigs of thyme & lemon zest. Cover with sugar, stir to combine & seal (if you don’t havea tight fitting lid plastic wrap will work). Store in refrigerator until the juice from the blueberries starts to combine with the sugar to make a syrup. Maceration process can take anywhere from 5-6 hours or a couple of days, depending on how much syrup you want to draw from the fruit. During this time stir once or twice and reseal. Strain through a fine mesh strainer ( to catch all the berries and seeds line with a cheese cloth ) and press to extract as much syrup as possible. Add any leftover undissolved sugar and then whisk in the vinegar. Use a funnel if necessary to pour into a clean bottle or jar. Seal and shake and store in refrigerator for about one week before use. The vinegar will dissolved the remaining sugar and you’ll have a bright and juicy shrub to add to cocktails or mocktails!