New Year’s Mocktails

New Year’s Eve is known for celebrations full of endlessly flowing beverages and binge drinking.  

The tradition of imbibing with a New Year’s toast goes back to ancient Rome where drinking was considered essential to one’s health. 

These days, we know better. Overindulging in alcoholic drinks can be harmful to our bodies, including our immune systems, and can be damaging to our emotional wellness, too. 

If you are looking to cut back this year or skip alcohol all together, there are plenty of options for non-alcoholic beverages that are just as delicious as their alcoholic counterparts.  

Orange Cranberry Mimosa Mocktail

This delicious citrus option offers a gorgeous drink to serve at this year’s festivities.  

Ingredients for 1 Serving:  

• Orange slice  
• Sugar for rim of glass 
• 1 oz freshly squeezed orange juice  
• 2 oz cold, sweetened cranberry juice  
• 2 oz cold, sparkling apple cider 
• Pinch of ground cinnamon  
• Fresh cranberries  
• Rosemary sprig for garnish (optional) 

Sugar the rim of a champagne glass by wetting the rim with the orange slice. Gently dip the rim in white sugar until covered. Add the orange juice, cranberry juice and apple cider to the glass. Stir gently. Top with ground cinnamon and fresh cranberries. Add the rosemary to add an extra wow factor to your drink.   

Recipe adapted from https://www.rhubarbarians.com/cranberry-mimosa-holiday-mocktail/#wprm-recipe-container-4098 

Pomegranate Lime Sour

This combination of pomegranate, lime and mint flavors is the perfect mocktail option to keep guests happy! This recipe makes the mocktail in bulk, making it an easy and quick option to whip up for multiple guests at a time. 

Ingredients for 6 Servings:  

• 2 cups pomegranate juice 
• 1 cup lime juice 
• ½ cup agave syrup  
• 20 mint leaves (plus more for garnishing) 
• Crushed ice  

Combine the pomegranate juice, lime juice, and agave syrup in a large pitcher until well mixed. Add the mint leaves to the mixture and begin crushing. You can use a muddler for this task if you have one handy, the back of a spoon also works fine. This step allows the mint taste to truly be infused in the drink. Fill serving glasses with ice and pour the beverage in accordingly. Add additional mint leaves for garnish.  

Recipe adapted from https://www.cookforyourlife.org/recipes/pomegranate-lime-sour/ 

Sparkling Cranberry Kombucha Mocktail

This mocktail is the perfect refreshing drink to add to your holiday lineup. While being delicious, this drink also adds important probiotics into your system.  

Ingredients for 4 servings:  

• 2 bottles of kombucha of choice (such as original, ginger, cranberry)  
• ½ 100% cranberry juice  
• 1-inch slice of fresh ginger, thinly sliced 
• 1 large sprig of rosemary  
• Fresh cranberries and ginger for garnish  

In a pitcher, muddle the sliced ginger and rosemary together using the end of a wooden spoon or a muddler. Add the cranberry juice and kombucha, stir gently to combine. Pour mixture evenly into glasses, using a strainer to filter out muddled ginger and rosemary. Garnish glasses with fresh cranberries and ginger.  

Recipe adapted from https://therealfooddietitians.com/sparkling-cranberry-kombucha-mocktail/ 

Non-Alcoholic Substitutes

For those who are looking for the taste of the real thing, there are plenty non-alcoholic substitutes that can be used in place of alcoholic basics. These can make yummy drinks by easily being paired with club soda, tonic water, or other simple mixers. 

Ritual Zero Proof  

Ritual is a line of alcohol alternatives that are meant to taste like the original. The company was founded by three friends who are passionate foodies and chefs looking for an alcohol alternative to add to their kitchen. They pursued the mission of making it taste and feel and smell like the real thing. The founders searched the globe for the perfect ingredients and combinations to fulfill their dream. Ritual has four drink alternative options that you can seamlessly add to your non-alcoholic bar toolkit: rum, tequila, whisky, gin.  

AMASS Riverine   

Amass offers a botanical, alcohol-free spirit that makes the perfect drink substitute. Riverine contains classic gin botanicals such as juniper, coriander, and orris root. However, this beverage is not a straight gin substitute, it is a spirit in its own right. Pair this delicious, refreshing spirit with tonic water or seltzer for an easy non-alcoholic New Years beverage. You can also drink it alone over ice for another indulgent option.  

Kin Euphorics 

Kin, cofounded by Bella Hadid, aims to rethink the social ritual of drinking. Rather than damaging our bodies through this ritual, Kin wants to use it as a way to better our bodies. Kin offers a variety of drink alternatives such as seltzers and spirits that can be mixed or enjoyed alone. The added benefit- Kin is infused with nutritious active ingredients that bolster our immune systems and supplement our diet.  

Interested in more Nutrition tips? 

Our team of Functional Medicine Providers and Registered Dietitians are here to help you create a holistic nutrition plan specific to your body. Fill out the form below to get in contact with our Patient Coordinator team to schedule your appointment now  

Make the most of these holidays and use them as a time to take control of your health and well-being. Cheers to the new year with some delicious alcohol alternatives!