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Christmas

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Original poster

Non-alcohol drinks for grown-ups, suggestions please

33 replies

clumsymum · 03/12/2007 12:49

cos dh can't drink this year, and is tired of sweet drinks.

We will have a range of fruit juice, and I found an elderberry & grape juice thing that looks like champers in sainbugs, but I would like to have something to surprise him with.

Oh, and anything that looks like alcoholic somethings would be useful, as he doesn't want to explain every time that he's on anti-d's, and my mother believes you can't be having fun without a 'drink' in your hand. We are now good at fizzy water with ice and a slice, looks just like a G&T

OP posts:
dustystar · 03/12/2007 12:51

Does he like the flavoured fizzy waters? I used to work in a rehab and when i got married I bought that sort of thing for my colleagues who didn't drink. There is also a drink called Ame which looks like white wine which is quite nice.

FluffyMummy123 · 03/12/2007 12:52

Message withdrawn

ABudafulSightWereHappyTonight · 03/12/2007 12:52

White grape juice with fizzy water is nice.

Original poster
clumsymum · 03/12/2007 12:55

Is Ame good? bear in mind his taste for wine is good dry whites , and heavy, tanin reds, so 'not wine' tends to be a bit insipid and yuk. Will try one to see.

Flavoured waters tend to be sweetened with aspartame, which we avoid in this house even for the grown-ups.

OP posts:
MerryAnnSinglemas · 03/12/2007 12:57

pomegranate juice is nice and very good for you.
Orange juice and angostura bitters

SantaBeClausImWorthIt · 03/12/2007 13:43

grapefruit juice mixed with tonic is a good one - not too sweet and has a bit to it that's bit like an alcoholic drink

dustystar · 03/12/2007 13:51

Does he like appletiser? Thats what we get for ds as a treat because it is just fizzy apple juice - no additives at all. Have a look in health food shops too.

yaddayule · 03/12/2007 13:59

Coke
Lemonade
Tea
Coffee
Tap water

Merry bleeding Christmas

BettySpaghetti · 03/12/2007 14:00

Elderflower cordial with fizzy water

Fruit juice (especially apple or grape juice) with fizzy water

hazeyjane · 03/12/2007 14:04

I have been pregnant the last 2 Christmas's, and got sick to death of most non alcoholic drinks - usually too sweet. I used to drink gin and tonic without the gin, with ice and lemon, I felt as though I was having a proper drink, and it's not as sickly as the other stuff.Non alcoholic lager, like Kaliber is quit good too.

thebecster · 03/12/2007 14:06

My Dad always makes non-alcholic 'punch' for me 'cos I don't drink alcohol. One version is fresh lemonade with fresh mint leaves and dash of ginger cordial. And he does one with Rocks Christmas Cordial, grated fresh ginger and fizzy water which is a bit like mulled wine - he mixes them differently every time, shakes them up in cocktail shaker with crushed ice and puts them in a tall lead crystal tumbler - and it makes me feel very spoilt!

EmilyDavidson · 03/12/2007 14:06

how about alcohol free beer like Kaliber ?

rnbsmum · 03/12/2007 14:16

No alcohol Becks and Bitburger (not sure on the spelling)beer are nice

paulaplumpbottom · 03/12/2007 14:24

Warm Spiced Lemonaide:

In a 4 quart saucepan combine 9 cups of water,1 cup fresh lemon juice,2 cups orange juice, 2 cups sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract,and 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves. Simmer and serve hot

Cranberry Cider (THis is a huge hit at my partys in place of mulled wine)

With a veggie peeler remove two 3 inch strips of peel from an orange and then juice the orange. In a medium stockpot combine orange juice, peel, 32 ounces cranberry juice, 2cinnamon sticks and 1 two inch piece of ginger. Add sugar if desired ( I always add about a cup or two depending on guests) Simmer over medium high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer 20 minutes. Strain and serve.

motherhurdicure · 03/12/2007 14:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

janeite · 03/12/2007 17:35

Ginger beer - I have Jamie Oliver's homemade recipe if any good?

Frappe is lovely too for a change.

janeite · 03/12/2007 17:36

Becster - HOW cool is your dad? They sound lovely!

Anchovy · 03/12/2007 18:01

The Pom Wonderful pomegranate juice is nice. I think in a wine glass it would look pretty much like red wine. It is not "sweet" or "fruity", which is what makes non alcoholic drinks a bit cloying, IMO.

GrinningSoul · 03/12/2007 18:03

dry ginger ale - nb this is nice with gin too...

LoveAngelGabriel · 03/12/2007 18:34

Cranberry & sparkling water with a big wedge of fresh lime - yum

southeastastra · 03/12/2007 18:35

speaking as someone who is always the designated driver fizzy stuff always makes me feel icky. some nice fruit juice is best.

weblette · 03/12/2007 18:37

Virgin Mary does the trick for me - a Bloody minus the vodka but with all the spicy bits.

PaulaYatesbiggestfan · 03/12/2007 18:38

i am looking to buy a decent cloudy apple juice like copella for my party
ame a bit sweet

MrsBadger · 03/12/2007 18:44

0% Cobra is the best of the alcohol-free beers

PortAndLemonaid · 03/12/2007 19:11

I differ from MrsBadger and reckon that alcohol-free Becks is the best of the alcohol-free beers (although the Cobra 0% is also good).

I have had some yummy Virgin Mojitos before but don't know how to make one...