Easy non alcoholic Christmas drinks

[TheOriginalNutty]

I've decided I don't want to drink this Christmas (hoping to never drink again but one step at a time).

Dd2 is also not bothered about alcohol so im looking for some nice easy drinks ideas ? Like simple cocktails and alike.

Do the non alcoholic gins, Prosecco and similar still taste like alcohol ? That's ok I just need an idea of what I'd be buying.

I keep seeing all of these fancy non alcoholic drinks on insta but they seem to have a million ingredients.

Just want something light and refreshing.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/non-alcoholic-cocktail-recipes/amp

Seedlip and tonic does taste like a g&t.

I like a mulled hot apple drink, that feels nice and festive

Or siansburys mock tails here

St Clements - orange juice and bitter lemon - you could fancy it up with slices of oranges/ lemons, twist of lime etc

I also like cranberry juice, squeeze of like and topped up with either lemonade or sparkling water.

I don’t think the non alcoholic wine/ Prosecco tastes anything like the real thing. I don’t really drink beer/ lager so don’t know what their 0% options are like. I did try some 0% of the fruity ciders and they were nice enough but might as well just drink fruit juice really.

You could try a mulled apple juice - just warm it with some sugar and cinammon sticks etc, then strain and serve - maybe with some sliced citrus fruit again.

Appletiser, Schloer and San pellegrino pomegranate and orange here. No need to go to any effort, they taste nice - crisp and cold from our unheated garage.

Gordon's non alcoholic gin with lemonade is lovely.

Ooooh lots of suggestions, thank you all. Think I need to make a shopping list.

Thanks for those links @PayPennies they're really helpful x

I can recommend Brew Dog non-alco beers, nice with a lemonade top.

I also have cinzano with lemonade (weak, so barely alcoholic) for that Christmas vibe.

If you like gin there are some good flavourings on Amazon. With good tonic ice and a slice, taste good.

Seedlip and tonic does taste like a g&t.

Agree with this. The problem with lots of soft drinks is they are overly sweet and sugary - which gets a bit much after 1 or 2. Seedlip feels like a grown-up drink.

The fake spirits are often pricey and go off quickly as they are just flavoured water, so I now just buy premixed no alcohol G&T. M&S do a nice one. Ginger beer is also nice and a bit different as the heat takes away the sweetness. Fentiman and fever tree both do one without artificial sweetener.

Lyre's Classico is a very nice non-alcoholic Prosecco - not too sweet, comes in one-serve cans, too.

Warm clear apple juice with a cinnamon stick and cloves, squirt cream on top and drizzle caramel sauce.

My two faves are Guinness 0% alcohol and the Nexba elderflower kombucha (both Sainsburys).

Depending on how you are with trace amounts of alcohol, a rock shandy could be a good option. Equal amounts of soda water and lemonade (vary to your sweetness preference) with a few dashes of angostura bitters. It's more of a summer drink, but it's light, refreshing and not too sweet.

A virgin mojito is also great. With the strong flavours of the mint and lime, you don't miss the alcohol at all.

Trip CBD drinks are also quite nice. I do feel relaxed after them

I'm not a drinker. I really like just a simple lime & soda or a virgin mojito. Crush up some mint & lime with a little sugar & top up with sparkling water. Served in a fancy glass always seems much nicer

Belvoir do some nice non alcoholic drinks, Elderflower pressé is lovely for a bit of fizz and sparkle. They do some winter berry flavours too.

Price wise they are much better value than the mock gins available, which I really don't rate much at all.

To get that cocktail vibe, serve in a nice glass, champagne flute etc, and add garnish like strawberries or blackberries. Dip the glass rim in sugar or salt for a fun finish (look on YouTube for tips on doing this).

While Seedlip does avoid the painfully sweet route most 0% drinks go down, and therefore feels more sophisticated, I don't feel it actually tastes like a gin. In my experience these non-alcoholic 'spirits' can be good, but if you specifically want a gin (or other alcoholic) flavour you will be disappointed as gin is more than just the botanicals, the alcohol itself does provide a flavour/feeling/astringency.

There's a Shirley Temple - I do ginger ale, orange juice and grenadine. You do need to get the amounts balanced or It's far too sweet - in a tall glass, I normally do 2/3 ginger ale, 1/3 fresh orange juice and a dash of grenadine.

I'm currently loving the Special Edition Damson and Sloe Fevertree tonic - I'm finding it nicer as is, without a spirit.

Or you can make your own lemonade - it's really easy and you can add raspberries to make it a pink lemonade.

Oooo more suggestions, thanks all.

Trace amounts of alcohol are fine. Totally agree that a lot of soft drinks are too sweet so some of these suggestions are fab.

Looks like I need to hit the shops

Tonic with a dash of lime cordial and some fresh mint and a slice of Fran lime. That’s my drink this Christmas.

@TheOriginalNutty I’d treat myself to this if I were you!

We had it recently at a VERY posh meal out. Not cheap but different and delicious so a nice treat for Christmas... Served with soda water and a wedge of orange https://www.botivodrinks.com/

Have you tried Crodino @TheOriginalNutty?

It’s not quite as bitter as Campari but along those lines, it comes in cute little bottles. From Sainsbury’s.

Alcohol free 'pimms'.

It's actually really good.