Mocktails and Cocktails perfect for the holidays and beyond

With the holidays upon us, there are plenty of dinners, luncheons, and parties in our future. And what better way to celebrate than with mocktails and cocktails? Luckily, we have some ideas for you.

Whether you are hosting for the holidays, attending a party, or just want to do a little relaxing on your own, sometimes you want to have a drink to celebrate. And even if you aren’t looking for an alcoholic beverage, we still have you covered, as there are recipes for both mocktails and cocktails to get us through the season and beyond.

Personally, I love the idea of so many of these mocktails. Not only does it let me enjoy a delicious drink that looks like a celebration in a glass, but I don’t have to worry about a hangover the next day. Instead, I get to be a part of the party, dinner, or whatever, and still have a treat of my own (without the alcohol).

One of my favorite options comes courtesy of Tazo tea. Their recipe for a drink called The Brambleberry Orchard, is a refreshing sip that features Tazo’s Brambleberry Herbal tea. Think of this as a play on a mulled cider, but with the help of herbal tea as the base. To make this mocktail you will need:

• Tazo Brambleberry Herbal Tea
• Cider
• Fresh Orange (for the juice)
• Bitters
• Garnish (I used a slice of orange and a sprig of mint)

Another mocktail option using Tazo tea is their Green Mint Berry, which is made using the Organic Iced Green Tea. It’s a slightly sweet, but not overwhelmingly so, drink that is also refreshing and tasty. To make this mocktail you will need:

• Tazo Organic Iced Green Tea
• Muddled mint
• Muddled raspberries
• Splash of lemon

For a more adult drink option, Spindrift has their own delicious recipe ideas. While we have previously written up a piece about different ways to transform these sparkling waters into delicious mocktails and cocktails, we think some of these additional recipes are worth sharing as well.

One recipe option that is delicious and perfect for the holidays and beyond is the Spindrift Cranberry Raspberry Cosmo. This cocktail recipe is one that is both refreshing and satisfying. To make this cocktail you will need:

• Cranberry Raspberry Spindrift
• 10 cranberries muddled
• 10 raspberries muddled
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 3 ounces of vodka
• ice

Making the Cosmo requires a bit more work than just blending these ingredients together. You will muddle the raspberries and cranberries together with the sugar. Then add the vodka and ice and shake everything together. Strain this mix into a glass over more ice and then top it with the Cranberry Raspberry Spindrift. For a garnish on this drink you could use fresh raspberries and cranberries.

Another great cocktail recipe from Spindrift is the Sparkling Maple Leaf. Not only does this sound like a perfect seasonal drink, but it also tastes amazing (always important). To make this cocktail you need:

• Lemon Spindrift
• 2 ounces of Bourbon
• 1/2 tb. maple syrup
• lemon peel
• cinnamon stick

To make this cocktail, you will need to add the maple syrup to a glass, then the bourbon and stir. Top the mix with the Lemon Spindrift and garnish with a peel of lemon and a stick of cinnamon.

There are a lot of options when it comes to making mocktails and cocktails for the holidays (and beyond), but these four drinks are definitely perfect for anyone looking to change things up this season. Not only will these drinks be a refreshing option with any meal or appetizer, but they will also be a nice change of pace when throwing a party or enjoying a low-key get together.