Festive Holiday Mocktails: Celebrating with Joy and Without Alcohol

by | Dec 5, 2024 | Connection

By: Jasmine Pomplun

The holidays are a perfect time to gather, connect, and celebrate. While alcohol often takes center stage in many traditions, it doesn’t have to be the cornerstone of a joyful celebration. Mocktails—vibrant, alcohol-free alternatives—offer a delicious and inclusive way to toast to the season. Here’s how you can enjoy festive gatherings while keeping the focus on connection, not consumption.

Mocktails: Festive, Flavorful, and Inclusive

Mocktails are more than just “non-alcoholic drinks.” They’re a statement that everyone belongs at the table. Choosing to skip alcohol, whether for a night or for life, shouldn’t mean missing out on fun or flavor. With a little creativity, you can craft drinks that bring holiday cheer to any occasion.


Tips for Hosting an Alcohol-Free Holiday Gathering

  1. Elevate the Experience: Serve mocktails in elegant glassware, complete with garnishes like citrus slices, cranberries, or fresh herbs to make them feel extra special.
  2. Interactive Fun: Set up a mocktail station with mixers, fruits, and garnishes so guests can customize their drinks.
  3. Shift the Focus: Incorporate games, storytelling, or music to create memorable moments that go beyond the drinks.
  4. Support Inclusivity: Make mocktails a prominent part of the menu, showing guests they’re just as much of a celebration as their alcoholic counterparts.


Our Favorite Mocktail Recipes


Jasmine’s Favorite: Sparkling Cherry Bliss

  • Ingredients:
    • Diet ginger ale
    • Tart cherry juice
    • Optional garnish: Fresh cherries or rosemary sprig
  • Instructions: Combine equal parts diet ginger ale and tart cherry juice over ice, garnish, and enjoy.

Allyssa’s Favorite: Moscow Mule Mocktail

  • Ingredients:
    • Ginger beer
    • Fresh lime juice
    • Soda water
    • Fresh mint leaves
    • Optional: Splash of cranberry juice
  • Instructions: Muddle mint in the bottom of a copper mug or glass. Add ice, lime juice, and a splash of cranberry juice. Top with ginger beer and soda water, stir gently, and garnish with mint.

Christine’s Favorite: Fruity Fizz Delight

  • Ingredients:
    • Poppi’s Lemon Lime soda
    • Orange juice
    • Strawberry skinny syrup
  • Instructions: Combine Poppi’s Lemon Lime with a splash of orange juice and a drizzle of strawberry skinny syrup. Stir well and serve over ice.


Canned Favorites: Convenient and Festive

Sometimes, simplicity is best. Allyssa recommends a canned drink she loves—perfect for quick and effortless celebrations. Canned mocktails or sparkling beverages come in an array of flavors and make great additions to any party lineup.


Reimagining Holiday Traditions

Choosing mocktails isn’t just about skipping alcohol—it’s about creating a space for genuine connection, mindful living, and inclusive celebration. The holidays are about who you’re with and the memories you make, not what’s in your glass.

Raise your mocktail, toast to kindness, and embrace the season with a heart full of joy. Let’s celebrate together—festive, sober, and free.