Three Best Holiday Mocktail Drink Recipes from CIA

It’s holiday season! These flavorful holiday non-alcoholic drinks, or what we call, “mocktails,” from CIA’s beverage experts are perfect for adding some pizzazz to your holiday party beverage menu. And each mocktail recipe includes a tip for adding sparkling wine or liquor to transform the mocktail into a cocktail, if you so desire.

1. Cranberry Smash Mocktail

The season for fresh cranberries at the market is short, so make the most of it with this festive holiday mocktail. You can even get the kids involved in making this fun holiday drink by asking them to muddle for you.

Makes one drink

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup fresh cranberries (approximately 8)
• 5 fresh mint leaves
• 1 lime wedge (lime cut into 6 pieces)
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 5 ounces ginger ale
• Additional mint leaves for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Place cranberries, mint, lime, and sugar into a cocktail shaker. Using a muddling stick (or the back of a tablespoon), muddle the mixture until the cranberries are slightly crushed and the mint is bruised. Add ice and shake for approximately 10 seconds.
2. Place the mixture into a rocks glass with ice and add ginger ale.
3. You can add fresh mint leaves as a garnish.

Cranberry Smash Cocktail Twist

To make the cocktail version, add 1 1/2 ounces of your favorite vodka or bourbon to this drink.

2. Crimson Bubbles Mocktail

Colorful pomegranate and currant combine with lively bubbles for a festive and refreshing holiday drink, perfect for celebrating the holiday season with friends and family

Makes one drink.

Ingredients

• 1 sugar cube
• 1 1/2 ounces pomegranate juice
• 1 ounce currant juice
• 8 pomegranate seeds
• 6 ounces sparkling cider or ginger ale

Directions

1. Place one sugar cube in the bottom of a champagne glass.
2. Pour in pomegranate and currant juice, add pomegranate seeds, and top with sparkling cider or ginger ale.

Crimson Bubbles Cocktail Twist

To turn this holiday mocktail into a cocktail, substitute champagne or sparkling wine for the sparkling cider or ginger ale.

3. Maple Eggnog Mocktail

This holiday mocktail is perfect for enjoying alone by the fire. It’s equally delicious when you increase the recipe and serve it in a punch bowl to your party guests. To save time, the eggnog can be made the day before.

Makes one drink

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons pasteurized egg yolk
• 4 ounces milk
• 2 ounces cream
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3 tablespoons pasteurized egg whites, whipped

Directions

1. Place egg yolks, milk, cream, maple syrup, spices, and egg whites into a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice and shake for approximately 10 seconds.
3. Strain into a glass. Garnish with ground nutmeg on top.

Maple Eggnog Cocktail Twist

To make a cocktail version of this drink, you may add one of a variety of liquors—such as rum or bourbon—to the recipe.