In the days of the early Manhattan settlers, cocktails were literally the tail feathers of cocks, dipped in a pimento concoction then used to tickle men’s throats to entice them to drink. When most people think of cocktails today, they think of various mixed drinks made with liquor. But, all cocktails aren’t necessarily made with an alcoholic beverage.
The following cool-tasting appetizing drinks are perfect to serve to your non-drinking friends. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness and be thrilled with the beauty and healthful qualities of these cocktails. (Be sure to relate the story of the origin of the term, ‘cocktails’ to your guests. It makes a wonderful conversation starter and ice-breaker. And for more mocktail and homemade entertaining recipes including Kittypaws, Tomato Ice Cream, homemade cream cheese, homemade Boursin cheese, etc, go to betweenclosefriends.com blog, under the ‘Recipe’ category)
Or, if you are having alcoholic cocktails, serve these delightful fruit cocktails to your children and make them feel a part of the festivities. Because these ‘mocktails’ are full of vitamins, and they have the extra bonus of tasting and looking fantastic, they are very good for youngsters and ‘oldsters’ alike!
Tangy Gingerapple Mocktail (4 servings)
2 cans frozen apple juice
4 juice cans chilled ginger ale
5 T lime juice
- Thaw out the apple juice until it is just a little mushy.
- Then pour it into a pitcher, adding the ginger ale and lime juice.
- Stir together until well blended.
- Pour into individual serving glasses.
- Garnish with a long thin orange strip made from zest with either a potato peeler or a zester.
Kittypaws (1 serving)
A fun and tasty drink where alcohol will never be missed! And any young guest will be delighted to be sharing in the before party drinks with their mocktails! (for appealing homemade hors d’ouevres, check betweenclosefriends.com)
Juice of 1/3 lemon, strained
juice of 1 lime, strained
juice of 1 chilled orange, strained
2 tsp confectioners sugar
1 egg yolk
Chilled soda water
- Combine 1 T of the crushed ice, the strained fruit juices, sugar and egg yolk into a cocktail shaker.
- Cover with either a glass or metal top, and shake vigorously to blend well.
- Strain your mocktail into a tall serving glass, then topping it off with chilled soda water.
- Rim with four fruit twists for added visual appeal.
Delicious Pink Lady Mocktail (makes about 8 servings)
¾ cup sugar
2 cups chilled cranberry juice
2 cups chilled pineapple juice
4 cups ginger ale
Vanilla ice cream
- Pour the sugar into a pitcher, then slowly add the cranberry juice. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Add the pineapple juice and chill thoroughly.
- When ready to serve, add chilled gingerale to the mixture, then fill champagne flutes ¾ full.
- Gently add a generous scoop of your best vanilla ice cream to each glass and stir until foamy.
- Serve immediately to your guest’s delight. (for more non-alcoholic recipes, and more, go to betweenclosefriends.com)
Cherry Surprise
Take me back to memories of my youth! Remember when we all used to add that delicious maraschino cherry
syrup (instead of the rum) to our coke, imitating our parents ‘rum and coke’ drinks? This is an upscaled version with a little more of a kick, definitely qualifying as an addition to our mocktail repertoire. (For more non-alcoholic drink recipes, and entertaining ideas, check betweenclosefriends.com blog)
Drop a maraschino cherry in the bottom of a whiskey glass, and add ice cubes.
Pour 1 tsp maraschino cherry juice,
¼ tsp vanilla extract
and a squirt of fresh lime juice over top of the icecubes.
Fill with your favourite cola, garnishing with a lime twist.