The rise of inclusive events has been a great boost to non-alcoholic cocktails and beverage services. Sober inclusion is now a priority in all events, be it a celebration of a private moment or a corporate event. Whether you’re practicing moderation or avoiding alcohol due to dietary restrictions or personal choice, a mindful host caters to all.
So, if you’re organising a summer barbecue or a picnic for your loved ones, these non-alcoholic cocktails will be an instant crowd-pleaser.
Slow Down this Summer with Non-alcoholic Cocktails
Switzerland, the winter wonderland, transforms into a bright and warm heaven in summer. As the days get longer, you want to slow down and enjoy the warmth for as long as they last. And what better way to slow down than reducing your alcohol intake?
As the summer festivals crop up around Switzerland, enjoying these events often becomes an excuse to over-indulge in alcohol. Now, being mindful of your drinking habits doesn’t have to be an alarming thought. Anyone can explore the sober-curious lifestyle.
One of the best ways to reduce your alcohol intake is to track it. Instead of reaching for the umpteenth glass of beer, tell your friends and family to cut you off at 2 or 3 glasses. And if you want to abstain from alcohol, try indulging in healthy non-alcoholic cocktails. Now, you can find sober variants of your favourite cocktails, like a sober gin sling or a zero-proof LIIT.
Reducing your alcohol intake during the warmer days will also improve your sleep and keep you hydrated. The heat and the alcohol make it difficult for the human body to regulate its temperature. It can lead to extremely painful cases of heat cramps. A slow summer with mindful sips doesn’t seem too bad now, does it?
Swiss Celebration of Self and Summer
Living longer, happier and healthier lives. This philosophy drives the Swiss to be mindful and responsible towards themselves. The Swiss celebration of self and summer encourages you to care for your physical, emotional and spiritual self.
The celebration of self starts with self-care. And self-care goes way beyond elaborate skincare routines and spa nights with your girlfriends. Self-care is a bunch of mindful lifestyle choices you make to take care of your mind and body. Here are a few self-care tips for this summer:
- Go outside and enjoy a quiet and personal time with nature. Instead of a summer cookout, go for a hike and riverside stroll.
- Summer adventures are exciting. There are so many things to do. But don’t forget to rest. Not just physical rest, relax your mind and your soul.
- Summer is no excuse to quit your regular sleep schedule (if you have a healthy one). Find your new rhythm, but keep it chill.
- Lastly, hydration is crucial during summer. Drink plenty of water and enjoy a guilt-free summer with healthy, non-alcoholic cocktails.
Sultry Sips with Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
From theatre festivals and street parades to Caliente and Züri Fäscht in Zurich, the Swiss like to party in the summer. The celebration of life gets even better with delectable foods and drinks, upbeat music, art and world cinema.
But if you’re practising a sober-curious lifestyle it can be quite discouraging. Even though most festivals in Switzerland are sober-inclusive, if you can’t find your favourite drink there, throw yourself a party with your friends.
Make the most delicious yet easy summer cocktails with alcohol-free drinks from VE Refinery. Surprise your guests with a stunning sober rose mojito or Kir Royale and enjoy the festivities without a care in the world.
1. Virgin Paloma
Paloma is a signature Mexican cocktail with a fruity and sweet taste. This fizzy and bubbly drink is even more refreshing without the sharp taste of tequila. Replace it with a touch of Feragaia Scottish Spirit for an added layer of complexity.
Ingredients:
- 50 ml Feragaia
- 15 ml grapefruit juice
- 1 tsp of honey
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 15 ml club soda
Method:
In a highball glass, pour freshly squeezed grapefruit and lime juice, honey and club soda. Stir well and add ice to the glass. Lastly, top it off with the Feragaia. For a more authentic experience, make a salt rim for the highball glass before making the drink.
A highball glass is perfect for tall drinks such as a Paloma. These types of glasses are used when the amount of non-alcoholic mixer is high in the drink. The wider mouth of the glass helps release the aromas better.
2. Alcohol-free Gin Sling
Find a touch of old-school joy with a sling. Originally made with either gin, brandy, rum or whiskey, slings existed long before the art of molecular mixology. You can make this classic cocktail in less than 5 minutes with just a few ingredients and Pentire Adrift.
Ingredients:
- 45 ml Pentier Adrift
- 30 ml non-alcoholic vermouth
- 30 ml simple syrup
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 dash of Angostura bitter
- 100 ml club soda
Method:
In a cocktail shaker, pour the Pentire Adrift, alcohol-free vermouth, simple syrup, lemon juice and ice. Shake till the concoction is chilled. Fill a Collins glass with clear ice (for that extra oomph!) and strain the mixture. Top it off with club soda and garnish with a lemon wheel before serving.
A Collins glass is quite similar to a highball one; both are long and cylindrical and have a slightly heavier bottom. However, the Collins glass is longer and narrower than a highball glass, which keeps the carbonation of the beverage intact for longer.
3. Thai Basil Sangria
Whip up the most delicious sangria in just 20 minutes. Traditionally, this classic Spanish drink uses rich and flavourful red wine. But in this version, we’re going to use Thomson & Scott Noughty Dealcoholized Blanc.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 4 Thai basil sprigs
- 1 bottle of Noughty Dealcoholized Blanc
- 80 ml Feragaia
- 120 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
- Chilled club soda
Method:
In a saucepan, pour the water and sugar and bring to a boil till the sugar dissolves. Then remove the saucepan from heat and add the lemon zest, orange zest and Thai basil sprigs. Keep stirring the syrup to let it cool down to room temperature for about 20 minutes. Strain the mixture into a large pitcher and add the Dealcoholized Blanc, Feragaia, and orange juice. Pour it into long-stemmed wine glasses and top it off with club soda before serving.
The wide ‘bell’ of the white wine glass creates the loudest clink without any spillage - ideal for any celebratory occasion. And the long stem keeps your warm hands away from the cool drink. It’s the perfect glassware for this non-alcoholic cocktail.
4. Zero-proof Frutti Di Bosco
Our favourite summer sip is a frutti di bosco with a handful of fresh berries. This perfect summer cocktail is light, fruity and flavourful. If you like wine cocktails, you’re gonna love this one. We’ve made it sober-inclusive by replacing the regular wine with Thomson & Scott Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay.
Ingredients:
- 250 ml Sparkling Chardonnay
- Fresh wild berries
- Sparkling water
- Simple syrup (optional)
Method:
Add a handful of berries to a glass and gently muddle. Balance the tangy sharpness of the berries with a dash of simple syrup. Pour the Noughty sparkling Chardonnay from Thomson & Scott to the glass. Now, add a splash of sparkling water to taste. Decorate with a few whole berries, and enjoy!
Chardonnay glassware is slightly different from the white wine glasses. They have a comparatively smaller bowl and a shorter stem. The smaller shape keeps the temperature at an optimum level and preserves the fruity flavours.
5. Sober Kir Royale
Who doesn’t like a classy champagne cocktail? That’s what a Kir Royale is. And if you want to toast to your sober-curious friends, replace the champagne with Thomson & Scott Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay.
Ingredients:
- 170 ml Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay
- 20 ml organic reduced sugar blackcurrant syrup
- A few fresh blackberries.
Method:
Pop the fresh blackberries in a champagne flute and pour the blackcurrant syrup over it. Now add the Thomson & Scott Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay and serve it to your guests. Whipping up a bubbly and elegant cocktail has never been easier.
Champagne flutes are special. They are often reserved for special moments. This summer bring out your well-preserved champagne flutes to toast a good life with your loved ones. The tapered opening of the flute keeps the drink fizzy and bubbly for longer.
6. Cheeky Spritz with Wilfred’s
A classic Italian aperitif is made with a splash of prosecco, digestive bitters and soda water. This fizzy spritz is the ideal summer cocktail. To make this bubbly pink beverage sober-inclusive, you’ll only need three common ingredients and less than 3 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 25 ml Pentire Adrift
- 50 ml Wilfred’s Aperitif
- 100 ml tonic water
Method:
Fill a tulip wine glass with ice. Then, pour the Pentire Adrift and Wilfred’s Aperitif over it. Top it off with tonic water and garnish with a rosemary sprig. Your non-alcoholic spritz is ready for the party!
Tulip glasses look different from a regular champagne flute. Unlike the flute, the glass is tapered at the mouth and broader at the base. The narrow opening keeps the fizzy cocktail from going flat, and the bowl lets you enjoy the fruity notes and floral aromatics.
7. Real LIIT
Traditionally, you’ll not find a drop of tea in a LIIT, and the alcohol content can be quite overwhelming. But today, you’re gonna explore a new recipe to make it sober-inclusive and healthy by using real tea from Real Drinks Co.
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of Dry Dragon
- 60 ml apple cider vinegar
- 600 ml ginger beer
- 2 lemons (1 sliced and 1 juiced)
- Sprigs of fresh mint
Method:
In a two-litre jug, pour the chilled Dry Dragon from Real Drinks Co. and add the rest of the ingredients. Stir well with a wooden spoon and decorate with fresh mint sprigs and lemon slices. Pour it over ice in a glass and serve at demand for your guests.
A hurricane or Collins glass is perfect for tropical drinks like a LIIT. A hurricane glass typically holds 20 oz. Hence, with its multiple ingredients and mixers, the Real LIIT should be served generously in appropriate glassware.
8. Rose Mojito
The cocktail hours in summer don’t need to be complicated. A touch of rose-flavoured simple syrup can craft the most exquisite drink. Use dried rose petals for a sweet and blushing twist to the classic drink. Swap out the rum for Thomson & Scott Noughty Dealcholized Rosé.
Ingredients:
Rose simple syrup:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp of dried rose petals
Non-alcoholic cocktail:
- 15 ml rose syrup
- 60 ml Thomson & Scott Dealcoholized Rosé
- 7-8 mint leaves
- 30 ml lime juice
Method:
In a small saucepan, mix the water and granulated sugar to make the simple syrup. Bring it to a boil on high heat and keep stirring till the sugar dissolves. Then, remove from heat and mix in the flower petals. You can also use sweetened rose syrup to skip this step.
In a tall Collins or highball glass, pour the dealcoholized rosé and add the rest of the ingredients with the mint leaves and ice. Give it a stir with a bar spoon and garnish with a mint sprig before serving.
Even though most bartenders would serve you a mojito in small tumbler glasses, traditionally, they’re served in long ones. The Collins or highball glass is perfect for the blushing pink rose mojito.
9. Cucumber Mint Spritz
Bored of all the lemonades and mojitos? Try the minty fresh spritz on a hot summer afternoon. Ditch the elaborate drinks for this quick and simple pick-me-up. With only 17 calories per 100 ml, Thomson & Scott Noughty Dealcoholized Blanc adds a healthy touch to this summer staple.
Ingredients:
- 3 mini cucumbers
- 6 mint leaves
- 2 lemons or limes
- 500 ml Noughty Dealcoholized Blanc
- 500 ml sparkling water
Method:
Thinly slice the cucumbers using a vegetable peeler and place them inside a pitcher. Add the fresh mint leaves and lightly muddle. Squeeze the lemon juice and add in dealcoholized Blanc and sparkling water. Pour over ice and a touch of honey before serving it to your guests.
White wine glasses are excellent for spritzes, but for a more stable glassware, you can opt for a highball glass to serve your cucumber mint spritz this summer.
10. Salty Dog Zero
A hot summer day is incomplete without a light and fruity drink. And what’s better than a salty dog? The sweet, sour and saltiness of the beverage play a medley of flavours on your palette. Typically made with gin, this zero-proof variant will be using Pentire Seaward. Its inherent notes of grapefruit will enhance the richness of the non-alcoholic cocktail.
Ingredients:
- Coarse salt
- 60 ml Pentire Seaward
- 120 ml grapefruit juice
- Lime wedge (garnish)
Method:
Rim a Collins glass by running a lime wedge and rolling it in coarse salt. Now fill the glass to the brim with ice and slowly pour in the Pentire Seaward and the grapefruit juice. Slowly stir with a bar spoon to mix well, and garnish with lime wedge before serving.
Here’s our secret to make it even better - throw in a pinch of salt in the cocktail to enhance the sweetness and tanginess of the grapefruit in Pentire Seaward.
The salted rim of the highball glass is the only differentiator between the salty dog and a greyhound. Don’t worry about the ice melting and making a mess, as the thick cylindrical walls of a Collins glass provide insulation and keep the drink cold for a long time.
Celebrate Summer with Non-alcoholic Cocktails
Without conscious and mindful practices, there can’t be any celebration of self. It requires looking deep within your soul to prioritise and nurture yourself. Dedicate this summer to slowing down and living a mindful life. Enjoy the vibrant festivals, but don’t overindulge in your vices. Find sober-inclusive events around you or organise them yourself.
For the best sober inclusive experience this summer, organise a sundowner with summer staples like zero-proof mojitos and non-alcoholic sangria. Be creative with the non-alcoholic cocktails, and try the premium range of alcohol-free drinks from VE Refinery.
And if you want to organise a corporate retreat or learn mocktail mixology, contact us here, and let’s get started!
Can