Why I Love Mocktails

I love mocktails because they’re amazing. 

Mocktails are an easy way to be inclusive, a gracious host, and elevate any gathering, party, or weeknight dinner.

What are Mocktails?

Mocktails, also known as non-alcoholic cocktails, are making a comeback. It generally refers to any type of mixed drink that does not contain alcohol but is similar in taste, appearance, or general aesthetic to a traditional cocktail.

They can be sugar-free, vegan, dairy-free, grain-free, etc., but they are ALL alcohol-free, meaning you can make them for anyone. Whether you're sober, sober curious, a grey drinker, or a never-had-alcohol person - mocktails are for you.

Why Serve Mocktails?

I wrote about that here: Why Serve Mocktails at Dinner Parties

In short, I generally recommend serving mocktails as an easy way to elevate your hosting/dining experience for you and your guests. Serving an elegant or creative non-alcoholic drink creates a more inclusive environment for your guests.

You never know who may be trying to cut back on or cut out drinking but aren't ready to be public about it.

Why do I write about Mocktails?

"But Susan," you may ask. "Why do you write about mocktails? And why did you become interested in mocktails?"

I write about mocktails because I'm obsessed with them. They can bring people together, they can be edible art, and they are a great way to add flavor, variety, and elegance to any gathering.

And how come I'm obsessed with mocktails and not cocktails?

Well, I didn’t grow up around alcohol at all. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. And yet.... Those drinks I’d see on shows, magazines, or occasional menus always seemed soooo fancy. And if you ask any of my siblings, I think they would tell you “Yes, she’s the fancy one. And always has been.” 

But it wasn’t just the drinks that seemed glamorous - it was the experience that I wanted to be part of. 

Related: Edible Garnishes to Jazz Up Your Next Mocktail

The allure of being in an upscale restaurant environment with dim lighting and soft music, all while sipping something from a beautiful glass seemed so sophisticated. Quiet, calm, luxurious. .....As one of seven children, those three adjectives were what I was always dreaming about. 

I went to a private Christian college that has a zero-alcohol policy. However, I saw a glass checkerboard that had shot glasses for pieces at a store one day and brought it back to my roommates. I think my roommates and I filled them with Sprite. I have no clue, but it absolutely was not alcohol. Regardless, news spread that I had this checkerboard, and people started to associate me as the cool girl with fun drinks. Which, at a school like mine, was hilariously ironic.

So whatever the ‘cool’ factor is that has always pulled me in, it wasn’t actually the alcohol. It’s always been about experiencing something interesting with others and creating a meaningful connection with them - creating a memory of time well spent together.

I would love to help you create these connections, too! Which is why I write about them.

Yes, this is a comically bad picture of me enjoying a mocktail. Embrace the imperfect. It reminds me of a fabulous afternoon with great friends!

A little bit more about my love for mocktails...

As I got older and made the choice to be alcohol-free, I became increasingly frustrated with what to order when I attended a formal dinner or professional event. Shirley Temples have their time and place, but ordering one as a short, blonde, blue-eyed girl at a professional event was not the time or place. I had bartenders laugh at me when I tried to order a “Ginger ale with Grenadine.”

It was already hard enough to get taken seriously in work environments and walking around with a child's drink did. not. help.

I eventually dated someone who had way more experience ordering non-alcoholic drinks, and I learned some decent tricks from him. But 15 years later it’s time to offer some non-insulting non-alcoholic drinks to the world. 

Thankfully, mocktails are becoming a global trend. So the expectations are rising!

Related: Ginger Ale vs Ginger Beer - What's the Difference?

The Rise of Mocktails

Currently, the desire to have a non-alcoholic mixed drink is increasingly on the rise.

There has also been a rise in non-alcoholic bars, as outlined in this July 2024 CCN article: How Sober Bars Are Redefining Nightlife. In 2023, Axios shared a bullet-point overview of why mocktails were skyrocketing in popularity.

Also on the rise are people who just don’t want to drink at all for various reasons. They have completely cut out alcohol, or are cutting it way, way back. Oftentimes, they don’t want a sugar-packed drink for similar reasons that they don’t want an alcoholic drink. You may have heard the term "Sober-Curious" or "Grey-Drinker," which refers to people who might drink occasionally, but generally only for a wedding or other infrequent, special occasion.

As far back as 2017, Bon Appetit wrote about the increasingly common occurrence of LA socialites ordering non-alcoholic drinks. This article, along with many others, talks about the increasingly visible brand Seedlip, a non-alcohol spirit brand started by a farmer's son, Ben Branson. I wholeheartedly agree with what Branson said in the Bon Appetit's article:

“People who appreciate a good alcoholic cocktail are incredibly let down when they aren’t drinking,” Branson says. “A drink should be great and grown up regardless of the alcohol content.” 

To put my own spin on it

My strongly held opinion is that someone should not pay alcohol prices for juice. Restaurants need to either elevate the non-alcoholic drink options to be as unique and creative as the alcoholic drinks OR charge juice prices for mixed juice.

And at home? Providing high-quality, thoughtful mocktails is a great way to keep things interesting, provide inclusive options for all your guests, AND channel your creative energy into your entertainment.

To wrap it up…

I love mocktails. Could you tell? I have loved them since I was young, and I will love them until I’m old. They are perfect for every age, and you can make them to appease almost any guest at any time.

If you want to learn more about why I feel it’s crucial to offer at least one non-alcoholic drink aside from water, please read my article Why Serve Mocktails at Dinner Parties

What are your thoughts? Did you ever wish there had been different or more non-alcoholic options? Are there any mocktails you've tried and loved? Leave a comment below! 

And as always, thank you for being part of this community!

Cheers,

Susan