The 5 Best Cocktails (or Mocktails) for Your Next Event
Your event needs to have it all: The right kind of music, the perfect location, the best type of food, and, of course, an amazing bar menu. The bar is typically the most engaging part of any party, so it’s worth investing the extra time to make sure that it’s extra special. A good bar adds value to your event for your guests and is sure to be a great conversation starter both at the party and for weeks after.
It’s important to remember that not everyone at your event wants to drink—yet everyone wants to have fun. Offering fun mocktails that are easily converted to cocktails is a great way to make sure that there’s something for everyone; and no one feels like they’re getting left out of the party!
We’ve compiled five of our favorite mocktail or cocktail recipes that are sure to impress your guests. Try these out at your next event!
Lime Rickey
Ingredients:
2 oz. lime juice
1 oz. simple syrup
3 oz. seltzer water
Optional 2 oz. gin
Lime wedge to garnish
Instructions:
Pour the lime juice, simple syrup, and optional gin into a serving glass over ice. Top with seltzer water and mix together with a swizzle spoon.
Garnish with a lime wedge or two and serve.
Blue Shoe Cocktail or Mocktail
Ingredients:
3 oz. Polar Blast Hawaiian Punch or blue curacao
2 oz. white cranberry juice
7-Up to top
Instructions:
Pour the Hawaiian Punch or blue curacao into a large, chilled martini glass. Add the white cranberry juice and top with 7-Up.
Sip & Spark Cocktail or Mocktail
Ingredients:
2 oz. coconut water
1 oz. fresh blood orange juice
½ oz. fresh lime juice
¾ oz. pineapple syrup
2 oz. carbonated mineral water
Optional 2 oz. vodka
Slice of blood orange and pineapple and ground nutmeg to garnish
Instructions:
Combine coconut water, blood orange juice, lime juice, pineapple syrup, and optional vodka in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake. Strain over crushed ice into a serving glass.
Top with mineral water and garnish with a slice of blood orange, pineapple, and ground nutmeg.
Blueberry Smash Tea
Ingredients:
Hibiscus blueberry tea bags, brewed ahead of time
1 heaping tablespoon blueberry smash
2 muddled mint leaves
1 tablespoon honey
Optional 2 oz. white rum
Orange slice and a sprig of fresh mint to garnish
Instructions:
Brew the hibiscus blueberry tea before your event and keep chilled to prepare the cocktail or mocktail.
Muddle the mint leaves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker to release the oils. Add honey, one cup of the hibiscus blueberry tea, blueberry smash, and optional white rum. Fill the shaker with ice and shake for thirty seconds.
Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice and top with a spoonful of blueberry smash. Garnish with orange slice and a sprig of mint to serve.
Sundowner
Ingredients:
½ cup white grape juice
⅓ cup sparkling water
Optional 2 oz. vodka
Sprig of fresh mint to garnish
Instructions:
Pour the grape juice, sparkling water, and optional vodka into a wine glass filled with ice.
Stir the mixture well and garnish with a sprig of mint to serve.