New Year's Eve is one of the select nights of the year where the majority of party goers drink beyond their usual limits. Whether it's to keep up with the competition or your own expectations, everyone hits a point where it's time for a drink of water or anything but booze.
For those who don't drink, the options have pretty dismal - leaving consumers to order rounds of Shirley Temples. But more people are starting to ask for non-alcoholic drinks and it's opened up a fountain of variety in the realm of booze-free beverages.
If you're looking for a hangover free NYE, here's a list of non-alcoholic drinks that can hold their own at any bar or house party.
2 litres of Dr. Pepper soda
1 bottle (32 oz) pure cherry juice or pom-cherry juice
1 litre of Ginger Ale
1 jar (13.5 oz) maraschino cherries, undrained
1 cup of pomegranate arils
crushed ice
*In a large punch bowl, combine soda, cherry juice, Ginger Ale and cherries. Add enough ice to fill the punch bowl. Sprinkle pomegranate arils on top for garnish.
2 cups of pear juice
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup of sugar
2 litres of Ginger Ale
Sliced fresh pear
*Pour pear juice into a large punch bowl and add lemon juice. Stir in sugar and mix Ginger Ale topped with fresh sliced pear.
For the rosemary simple syrup:
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of water
1 sprig of fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped
*Add 1/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of sugar to pot. Add rosemary and bring to a simmer.
Cook until sugar is disolved (3 minutes). Strain into small resealable container and cool.
For the drink:
1/4 cup of pink grapefruit juice
2 tablespoons of rosemary simple syrup
2/3 cup of seltzer water or grapefruit soda
*Pour grapefruit juice and simple syrup in glass. Stir to mix. Fill glass with ice and pour with seltzer water. Add with a sprig of rosemary and slice of grapefruit.
2 tablespoons of fresh mint leaves, slightly crushed
8 cups of cold water
4 cups of boiling water
1 cup of sugar
1 can (6 oz) of frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup of instant tea mix
*In a large pitcher, mix boiling water, sugar, tea and mint leaves; let it stand for 15 minutes. Stir in cold water and lemonade. Serve over ice.
1 bottle (64 oz) of cranberry juice cocktail
2 containers (1/2 gallon each) of raspberry sherbet
3 bottles (1 litre each) of Ginger Ale, chilled
*Pour 1/4 cup of cranberry juice in each glass. Place one scoop (1/2 cup) of sherbet in each glass. Fill with Ginger Ale.
1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise
1 Thai chile, split in half lengthwise
4 3-inch strips of orange zest
1/2 cup of dried hibiscus flowers or 24 hibiscus tea bags
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of fresh lime juice
Thin lime wheels for ganish
*Scrape vanilla seeds into saucepan and add pod, chile, orange zest, hibiscus, sugar and 2 cups boiling water. Let steep until infusion cools to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Strain into a bowl. Stir in lime juice and 2 cups of cold water. Chill for 1 hour. Serve and garnish with lime.
