5 alcohol-free alternatives to champagne cocktails

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Wouldn’t it be great if alcohol wasn’t the first thing everyone turned to for a celebration? Whether it’s a wedding, new job or passing an exam, most people reach for the champagne. These days though, many of us are keen to reduce the amount of booze we consume. After all, healthy diets and exercise are important but why undo all our hard work for the sake of an evening’s drinking? Thankfully, help is on hand with this selection of non-alcoholic cocktails. They’re not all juice and sugar either. With a little research, it’s possible to find some fabulous alcohol-free alternatives to champagne cocktails.

Virgin Kir Royale

The Kir Royale is a classic celebratory cocktail. That makes it an ideal option to create as an alcohol-free version! You might even find this one tastes a little better. Don’t forget to add the blackberry first to avoid spilling your cocktail when you drop it in.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp blackcurrant cordial
• Non-alcoholic sparkling tea
• Frozen blackberry

Method

1. Drop the frozen blackberry into the bottom of your champagne flute
2. Pour in the blackcurrant cordial
3. Top up with non-alcoholic sparkling tea

Non-alcoholic Mimosa

Mimosas traditionally combine champagne and orange juice. But if you’re making them lower in alcohol by adding orange juice, why not remove the booze altogether and make the accessible to everyone, even if they’re pregnant or driving?

Ingredients

• Freshly squeezed orange juice
• Alcohol-free sparkling tea

Method

1. Half fill a champagne flute with alcohol-free sparkling tea
2. top up with freshly squeezed orange juice to taste

Alcohol-free Mojito

Not traditionally a champagne cocktail, but I couldn’t write a list of drinks without including a mojito. Replace the alcohol, but never skimp on the mint or lime.

Ingredients

• Juice of one lime
• 1 tsp fair trade brown sugar
• Mint leaves
• Juice of one lime
• Non-alcoholic sparkling tea
• Ice

Method

1. Put the lime juice, sugar, ice and mint leaves into a tumbler and muddle them together, squeezing the mint leaves against the glass and the ice to bring out the flavour
2. Pour over the non-alcoholic tea and stir again
3. Add more mint leaves to garnish before serving

No booze French 75

French 75 is a classic boozy cocktail, but it doesn’t have to be. You can have the lemony tang and the celebratory fizz without the alcohol.

Ingredients

• Freshly squeezed juice of one lemon
• 1 tsp sugar syrup
• Chilled non-alcoholic sparkling tea
• Ice
• Strip of lemon zest to garnish

Method

1. Place the lemon juice and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice
2. Shake well
3. Strain into a champagne flute
4. Top up with non-alcoholic sparkling tea
5. Stir gently
6. Garnish with a strip of lemon zest to serve

Apple Mimosa

You have probably heard of apple cider mimosas. But really, why use cider when you can use freshly squeezed apple juice? Add sparkling, alcohol-free tea to make a celebratory drink that will leave you feeling fresh as a daisy the next morning. So, no excuse not to go for a run!

Ingredients

• 1 tsp brown sugar
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Freshly squeezed apple juice
• Alcohol-free sparkling tea
• Thin slice of fresh apple to garnish

Method

1. Combine the sugar and cinnamon on a small plate or saucer
2. Wet the rim of the glass and dip it in the sugar and cinnamon mixture
3. Fill 1/4 of the glass with apple juice
4. Top up with alcohol-free sparkling tea
5. Place a thin slice of apple on the rim of the glass to garnish before serving