Holiday Mocktails

Recently a loyal reader of mine had a question about drinking alcohol because she’s menopausal. She noticed she was getting terrible night sweats when she would have beer or a glass of wine. Yes, it was because of the heat in alcohol and her moving from pitta stage (heat escaping) to vata stage of life. I recommended several recipes of non-alcoholic beverages for her so she could still participate in festive toasts without having to have a boring glass of water.

I thought you all might like to have a non-alcoholic creative approach to cocktails as this holiday approaches. Or as I like to call them, “mocktails!” Here’s the thing, we are all going to parties and events where there is a lot food and boozin going on. The bottom line is that you can and should limit how much you take in (we all know this, it’s no big news) to stay balanced.

That said, I like to enjoy a glass or two of wine myself, but I use my trick so that I stay mindful and don’t over do it.

The Best Trick:

Start the evening off with one or two mocktail or sparkling waters before your first glass of wine or cocktail. This way, if you are thirsty you drink something decent and avoid slugging down the boozey drink. And, this way everyone else will be on their 2nd drink, but you’ll just be having your first. You can savor it and enjoy. And! You can feel good about honoring your modern Ayurvedic self without feeling like you’re missing out.

Please note, this won’t work if you choose the wine or cocktail first, following with a mocktail. Why? Because your good decision-making has been altered by the alcohol and you likely ignore your good judgment and carry on with more boozies. If you want to succeed, have the non-alcoholic drinks first. Trust me!

Below is what I wrote to my sweet reader about making her own mocktails at home AND about ordering them when she’s out on the town.

Have any variety of these handy:

Apple cider, cranberry, orange, grapefruit, and/or pomegranate (pricey but perfect for holiday AND it’s red!! So fun!) juice. And have seltzer and/or ginger ale.

To make at home – you’ll have to experiment, but that’s part of the fun!

1. Warm apple cider. Heat in a pot with cinnamon sticks & a few cloves. Strain & enjoy. You can also add honey if needed. Garnish w/one cinnamon stick.

2. Cranberry w/splash of orange juice and top with seltzer. Have with or w/out ice. Garnish with an orange slice or float 3 little crannies in the glass.

3. Pomegranate juice, dash of orange juice. Optional fizz: Top with seltzer

4. Pomegranate or cranberry juice mixed w/ginger ale

5. Grapefruit juice, splash of cran, & selzer. Dip a lemon wedge in sugar for garnish 🙂

6. You can always have sparkling cider (delish!) or non-alcoholic beer/champagne (never tried it…)

7. MY FAVORITE: Cranberry juice with seltzer and a lime. mm!!

Ginger ale will give fizz and sweetness. Seltzer just adds fizz. Orange juice ads sweetness, pineapple juice is also good for that, very sweet. Pomegranate and cranberries are astringent, soaks up and cools down heat.

If you still want to experiment with alcohol

1. 1/2 glass light pilsner beer and add 1/2 orange juice – I love this combo

2. 1/2 sweet white wine (like a riesling) and 1/2 seltzer – a refreshing “white wine spritzer”

Make the bartender your best friend. At a bar or restaurant, they have most of these juices and can make you whatever you want. Or! Make it fun and challenge them to come up with a non-alcoholic concoction that you love. You’ll get more ideas that way too! Embrace it 🙂

Remember, more than the alcohol, these events are all about celebration. And no substance can take that part away from you. Put your concoctions in fun glasses (wine, high ball, tumbler, mug, flutes) with cool straws, garnish, or wine charms. Dress is up and don’t be afraid to celebrate!!! That’s what life is all about.