The Summer’s warmer days and longer nights have brought more opportunities to make the most of our gardens. It is the perfect place for catching up with family and friends. One of the ways we can make sure to keep our guests happy is with some ice cold beverages to enjoy. We look at the new trend of the ‘mocktail’ and how it has transformed our approach to serving up deliciously fresh and modern drinks for our guests:

We have become a much more conscious society when it comes to our health and state of mind, which is why many of us have taken the plunge to go teetotal on alcohol or certainly cut it down by a significant amount. As the trend has increased we have seen an influx of brands creating ‘adult’ soft drinks that are much more appealing to the market.

Gone are the days of asking for a Coca Cola or a lime and soda, there are many more unique and interesting drinks to enjoy.

What makes a mocktail? Fruits, cordials, herbs, spices and waters are infused together in wonderful combinations to suit all kinds of tastes. Some may prefer a zesty bitter finish and many would prefer sweet. The great thing about a mocktail is that you really cannot go wrong. Experimenting with flavours is just a part of the exciting process!

Many of our well known cocktail hot-spots around the UK have been sharing their favourite recipes for us to enjoy them at home. Instagram also, is a wonderful platform for inspiration to get going on some mocktail creations. Here are a few of our favourites:

Drake and Morgan

A unique collection of cocktail bars & restaurants in London, Manchester & Edinburgh, Drake and Morgan is the ultimate in sophistication. Their bars are beautifully designed as if you are transported to a botanical paradise and during the current climate they haven’t let us miss out on their wonderful cocktails. Sharing recipes and videos of their prized drinks, Drake and Morgan have given us a feast for the eyes.

Benevolent Bartender

Although mainly selling professional bartender equipment - the Benevolent Bartender has a fantastic hub of drink inspiration on its Instagram page. Their goal at Benevolent Bar-ware is to get the best possible bar-ware products into your hands - the hands of professionals at work and thirsty enthusiasts at home! With many video tutorials, recipes and how to get the right shake, this is a great platform for any cocktail lover.

Mocktail Life

Mocktail Life has a wonderful explosion of inspiration on Instagram. The beauty, the colours and the promotions of different non-alcoholic brands gives this page edge. It is a haven to find different concoctions and how to use non-alcoholic spirits. It’s a great public platform for the brands themselves.

We are now seeing many new brands trending that promote non-alcoholic spirits. It’s a phenomenon that is growing year upon year. Many of these ‘free’ spirits come at a hefty price tag too. Many brands believe that just because it does not contain alcohol, it does not mean you should scrimp on the ingredients. The flavours in many beverages come from the plants, herbs and fruits that are added.

You also have the factor of sustainability in the balance. Now more than ever, the responsibilities of sustainability in brands is of the utmost importance. The sources of fine botanicals and labouring of such plants is paramount to a successful brand. Packaging has a role to play too. Beautiful branding and bottling can really set apart a brand.

Here are a few non-alcoholic spirits that can get you inspired for your next drink:

Sea Arch

Inspired by the Devonshire coastline and bursting with seaside botanicals and as uplifting as a walk on the beach, Sea Arch is a delicious and sophisticated non-alcoholic spirit. They truly believe it is ‘better without’ (the alcohol). The Devon based brand has design signature ‘Sea’ & T cocktails amongst other refreshing concoctions.

Caleño

Drawing inspiration from Colombia’s energetic and vibrant culture - Ellie (the founder of Caleño) is on a mission to create a spirit that is as full of flavour and as exciting as any alcoholic spirit. Infusing bright and zesty flavours - Ellie is determined to bring the fun to not drinking.

Kolibri Drinks

Sparkling botanicals tailored by you. This clever bit of packaging allows you to tailor the sweetness of your drink. Pour your sparkling water over ice and use the creatively designed smart cap to add your chosen flavour. With less than 50 calories per serving, this new form of drinking is one to keep an eye on.

We have been delving through the wonders of Instagram to find the most intriguing mocktails to try. Here are our top 3 from the influencers and brands above:

Drake and Morgan - Garden Fizz

This simple yet sophisticated beverage is a classic and perfect for the summer days. Mixing zest of lemon and the sweetness of raspberries, this refreshingly light mocktail is a real crowd pleaser.See the full recipe here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Xvlf4HWH5/

Caleño - Dancing Queen

If you love a Pornstar Martini, then you are going to love this. A striking blend of Passionfruit and Caleño is topped with soda and served over ice. See more of Caleños vibrant mixes: https://calenodrinks.com/blogs/serves#

Sea Arch - Sea & T

They say ‘All the taste of a classic G&T, but without the alcohol.’ Recommended to be served in a balloon glass over ice, there is no reason why one cannot enjoy a classic cocktail without the alcohol. See the full serve here: https://seaarchdrinks.com/cocktails/classic-gt/

As we have found, there are many ways to introduce a new flavourful way of drinking into your lifestyle. The platform for non-alcoholic drinks has been transformed. They have their own identity now. It does not have to taste like the ‘real thing’ to work. The new flavours and profiles of these drinks are what is leading the way to a much healthier way of drinking and with their sustainability plans and CSR platforms - these brands are paving their way to a better future...