How To Enjoy the Taste of a Cocktail Without Using Liquor
We can all agree the taste of alcohol is not for everyone. It is bitter, drying, and tingly with a touch of sweetness. Although many seasoned drinkers grow accustomed to the taste of this elixir, most common folks are tempted to drink alcohol without letting it touch their taste buds.
You may love your cocktails as much as the next imbiber, but sometimes drinking the hard stuff just isn’t an option. And that’s okay. You shouldn’t let any alcohol snob shame you into accepting the bitter taste of liquor when you can enjoy some yummy concoctions to get the liquor experience without tasting alcohol.
Below, we have shared a list of delectable drinks that are just as intoxicating as alcohol. So, let’s dig to find you a non-alcoholic mocktail to replace traditional cocktails.
KOMBUCHA
What’s Lady Gaga’s favorite go-to drink, you ask? A delectable fermented concoction with a satisfying fizziness, aka a kombucha. To make this elixir, you need sugar, black tea, and a yeast-bacteria culture.
The refreshingly aromatic kombucha flavors do not feel overbearingly sweet or overly tart on your tongue. This drink contains traces of caffeine that deliver a slight yet fleeting buzz so you can guzzle down glasses without worrying about the dreaded hangover.
GINGER BEER
Trying to avoid a hangover but craving a beer? Try ginger beer instead. This sparkling beverage is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy with a touch of freshness. You can easily make this probiotic drink at home with the ginger bug — a free-range culture made from ginger and sugar.
When you make it with real ginger, this enticing cocktail is oh-so-effective in alleviating nausea, soothing an upset stomach, and delivering the desired buzz without you having to taste the alcohol in your sips.
MATCHA TEA
Matcha tea has its roots in China and Japan, but recently it has started getting popular in other parts of the world, too. This traditional powdered green tea has incredible health benefits and tastes delicious. Sipping on this beverage gives you focus and boosts your alertness without the hangover from alcohol or the crash from caffeine.
MARGARITA MOCKTAIL
Who knew having the time of your life was possible without tequila? While a margarita enjoys the status of being a classic alcoholic drink, you can make a virgin margarita that tastes just as good as the real thing.
All you need to make this drink is lime, pickle juice, simple syrup, and tonic water. The pickle juice adds the tequila-reminiscent punch to a margarita mocktail. It has a tangy and refreshing taste, punctuated by a classic salt rim to make it the real deal.
NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS
If you’re too lazy to mix a mocktail, a non-alcoholic spirit can fulfill your booze needs. A non-alcoholic elixir is a perfect way to lift your mood without the following hangover. You can easily find a booze-free version for the spirit of your choice — whiskey, rum, or gin. No matter your reason for not imbibing, a non-alcoholic spirit lets you pour a not-so-stiff one.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This guide has served as enough inspiration to pour a drink to get enough buzz without tasting alcohol. These elixirs can make your drinking game nothing but smooth sailing. So, stop scrunching your nose while downing your alcoholic drinks in a single gulp to get the buzz going and switch to non-alcoholic beverages.