These mocktail recipes can help you celebrate New Year's Eve without alcohol
As another holiday season comes to a close, some people are ditching alcoholic drinks for alcohol-free bubbly.
It's part of the growing "sober curious" movement, where people are opting for booze-free beverages instead of the traditional cocktails -- even as they ring in the new year.
"The pandemic shifted people in one of two directions," said Doug Watters, the owner of Spirited Away, the first booze-free bottle store to open in New York City in 2020, told "Good Morning America." "Some started drinking a lot more alcohol and some people started reexamining their habits and perhaps trying to drink less."
The demand for non-alcoholic beverages increased in sales by 33% from last year, according to Business Insider. And now, others like Watters are opening up their own booze-free bottle shops.
For Watters, opting for alcohol-free drinks is due to a growing focus on health and wellness.
"I think a lot of people are realizing that in terms of healthy habits, you can eat healthier, you can exercise," said Watters. "Cutting out alcohol results in a lot of improved feelings of health and wellness for very little effort expended."
Chef Leah Cohen, the owner of "Pig and Khao" and "Piggyback" resturants, joined "GMA" Friday to show how to make three easy booze-free cocktails that are perfect for ringing in the new year.
Check them out below.
Sweet and sour cilantro soda
Ingredients:
1 ounce lemon juice (fresh)
1 ounce lemongrass syrup*
Handful of cilantro
Club soda/seltzer
Directions:
In a shaker, combine lemon juice, syrup and cilantro, add ice, shake well.
Empty ingredients (including ice) into a Collins glass, top with seltzer.
Garnish with lemon wheel.
*Lemongrass Syrup
Ingredients:
cup of sugar
cup of water
2 stems of lemongrass (smashed)
Directions:
Combine, bring to a boil, stirring constantly
Remove from heat, let sit for 30 minutes, strain into container (discard lemongrass)
(you will obviously have extra syrup)
Rosemary's Berry
Ingredients:
1 ounce lime juice (fresh)
1 ounce rosemary syrup*
1 medium strawberry or ½ large strawberry (cut into 4)
Martinelli's sparkling (apple cranberry)
Directions:
In a shaker, combine lime juice, rosemary syrup and strawberry, add ice, shake well.
Strain into a Collins (or wine) glass, fill with fresh ice, top with Martinelli's.
(For a less sweet version, replace Martinelli's with seltzer)
Garnish with rosemary sprig.
*Rosemary syrup
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
2 sprigs of rosemary
Directions:
Combine, bring to a boil, stirring constantly
Remove from heat, cover, let sit for 30 minutes. Strain into container.
(you will have extra syrup)
Purple pomegranate paradise
Ingredients:
3/4 ounce lemon juice (fresh)
3/4ounce lime juice (fresh)
1/2 ounce Butterfly Pea syrup*
2 ounce white cranberry juice
Directions:
In a shaker, combine lime, lemon, syrup and white cranberry; add ice, shake well.
Strain into a coupe or martini glass.
Drop some pomegranate seeds into the glass for garnish.
*Butterfly Pea Syrup
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup of water
Approximately 20 dried butterfly pea petals
Directions:
Combine, bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat, cover, let sit for 30 minutes. Strain into a container.
Note: You will have extra syrup.
Recipes reprinted with permission, courtesy chef Leah Cohen.
