MOCKTAIL: CREATIVITY IN CRAFTING UNIQUE DRINKS

By: Allyshia Renay

Mock·​tail: A usually iced drink made with any of various ingredients
(such as juice, herbs, and soda water)
but without alcohol. 

When it comes to social beverages for adults, there was a time when a mocktail was at the very bottom of the list.  I mean, why would a sophisticated lady out on the town choose an fruit juice-soft drink concoction, instead of a sexy, dirty martini?  

Enter Allyshia, the lifelong non-drinker.

Back in my early 20’s, each time I’d approach the bartender to request a non-alcoholic drink, there would be an awkward pause, a smile and then I would get served a glass of some cranberry juice and soda. And that my friends, was it.  Now don’t get me wrong, I didn’t feel pressure to drink.  I was always the designated driver, and my friends would take care of my gas and food for a week, which back in the early aughts, was a lot of money.  But still: I wanted something more sophisticated to drink when I went out with my friends.

Fast forward to the Year of 2025 and a trip to Cayuga County.

Now I will admit that before heading up to meet with some of the mixologists in Cayuga County, I’d pretty much given up on having a “sophisticated” drink.  But after meeting with the crafters and seeing what they have created, I am glad to report that the mocktail game has been stepped up tremendously.  Gone are the days of the juice and soda combo in a water glass; now non-drinkers are being treated to a litany of drinks served in gorgeous martini, highball and wine glasses.   But I believe that the mocktails are becoming all the rage because proprietors have realized there are people who cannot or do not drink for various reasons and hey, why miss out making money from it?

With the invention of SEVERAL non-alcoholic alternatives – gin, whiskey and even, tequila – there are more ways than ever to enhance a mocktail.  I was treated to flavors ranging from a green tea-raspberry mix to an elderflower-lime-mint concoction.  Now, there are some that will argue that a mocktail cannot offer the same essence that a traditional cocktail does, but sans the alcohol, is it really that big of a difference?  After all, most would argue that the point of a “social drink” is to get people in a relaxing mood to chat amongst their peers and I have told NUMEROUS TIMES that a mocktail does not fit the bill, but I am here to counter that argument.  And let’s not forget one big elephant in the room: Mocktails are not only for those who do not like alcohol or are underage.  There are many people that are scaling back from alcohol consumption for various reasons, so mocktails could be a great choice for them as well!

Whilst writing this piece and thinking of the range of mocktails I had on my tour in Cayuga, it hit me that I really did not understand the need for an alcoholic beverage past the taste factor (and the fact that it helps loosen some folks up in social settings), so I reached out to a friend to inquire: What was it about a cocktail that made it so special vs. a non-alcoholic mocktail?  And to my surprise, it was a simple answer as she stated that cocktails were a beverage that people enjoyed in a nice setting, a pretty glass and a little “something extra” to help you get in the mood to socialize.  And she also brought up a GREAT point regarding the taste of cocktails in that they are rarely paired with a full meal, but with hors d’oeuvres.  With that being said, mocktails are a GREAT counterpart for people that cannot drink or don’t like the taste of alcohol because it allows you to participate in social settings without the feeling of being left out.

Thinking back on my time in Cayuga County, watching the mixologists take the time to create drinks that offered complex flavor profiles was beyond special for a non-drinker like me.  It may seem like a small thing to some, but elevated mocktail drinks feel like a new beginning for me, socially speaking. And now I can help but wonder: Will I now be able to “Werk a Room” whilst holding a pretty drink and invoking the ambiance of a 1980s diva? 

I think we all know the answer to THAT question!