In India and a handful of other nations like Canada, New Zealand and Thailand, there are designated days in the calendar which are known as dry days. What the concept of dry days essentially means is that on this designated day, the over-the-counter sale of alcohol and alcoholic beverages is not prohibited. In India, the national holidays of Independence Day (15 August), Republic Day (26 January), Gandhi Jayanti (2 October) and major festivals like Holi, Dussehra, Diwali, Eid, etc are designated as dry days.
Of course, if you are throwing a party on a dry day—it is a holiday after all and an occasion to get together with family and friends—then you might want to stock up on alcohol beforehand. Or, you could take the opportunity to show off your mixology skills by whipping up some creative mocktails. In fact, given that autumn season, which coincides with the Indian festive season, has at least three dry days—Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra and Diwali—upping your mocktail game with autumnal mocktails might be the best idea for parties.
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There are plenty of fruits and veggies that come into season during autumn, which would give you an additional impetus to turn these seasonal flavours into perfectly enchanting non-alcoholic drinks. So, check out these seven delicious, autumn-special mocktails you can whip up on dry days.
Sparkling Apple Cider
Not only do apples come into season during autumn, but apple cider with fresh apples is also made across the world—giving you the perfect base for a non-alcoholic autumn-special mocktail. To make a Sparkling Apple Cider Mocktail, you need apple cider, cinnamon stick, orange peel, lemon juice and some club soda to add the bubbles. Serve the beverage over ice cubes and enjoy!
Virgin Pumpkin White Russian
Pumpkin flavours are synonymous with autumn season, so why not give a classic White Russian an alcohol-free spin with it? Blend together pumpkin puree, coffee liqueur, a splash of coconut milk, vanilla syrup and dust the rim of your glasses with some cinnamon sugar. The perfect sweet and punchy autumn-special mocktail is ready.
Spiced Orange Mocktail
The coming of autumn means mulled wine season is almost here, but if you want to try a non-alcoholic avatar of this classic then try a Spiced Orange Mocktail. Warm sone orange juice mixed with a splash of cranberry juice with warming spices like cinnamon, cloves and star anise. Simmer for a few minutes, then rest the mocktail for a while. Serve it warm to your guests for the perfect autumn party.
Autumn Punch
A punch is usually a combination of flavours, so an Autumn Punch will give you the chance to experiment with plenty of seasonal flavours. Use apple cider and cranberry juice as your base and feel free to add chopped apples, pear slices, orange wedges and herbs like rosemary to the drink. Serve the fruity Autumn Punch over lots of ice for best results.
Honey Pear Mocktail
Ripe and seasonal pears combine with the rich and golden goodness of honey to create this delicious autumnal Honey Pear Mocktail. Chop up some fresh pears and muddle them with a drizzle of honey and a dash of lemon juice. Let the base stew for a while, then add some sparkling water or soda to create the mocktail. To serve, add a pear slice and sprig of rosemary to the glass along with some ice cubes.
Virgin Pumpkin Pie Martini
Another autumn-special mocktail infused with the flavours of pumpkins, this Virgin Martini evokes the same taste profile as a traditional Pumpkin Pie. Mix pumpkin puree with vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg and some almond milk and maple syrup. Mix everything well and pour into a martini glass with its rim dusted with cookie or biscuit crumbs to evoke the sense of a pie crust. You can also garnish the drink with some cinnamon sticks.
Autumn Ginger Fizz
This fizzy mocktail is packed with the flavours of ginger and apple cider, making it an aromatic and sweet drink perfectly suited to any party you throw during autumn. Combine non-alcoholic ginger beer with apple cider, fresh lemon juice, a cinnamon stick and some muddled ginger. Once the flavours are well-combined, pour over ice cubes and serve with a cinnamon stick, slice of ginger and sprig of rosemary.