Mocktails for Baby Showers

hink that signature drinks only apply to cocktails? Think again! There are tons of wonderful mocktails you can whip up with mom-to-be in mind, and these concoctions can (and should) still be served in swanky champagne flutes and cocktail glasses. After all, mom deserves to be part of the toast more than anyone, right?

In addition to mocktails, there are also some great bottled and canned beverages available that are wonderful on their own, as well as in specialty drinks. The following companies have paid special attention to both ingredients AND packaging, which means these drinks are also going to look fabulous on your “bar." Line them up in contemporary rows or display them in festive champagne buckets over ice...

Glow Mama
This low calorie beverage is all natural, packed with essential pre and post natal nutrients, and has no artificial sweeteners – healthy attributes for everyone, not just those with baby on board. The contemporary packaging is fantastic, and the fact that it says “glow mama” on the front makes it oh-so-fitting for a baby shower soiree! Serve the bottles all on their own, or whip up one of these fun specialty mocktails:


Mom-ito
Ingredients:
10 Large Mint leaves
1 oz Lime juice
3 oz Chilled Glow Mama
1 oz Soda Water
6 ea Glow Mama Ice Cubes (Glow Mama frozen in ice cube trays – will prevent the mocktail from getting watered down as the ice cubes melt). 

Directions: Muddle mint leaves, sugar, and lime juice in the bottom of a highball glass. Drop in the Glow Mama ice cubes. Pour in the Glow Mama and soda water and garnish with mint leaves.

Strawberry Sparkler
Ingredients:
3 oz Glow Mama kiwi drink
3/4 oz Torani strawberry flavored syrup
2 oz club soda (or alcohol-free sparkling wine)
3-4 drops blood orange bitters 

Directions:
Pour Glow Mama, strawberry syrup, and orange bitters directly into a champagne or wine glass. Top with club soda. Garnish the edge of the glass with a slice of kiwi. 

Hansen’s Sparkling
The new Sparkling line from Hansen’s is the perfect way to enjoy your bubbly sans alcohol. Made from natural fruit juice and sparkling water, the Sparkling line – which comes in unique flavors like Dragonfruit, Valencia Orange, Cranberry Grapefruit, and Blueberry Pomegranate – is sweetened with real cane sugar (no artificial stuff) and has only 90 calories per can! Speaking of cans, the ultra mod silvery-white packaging with a small – but bright – splash of color is sure to get a second glance from all of your guests!

I served a super easy mocktail that was a big hit at a baby shower recently:

Pineapple Grapefruit Sparkler
Pour equal parts pineapple juice and chilled Hansen’s Sparkling Cranberry Grapefruit in a wine glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge, and done!

This concept works well with “Mimosa Mocktails," too. Simply top the O.J. with Sparkling Valencia Orange instead of champagne and serve in champagne flutes garnished with a slice of orange.


Izze Soda
Izze soda gets high marks in both packaging and taste! Fruity, colorful, contemporary, and bubbly – what more can I say? Refreshing flavors like Sparkling Pomegranate, Sparkling Apple, Sparkling Blackberry, and more are available in bottles or cute little cans. These colorful sodas are as much a decoration as a drink! Before setting them on your beverage table, pump up the presentation factor by attaching a straw to each can or bottle with a colorful napkin folded “bandana style."

Dry Soda
This line of all-natural, lightly sweet sodas comes in a chic, modern bottle sure to impress even the hippest of the hipsters! Unusual flavors like Kumquat, Lavender, Lemongrass, and Rhubarb add to the mystery of this modern minimalist drink. They look great served straight from the bottle with a straw or in clear cocktail flutes just like your favorite bubbly!