With the first month of 2018 well underway, there’s been plenty of talk about tee-total drinks, whether you’re taking part in Dry January or perhaps overindulged a little over the Christmas period and you’ve called for a well-needed break as part of a New Year’s resolution. If you’re planning your wedding at the moment, you may also be thinking about the selection of drinks at your reception.

There are certainly ways of making non-alcoholic drinks a little more exciting, especially for your wedding. That’s why here at Combermere Abbey, we are big fans of Gorilla Events’ delicious virgin cocktails. Without further ado, here are their top recipes, which can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home for a Dry January cocktail evening or can be served at your wedding on any day of the year. As the bride and groom, you might want to pace yourselves throughout the day as you converse with all of your guests: these drinks ideas are great for alternating between the wedding Champagne! These recipes are all really simple to make, why not try them at home before ordering them as part of your reception drinks? It’s always a good idea to have tasty, unique drinks for any teetotal or driving guests!

Mojitos

If you usually have a taste for flavoured mojitos then Gorilla’s rum-free cocktail will be the one for you. It’s a great drink to make at home and at your wedding, not only is it bursting with flavour but it’s aesthetically pleasing, ideal for photo ops!

12.5ml of lime

12.5ml of elderflower cordial

50ml of Combermere Abbey pressed apple juice

5 mint leaves

Ice

Soda

Mint sprig & lime wedge

For the method, you simply mix the lime with the elderflower cordial in a tall glass and then add the apple juice. To finish off, add the mint leaves and fill the glass with ice, topping it off with soda, followed by a mint sprig and lime wedge garnish. You’ve now got yourself a mouth-watering virgin apple elderflower mojito.

Watermelon Sharbat

If you like exotic drinks then the Watermelon Sharbat is for you, as it traditionally hales from West and South Asia – well known for making the most of sweet fruits.

1/3 of a medium watermelon, cubed

250g punnet of strawberries washed and de-stemmed

1 tablespoon of pureed ginger

1 1/2 tablespoon of caster sugar

1 tablespoon of honey

1/4 tablespoon of sea salt

5 ice cubes

Garnished with fresh mint sprigs and a slice of watermelon.

Much like the previous cocktail, once you’ve got your ingredients together, put them all in a blender and serve with the garnish, preparing yourself for a delicious drink – we’re sure that all of your wedding guests will be reaching for one!

Virgin Mary

If you prefer less fruity drinks – never fear, there are plenty of alternatives – for example, the Virgin Mary recipe from Absolut. This is a drink that will certainly add some heat to any winter wedding and will leave you and your guests feeling a little warmer:

4 parts tomato juice

2/3 part Worcestershire sauce

3 dashes of hot sauce

2/3 part lemon juice

1 teaspoon of horseradish

1 pinch of celery salt

1 pink of ground black pepper

1 stick of celery

1 wedge of lemon

Fill a highball glass with ice cubes, add all the ingredients and stir it – finishing with the celery and lemon wedge as garnish. With this adventurous mix of ingredients, we doubt that your guest will even wonder where the vodka is!

Moscow Mule

If you usually love cocktails like the Dark & Stormy or Moscow Mule, look no further than Fever Tree’s Ginger Beer. The distinct fresh ginger taste is refreshing but warm and is delicious on its own in a glass with a few ice cubes. You can also squeeze in some fresh lime juice to give it some extra zest. But in the meantime, why not use the Fever Tree recipe for your very own non-alcoholic Moscow Mule? It is the perfect drink to serve at a wedding as the ginger will provide plenty of warmth to your wedding guests this winter.

Ginger beer

Dash of sugar syrup

Splash of concentrated apple juice

Fresh mint

Crushed ice

Smash up fresh mint in a glass with a dash of sugar syrup using a mixing spoon, add in the crushed ice and pour over the ginger beer. Finish with apple juice and a sprig of fresh mint. It sounds delicious – we might have to run and buy the ingredients right away!

We hope we’ve provided some inspiration for your non-alcoholic wedding drinks – there’s something for everyone to enjoy. If you decide to use any of these recipes, let us know on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #RecipesWithCombermere.