January’s Best Cocktails & Mocktails

Shake off the winter blues with vibrant drinks for everyone—mocktails included!

Author

Mixologist Master
January 16, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

Hello, friends! January is all about fresh starts and flavorful sips, whether you're embracing Dry January or just looking for lighter options. This week, we’re featuring a little something for everyone—classic cocktails, innovative mocktails, and tips to brighten up your winter evenings. Let’s make this a January to remember, one glass at a time. Cheers!

Trivia Question❓

What was Mountain Dew originally created for?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter - This weeks trivia question was shared by reader, Sue B. - From Spokane WA. Thanks for sharing!

Drink of the Week

Transport yourself to a tropical paradise with this refreshing mocktail that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. It’s sweet, tangy, and visually stunning, making it a perfect pick-me-up for any winter day. If you want it to have more “punch” reduce the pineapple juice to one ounce and add in 2oz of either Rum or Vodka.


Fun Fact: Mocktails aren’t new! In the 1920s, during Prohibition, alcohol-free drinks gained popularity and became a way to experiment with flavors and presentation.


Winter Citrus Mule Ingredients:

  • 2 oz vodka

  • 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice

  • 1/2 oz lime juice

  • 4 oz ginger beer

Instructions:

  1. Fill a copper mug or glass with ice.

  2. Add vodka, grapefruit juice, and lime juice.

  3. Top with ginger beer and stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Bar Hacks of the Week

Pre-Chill Everything!

Take your cocktails to the next level by chilling your glasses and ingredients beforehand. Cold glasses and mixers keep drinks at the perfect temperature for longer and enhance the overall experience.

Batch Your Mocktails

Hosting a group? Pre-batch your mocktails in a large pitcher! This ensures everyone has something special to sip, and you won’t be stuck mixing drinks all evening.

❝

Whether it’s a cocktail or a mocktail, the best drink is the one you share with good company.

💡 Answer to Trivia Question:

Mountain Dew was originally created as a mixer for liquor, particularly whiskey. The Hartman brothers, Barney and Ally, developed the drink in the 1940s after having trouble finding a suitable soda to mix with their liquor in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Here’s to making January bright with drinks that bring everyone to the table. Whether you’re shaking up a cocktail or stirring up a mocktail, every sip is a step toward warmth, connection, and joy. Cheers to you and your journey—dry, spirited, or somewhere in between!

Andrea