u/rashimehra28

Getting kinda bored of my usual mocktails and want to try something new since it is almost Fall. Anyone have go-to combos that scream "Fall" without being about the basic pumpkin spice?

Maybe something like apple cider + ginger, spiced tea reductions, maybe something with cranberry that isn't just cranberry juice and a lime wedge. Bonus points if it still works as a mocktail and doesn't feel like I'm missing something by skipping the alcohol.

I am also open to weird combos with savory/herbal stuff, rosemary, sage, or whatever. I feel like fall drinks don't get enough creativity beyond pumpkin spice 😂

What are you guys experimenting with today?

Every now and then there's some new drink thing everyone's obsessed with, and then it just... disappears 😂 Remember when everything had to be “adaptogenic” for like 6 months?

But some stuff feels different, like it's actually sticking. Non-alc drinks being genuinely good now instead of just sad juice substitutes feels like a real shift, not just a trend. Same with the whole “drinks that do something” thing — gut health sodas, functional drinks, etc. It feels less like a fad now and more like people genuinely want that.

I'm also seeing more mocktails, sparkling drinks, botanical drinks, drink mixes, and different takes on tea and coffee.

What do you guys think is actually gonna stick around vs. what's just hype that'll be dead by next summer?

Anyone have a good non alcoholic drink that isn't just... juice? I don't drink but I'm tired of getting handed a Sprite every time we go out lol

I've been doing soda water with a splash of bitters lately and it's actually pretty good, or ginger kombucha when I want something with more flavor going on. But feels like there's gotta be better stuff out there

What do you guys usually get when you want something more grown up tasting

I was making a blackberry mojito the last weekend and it hit me that I use sparkling water in almost everything. No matter where the drink starts, it somehow ends with a splash of it.

What's the one bottle you always keep reaching for when you're making mocktails? Ginger beer, tonic, club soda, cranberry juice... or something else?

I always see people talking about meal replacement smoothies, but I'm curious what actually makes one a meal.

Is it hitting a certain amount of greek yogurt? Adding healthy fats like peanut butter or avocado? Oats for extra carbs? Or is it just whatever keeps you full for a few hours?

What does yours usually look like?

I only found out this was a real drink today 😭 I honestly thought it was something from an old cowboy movie.

It’s basically Coke, grenadine, ice, and a cherry. Not gonna lie, part of me thinks that sounds pretty good, and the other part thinks it might be sweet as heck.

Has anyone made one before? Does the grenadine actually add much, or am I gonna need a lime to balance the whole thing out?

I've been wanting to try something other than coffee in the evenings.

I usually end up having tea, but I'd love to find some new options. What's your favorite caffeine-free drink to relax with after a long day?

I'd love to hear your recommendations, especially the underrated ones!

Reading through a few beginner posts today made me realize I would've loved having someone point me in the right direction when I was first figuring things out.

What's one thing you know now that you wish you'd known back then?

Doesn't have to be some huge lesson. Even something small that would've saved you a lot of confusion.

For the longest time, every time one of my mocktails didn't turn out the way I wanted, my first thought was, "I probably need another ingredient."

Another syrup. Another recipe. Another garnish.

So I'd go looking for the next thing to buy or try... and somehow it would still end up tasting like fancy juice.

Today, halfway through making a mojito mocktail, it finally clicked.

Maybe I didn't need more ingredients. Maybe I just needed to stop overthinking it.

I slowed down a bit, paid more attention to getting the mint, lime, sweetness, and sparkling water to work together, and the drink turned out better than a lot of the more complicated ones I've made.

Kind of funny how I kept blaming the recipes when I was probably just skipping over the basics. 😂

Now I'm wondering how many drinks I've unfairly judged over the years because I was chasing "more" instead of just getting the balance right.