Hosting a garden-themed cocktail party is the perfect way to celebrate the early summer weather and enjoy time with friends outdoors.
There are many different ways to make your garden party special, but one of the most delicious ideas is to serve some alcohol-free cocktails. You can find some recipes, get the ingredients in and have lots of fun.
Before we share our non-alcoholic cocktail recipes with you, let’s look at why your garden is the best place to host the party, as well as a few tips on how to set up your outdoor space in a way that guests will love.
Why host a cocktail party in your own garden?
It seems much easier to host a cocktail party at some venue – no hassle of decorating the place, no hassle of cooking food, and most importantly, you don’t have to clean up the mess.
However, having a party at home comes with a lot of benefits. Here are some of them:
1. Customised theme
You can customise your garden to suit the party theme perfectly, instead of depending on the limited options that venue organisers may provide.
Depending on what kind of cocktails you are serving (e.g., fruity drinks, spritzes, mocktails), you can decorate your garden with flowers and decorations that reflect these elements.
2. Flexibility in setting up the atmosphere
When hosting a cocktail party at home, you have a lot more flexibility to set the mood and atmosphere of your event.
For example, you can play classic cocktail party music, hang festive string lights around the garden, or even light up some fire pits for added ambience. Or you can crank up the volume and go for it!
3. Privacy
The biggest advantage of the at-home party is the privacy and intimacy you get.
This is especially important if you are inviting close friends or family members, as it allows everyone to feel comfortable and relaxed in the setting.
4. Cost
It will usually be much more cost-effective at home as you don’t have to pay for venue hire and you can buy everything at much cheaper prices.
Now that we know why hosting a cocktail party in your garden is such a great idea let’s take a look at some of the tips you can use to set up your garden in the most elegant way.
Tips on decorating the garden for the cocktail party
You can’t go wrong with these simple, yet effective tips
Create a beautiful tablescape
Take some time to style your outdoor table with pretty flowers, candles, and other decorations to really set the mood for your party. Look online for some garden party theme inspirations if you aren’t sure what would look best.
Food
Keep it simple, you don’t want to be spending too long in the kitchen prepping! Often you can buy delicious Quiches and salads from your local deli or supermarket. Just make sure you cater for all the dietary requirements of the guests you’ve invited.
Always make sure there is plenty of water available, especially on hot days.
Flowers
Fragrant flowers and the summer season go hand in hand.
And when it’s a garden party, you can’t go wrong with a beautiful flower arrangement as your centrepiece. It adds a touch of elegance and helps to create some real outdoor glamour. Or just choose a few wildflowers in little bottles or jam jars for a really effective and sophisticated feel.
Choose the right glassware
Part of what makes cocktails, so fun is enjoying them in special glassware. Choose glasses that fit the theme of your party, but also ones that are easy to drink from. Straws aren’t necessary.
Add some fun activities
A garden party is a perfect chance to have lawn games like croquet or bocce ball, so make sure you add them to your list of party ideas!
Be prepared for the weather change
No matter how clear the weather is or what the forecast says, it’s always a good idea to have a contingency plan in place.
Set up a few umbrellas or canopies in the garden in case it rains or gets too hot and sunny.
The other option is to have a covered area on one side of the garden where you can shift all the stuff if the weather changes.
10 Best Non-Alcoholic Cocktails to serve at your party
So you have decided on a theme for your garden. Now is the time to make up your mind about cocktails.
Here are some suggestions which work well for people of all taste buds
1. Sea Arch Strawberry & Lime Spritz
A summer party in a glass!
Ingredients
– Sea Arch Coastal Juniper
– Fresh strawberries
– Strawberry sugar syrup
– Fresh lime and Lime juice
– Soda
– Pink peppercorns and lime zest to garnish
How to make it
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add 50ml Sea Arch Coastal Juniper
- 50ml fresh strawberry syrup and 10ml lime juice
- Shake and strain into a glass
- Top up with soda
- Garnish with fresh strawberry, lime zest and pink peppercorns
2. Spicy Grapefruit Ginger Fizz
A tasty cocktail with a spicy ginger and jalapeno kick! Not for the faint-hearted!!
Ingredients
– 50ml fresh grapefruit juice
– 20ml Lime juice
– Fresh Jalapenos to taste
– Ginger beer
– Fresh mint
How to make it?
- Add grapefruit juice, lime juice, mint and jalapeno slices to a cocktail shaker.
- Muddle or then shake.
- Strain into a copper mug or glass over crushed ice.
- Top up with a good quality low sugar ginger beer.
- Garnish with grapefruit slices, jalapenos and mint – enjoy!
3. Raspberry Mojito
What could be more perfect for a spring-summer garden party than a refreshing Mojito?
It’s an excellent way to beat the heat as well as enjoy a refreshing guilt-free glass of something tasty. Being non-alcoholic, this particular option is healthy too, since it’s mostly fruits and juices.
Ingredients
– Non-alcoholic rum
– Handful of raspberries
– 4 mint leaves
– 4 lime wedges
– Brown sugar syrup 1:1
– Soda
How to make it?
- Muddle all the ingredients in a highball glass
- Add crushed ice, top up with soda and garnish with lime wheels, mint leaves and raspberries.
As simple as that!
4. Virgin Bellini
Ingredients
– 50ml Peach Puree
– Top up with a non-alcoholic sparkling wine
– Garnish with fresh peach
How to make it
- Add peach puree to a chilled glass Champagne flute
- Top up with the non-alcoholic sparkling wine
- Garnish with fresh peach
Enjoy!
5. Blackberry & Rosemary Sparkler
Ingredients
– Alcohol-free sparkling wine
– Fresh or frozen blackberries or other berries
– Fruit syrup 1:1
– Fresh rosemary
– Sparkles for the rim
How to make it
- To get a sparkle on the rim use your finger to put honey around the top inside and out then dip into sparkles of your choice.
- Make the syrup by combining water, sugar and berries to a pan, let it simmer for 10 minutes then strain.
- Add a couple of tablespoons of syrup to the glass
- Top up with non-alcoholic sparkling wine
- Garnish with a large sprig of rosemary
6. Virgin Pina Colada Cocktail
Creamy and indulgent, the Pina Colada is the one drink that comes to mind when you think of party cocktails, think relaxing summer days and Caribbean heat.
Be warned, this one does take a little bit of prep time, but it’s worth it!
This delicious staple is welcome at any outdoor party, and we feel you’d be remiss not to consider it for yours.
Ingredients
– 400 ml of chilled pineapple juice
– 400 ml chilled coconut milk
– 400 ml two tablespoons of lime juice
– Sliced lime for garnishing
– Four teaspoons of icing sugar.
How to make it?
- Shake all the ingredients in a shaker and pour the mixture into a one-litre bottle.
- Chill this mixture for about a day (for the best taste)
- Serve with a slice of lime for a refreshing drink.
7. Basil & Cucumber Smash
Looking for a cocktail that’s both refreshing and delicious? This one might just be the pick you’re waiting for.
Crafted with inspiration from the Gin Smash cocktail, the alcohol-free Basil Smash is sure to be an uplifting and tasty serve at your party!
Ingredients
– Eight large basil leaves
– Cucumber ribbons
– Cucumber ribbons and a sprig of basil for garnishing
– 20 ml of lemon juice
– 10 ml of sugar syrup (equal parts sugar and water)
– 60 ml non-alcoholic spirit Sea Arch Coastal Juniper is great for this.
How to make it?
- Start by muddling the basil leaves in the shaker.
- Then add all the other ingredients and shake well.
- Strain into a tumbler over ice and serve with a fresh basil sprig, and cucumber ribbons
8. Alcohol-Free Espresso Martini
If you want to get everyone back on the dance floor this is one drink that will do the trick.
Ingredients
– 45 ml of fresh espresso
– 10 ml of premium vanilla syrup (not essence)
– 45 ml of alcohol-free coffee liqueur
– 15 ml of alcohol-free white rum
How to make it?
The recipe is simple. Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all the ingredients and shake well.
Strain into a cocktail coupe and garnish it with a couple of coffee beans.
Cheers!
9. Virgin Bloody Mary
Great for a Sunday Brunch party, you can make it as spicy as you like!
Ingredients
– Good quality tomato juice
– Worcester Sauce
– Tabasco sauce
– Fresh lemons, limes
– Salt & Pepper
– Fresh Celery and olives to garnish
How to make it
- Add Ice to a glass
- Add tomato juice, fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper, a dash of Worcester sauce, a dash of Tabasco
- Stir then garnish with lemon and lime slices olives and fresh celery.
10. Non-Alcoholic Irish Cream Recipe
Who knows better how to enjoy their spirits than the Irish?
This non-alcoholic version of the deliciously creamy and spicy drink is sure to delight your guests. Not only this, it’s dead simple to make!
Ingredients
– 50 ml of evaporated milk
– 150 ml of double cream
– A pinch each of cinnamon and orange zest (finely ground, of course),
– A tablespoon of vanilla extract
– 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
– A fistful of ice
– 25 ml of fresh espresso
How to make it?
As we said, the recipe is simple. Put everything in a jug or shaker and shake until the outside is cold. Then double strain and serve cold on the rocks.
Ready to drink cocktails
If you’re short on time or don’t want to be tied up mixing or washing up, then maybe the ready to drink alcohol-free cocktail is for you.
They come in cans or bottles and with so many to choose from are a super easy choice. Just chill them in a bucket of ice and let everyone help themselves.
They can be enjoyed straight from the bottle or can or dressed up in a glass with ice and a garnish!.
A delicious option here is the Sea Arch Sea & T or the Rose Sea & T both options are full of flavour and will make life very easy for the party organiser!
So let’s party!
Now that you know how to set up your space for a garden party and what to look out for when planning one, life should be a whole lot easier for you and your guests.
And with the vast array of tasty cocktail recipes at your disposal, we’re sure you’ll dazzle everyone’s taste buds!
So what are you waiting for, get working on that guest list!
