A Student’s Guide To The Best Mocktails

It’s no secret that student life can revolve around drinking alcohol. With Freshers’ Week focused on partying with free shots left, right, and other events throughout the year, it can all get a little too much (and very expensive). For those who don’t drink alcohol, it can be a little daunting to step into university life and be faced alcohol everywhere you look.

So, to prove that you can have a great time without alcohol as a student, we’re providing you with our favourite mocktail recipes and giving you our top tips for hosting the best alcohol-free parties this term!

Virgin Versions of the Classics

Sometimes you can’t beat the classics, so here are a few virgin versions of the unbeatable cocktails you’re certain to find on every student bar menu.

Soapstar Martini

We’ve all had a Pornstar Martini phase, and as basic as they are, there’s a reason they’re so popular! Try the Pornstar’s more sensible younger sister, the Soapstar Martini, and let us know how it compares.

Ingredients

• A couple of passion fruits
• 50ml cloudy apple juice
• 15ml passion fruit syrup
• 15ml lime juice
• Vanilla extract

Method

1. Grab your cocktail shaker and fill it with ice
2. Scoop out the inside of one of your passion fruits and pop the seeds into the shaker
3. Add the rest of the ingredients
4. Shake, shake, shake!
5. Strain into a martini glass
6. Half your other passion fruit for garnish

Mojit-no Alcohol Please

This super refreshing drink is usually made perfect with a summer’s sunset, so just pop on your favourite sunny day tunes and sip on this virgin version of the classic cocktail to be whisked away from Winter and straight into Summer.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp sugar
• A few sprigs of fresh mint
• 3 limes
• Soda water

Method

1. Muddle the sugar and mint with either a pestle and mortar or a bowl and the end of a rolling pin
2. Grab some crushed ice and put it in a tall glass
3. Tip in your minty sugary mixture
4. Top with soda water

Hugs on the Beach

This non-alcoholic version of this cocktail is guaranteed to be your next go-to pre-drink. It’s simple to make and won’t leave you with a hangover the morning after!

Ingredients

• 50ml orange juice
• 50 ml cranberry juice
• 1 tbsp grenadine
• Orange slice for garnish

Method

1. Add ice to a tall glass
2. Pour in the orange juice
3. Slowly pour the cranberry juice to create an ombre effect in the glass
4. Very slowly drizzle the grenadine on top
5. Add an orange slice in the glass or on the edge to garnish

Non-Boozy Lemonades

Impress your flatmates by whipping out these fun, flavoured lemonades guaranteed to become your new favourite drinks no matter the weather. Although typically a beverage you may sip during summer, these non-alcoholic  lemonades are sure to brighten up any miserable winter evening.

One-in-a-Melon

A lemonade to WOW anyone, even Watermelon Sugar singer Harry Styles himself!

Ingredients

• 1 large or 2 small watermelons
• 250ml lemon juice
• 100g golden caster sugar
• 1l soda water
• 1 sliced lime
• A couple of sprigs of mint

Method

1. Slice off the top of the watermelon
2. Scoop out the insides and separate the pips
3. Mash the insides through a sieve and into a bowl
4. Pop in a blender along with the lemon juice and sugar
5. Stir in the soda
6. Add ice to the watermelon
7. Pour in the liquid
8. Add the mint for garnish

Princess Peach

Ideal for Mario Kart tournaments or just a mid-week non-alcoholic pick-me-up, this peachy drink is sure to add a little sweetness to your life.

Ingredients

• The juice of 2 lemons
• The juice of 2 limes
• 1 sliced lemon
• 1 sliced lime
• Peach nectar
• Cloudy lemonade
• 3 sliced strawberries
• Sparkling water
• A few mint sprigs

Method

1. Add the lemon and lime juice into a jug
2. Pop in the slices of lemon and lime and some ice
3. Pour in peach nectar until a third of the jug is filled
4. Top up with the cloudy lemonade
5. Add in the strawberries
6. Top with sparkling water
7. Add in the mint sprigs

Hosting the Perfect Alcohol-Free Party

Who said that a party can only be fun if there’s alcohol involved? Not us! Here are our top tips for hosting a super fun party this term:

• Have plenty of mocktails on hand. Either pre-make your drinks or have everyone bring some ingredients and shake shake shake during the party.
• Create a collaborative playlist. If you have Spotify, you can add all your friends to a collaborative playlist which lets them add their own music before the party. This means everyone gets to listen to the music they love!
• Get some games ready. Whether you have a Nintendo Switch or are into classic card games, be sure to put out some things for your attendees to play and get stuck in with.
• Don’t forget the snacks. Either pop in a couple of pizzas before your guests arrive or grab a few sharing bags of crisps and sweets while shopping, whatever you and your guests would prefer!

We hope this has provided some well-needed inspiration for the perfect social get-together. Don’t forget, we offer:

• Student accommodation in Lancaster
• Student accommodation in Reading
• Student accommodation in Durham

So wherever you’re at university, we’re never too far away! Get in touch today to book your room.