Mocktails for Christmas drivers

If you've drawn the short straw in the Christmas car pool this year, there's no need to punish yourself with a sorry bottle of sparkling grape juice.

Here we've rounded up our favourite "alcohol inspired" concoctions for the sober drivers out there to be sufficiently merry while staying safe this festive season.

1. Safe sangria

Sangria's are a fantastic summer refresher. Photo / Getty

You will need:
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 black tea bags (or 2 tsp loose-leaf tea in an infuser)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 cups pomegranate juice
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 medium orange, sliced into thin rounds
• 1 medium lemon, sliced into thin rounds
• 1 medium lime, sliced into thin rounds
• 1 medium apple, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 3 cups carbonated water

Pour the boiling water over tea bags and cinnamon sticks and steep for 5 minutes. Discard tea bags and stir in sugar to dissolve.

In a large jar or pitcher, combine tea, cinnamon sticks, pomegranate juice, orange juice, orange, lemon, lime, and apple. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and preferably overnight.

Just before serving, stir in carbonated water. Serve in glasses over ice.

2. Cold Brew Tonic

A dash of caffeine will help you keep up with the Yuletide revelers. Photo / Supplied

You will need:
• 1 bottle of Kokako Cold Brew
• 1 bottle of East Imperial Tonic
• Lemon wedges (optional)

Place a few ice cubes in a tall glass. Fill half the glass with Kokako Cold Brew and top up with the tonic. Add some zing with a wedge of lemon.

3. Virgin (bloody) Mary

Bloody Mary, minus the vodka. Photo / Getty

You will need:

• Tomato juice
• Tabasco
• Celery salt
• Half a lemon
• Worcestershire sauce
• Tbsp of pickle juice

Garnishes (optional)

• celery, cucumber, olives, pickles

Prepare your glass with a salty rim. In a shaker, mix tomato juice (enough to fill your glass three quarters full), a splash of Tabasco, a splash of Worcestershire sauce, a pinch of celery salt, a squeeze of lemon juice and the pickle juice. Shake and pour over ice. Garnish with any or all of the options above.

- nzherald.co.nz