{"id":98299,"date":"2025-08-18T05:46:32","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T05:46:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/18\/a-compendium-of-fun-non-alcoholic-drinks\/"},"modified":"2025-08-18T05:46:32","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T05:46:32","slug":"a-compendium-of-fun-non-alcoholic-drinks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/18\/a-compendium-of-fun-non-alcoholic-drinks\/","title":{"rendered":"A Compendium of Fun Non-Alcoholic Drinks"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\"Cornwall<\/div>\n

\"Cornwall<\/p>\n

I\u2019m getting reports that it\u2019s the middle of August<\/a>. I\u2019d like to spend my remaining free time this month in one of two ways: swimming or sitting outside with a special drink and rotating cast of people I like. I\u2019ve also been in the mood to drink less alcohol. So, we turned to friends, food experts, and CoJ readers for ideas, and here are bodega recs, easy recipes, and childhood classics\u2026<\/p>\n

Canned Faves<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cPentire\u2019s Paloma<\/a> tastes so fresh, I honestly can\u2019t believe it comes out of a can. I serve it over ice, in a rocks glass. To make it extra fancy, my in-house bartender (my husband) will add a spring of whatever herb we have in the fridge.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Katherine Lewin<\/a>, Big Night<\/a> founder<\/p>\n

\u201cI am perhaps Athletic Brewing\u2019s best customer. Free Wave<\/a> is my favorite.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Chris Cohen<\/a>, writer\/editor<\/p>\n

\u201cOn nights when we\u2019re not drinking, my fianc\u00e9 and I split an Olipop<\/a> (as if it\u2019s some kind of treat!). We pour it into these vintage amber wine glasses we found together in Philly, and it adds a little sparkle to our evening. It\u2019s a small thing but constant. I\u2019m partial to the apple flavor.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Eric Kim<\/a>, New York Times food columnist<\/p>\n

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\u201cGhia<\/a> is a female-founded, non-alcoholic aperitivo that will make you feel like you\u2019re on vacation in Italy. It\u2019s bitter but bright, with notes of yuzu, grapefruit, and rosemary. I order the canned spritz<\/a>, then pour them over ice.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Diana<\/a>, CoJ reader<\/p>\n

\u201cTrader Joe\u2019s sparkling ciders<\/a> give me the vibe of a cocktail. They\u2019re very flavorful and slightly sour. Having one is my evening treat.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Amy<\/a>, CoJ reader<\/p>\n

Easy Homemade<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cI have a solution for when a watermelon falls flat when you cut into it \u2014\u00a0too watery, too mealy, too bland. Happens to the best of us! My solution is to put an immersion blender into the red flesh of the watermelon. Then, I strain out the gunk to make watermelon juice. My favorite way to season it is with salt, lime, and sumac.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Hayley Yates<\/a>, private chef<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is my personal belief that an Arnold Palmer is the perfect beverage. I brew black iced tea in advance, then purchase a good-quality lemonade<\/a>. For a party, pour iced tea and lemonade into two separate pitchers, set out a bucket of ice, and let everybody make their perfect ratio of tea to lemonade. Mine is 75%\/25%.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Katherine Lewin<\/a>, Big Night founder<\/p>\n

Childhood Classics<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cEvery summer day is an opportunity to hit the RBF: the glorious root beer float<\/em>. My one-two punch is grabbing a bodega soda (root beer mostly, but I also dabble in Coke and orange soda) and a vanilla cone from the Mister Softee truck. Most city parks are flanked by ice cream trucks this time of year, thank god.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Hayley Yates<\/a>, private chef<\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite summer drink experience is a spontaneous Yoo-hoo<\/a> in a can. The crack of a cold Yoo-hoo on a hot day is one of the best summer sounds.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Hannah La Follette Ryan<\/a>, photographer<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s really hard to create a better beverage than an ice-cold Coke, right?\u201d \u2014\u00a0Chris Cohen<\/a>, writer\/editor<\/p>\n

We\u2019d love to hear: What\u2019s your go-to summer drink?<\/strong><\/p>\n

P.S. \u201cWhy I decided to give up drinking<\/a>,\u201d and the best non-alcoholic beer: a taste test<\/a>.<\/p>\n

(Sunset photo from Cornwall, England<\/a>, where my aunt lives<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

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138<\/span> COMMENTS<\/p>\n

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