Moreish mocktails and cheeky cocktails for Eurovision parties
- Brendan John
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
These snazzy serves are right on song, says Sam Wylie-Harris.
A showy spectacle with glitter, sequins and costume dramas galore, song competitions don’t get more colourful than the Eurovision Song Contest – and the Grand Final is perfectly placed for Saturday night soirées.
Gearing up ahead of the 69th edition, with Basel (Switzerland) the host city this year, the world’s biggest live music event calls for some fun mocktails to elevate the evening; alongside luxe libations to toast the tremendous talent.
To cater to a myriad of tastes, here’s what’s winning smiles all round…
Mocktails
1. Shirley Temple
This gold medal-winning pre-mix offers a sweet and zingy taste sensation – and The Drinks Bureau Shirley Temple (4-Pack, 250ml, £12, The Drinks Bureau) is cited as a sophisticated take on the popular classic. Combining juicy cherry, lemon, ginger and bitters, simply pull the tab and pour into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
2. Caleño White Coconut Piña Colada
For some cocktail theatre to capture a tropical paradise, Caleño White Coconut Non-Alcoholic Rum (£18, 50cl, Waitrose) is top of our teetotaller’s tipple list. Expect smooth and sweet flavours of fresh coconut with subtle notes of vanilla and pineapple.
Here’s the recipe to create a carnival vibe to mirror the contest…
Ingredients: 50ml Caleño, 20ml agave, 80ml coconut milk, 80ml pineapple juice, 15ml lime juice. Fresh pineapple for garnish.
Method: Half-fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add ingredients, shake vigorously and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with wedge of pineapple.
3. Peach GaribaldiNO
Cue the aperitivo with Martini Floreale Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo (£10.50, 75cl, Waitrose) – and cocktails made from de-alcoholised wine infused with herbs (including Roman chamomile) and botanicals; mixed with refreshing flavours of fleshy peaches.
One of our favourite Italian traditions, serve this aperitivo with cheese and olives – its one to fly the flag for Italy…
Ingredients: 50ml Martini Floreale, 30ml white peach purée, 15ml orange juice, 60ml London Essence White Peach and Jasmine Soda. Fresh white peach for garnish.
Method: Fill a wine glass with ice. Add the Martini Floreale, purée and juice. Top with soda and garnish with a wedge of peach.
Cocktails
4. Lacey’s Strawberry Vodkashake
When you want to call the shots, we’re tickled pink with Lacey’s Strawberry Vodkashake (£12, 15% abv, 70cl, B&M Stores, in-store). A dairy-free vodka liqueur inspired by a 1950s-style American diner, it’s tailor-made for fancy dress themes… groovy.
Think fragrant, strawberry flavours blended with vodka and a smooth creamy finish. Serve in well-chilled mini shot glasses topped with squirty cream and sprinkles. Sinfully good.
5. Karisimbi Classic Daiquiri
A Jamaican gem, Gorilla Spirits Co Karisimbi White Rum (£35.09, 40% abv, 70cl, Master of Malt) romped home with a Gold medal at the IWSC 2024 – having been awarded the highest score of 95 points.
The judges’ tasting note described its profile as having a ‘funky bold nose of sweet, caramelised banana; bold palate of apples and mint surrounded by stone-fruits, giving texture with a fantastic long grassy length,’ and who wouldn’t drink to that?
Here’s their classic cocktail to salute your favourite act…
Ingredients: 50ml Karisimbi, 30ml lime juice, 30ml sugar syrup.
Method: Half-fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add ingredients, shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass.
6. Ben Lomond Go With the Flow
An exciting, prize-winning gin to have in your line-up, Ben Lomond Scottish Gin (£33, 43% abv, 70cl) won a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2024 – and its blend of 11 botanicals bring ‘fruit, floral, citrus, spice, earth and juniper notes’ to the party.
Distilled as a classic London Dry, it’s said to be a vibrant, robust, versatile and wonderfully aromatic with hints of rose and Scottish berries.
Try their signature serve to spark conversation around contestants, and cheer the winner…
Ingredients: 35ml Ben Lomond, 10ml rhubarb syrup, 20ml lime juice, 20ml pressed apple, splash of ginger ale, lime for garnish.
Method: Half-fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the gin, syrup and juice. Shake vigorously, strain into a chilled coupe and top with ginger ale. Garnish with a lime wedge.
