There's no reason you shouldn't enjoy a party you're hosting, so make one of our crowd-sized alcoholic drinks for parties instead of mixing up individual cocktails for every guest. They're ample enough to serve a crowd—and festive enough to get the party started right. Plus, we have a few without the booze for teetotalers (and kids) to enjoy!
Garden Tea Punch
Nondrinkers are used to being handed the usual glass of iced tea, lemonade, and the like. But we can do better! Here, refreshing iced tea meets fruit punch for one of our more festive nonalcoholic pitcher cocktails. Simply mix orange juice, lemon juice, club soda, and brewed tea for a fruity punch with a caffeine kick.
Coquito (Puerto Rican Egg Nog)
Think of Coquitos as Puerto Rico's answer to eggnog—but with an irresistible coconut twist (coquito means "little coconut" in Spanish). While the lush drink is often sipped around Christmas, it makes a fun alcoholic drink for parties any time of year. In summer, try it as a dessert-in-a-glass after a grilled menu.
Watermelon Margarita
Love watermelon? Ease some of that cool fruit into a zippy margarita that's just bursting with zesty citrus flavors. Ready to make the drink even more fabulous? Freeze some watermelon cubes for spectacular ice-cube stand-ins.
Smoky Lavender-Rosemary Lemonade
Smoked cocktails look (and taste!) like something you'd need an advanced degree in mixology to pull off. But anyone can do it! You can get the same effects by simply charring lemons on the grill. Add a touch of lavender, and you've got one fascinating nonalcoholic summer sipper.
Summer Fruit Daiquiri
If you've ever been stumped by a frozen daiquiri, the problem might have been too much ice, which will water down the drink. Our version replaces some ice with frozen peaches, strawberries, and mangoes for a more intensely flavored sip.
Raspberry Mojito Punch
A mojito is a popular alcoholic drink for parties, but mashing up the mint-sugar combo drink by drink can be a major hassle. With this easy recipe, you fix enough of the mint mixture for eight servings all at once. You can even get it done in advance and keep it chilled with most of the other ingredients—no last-minute muddling needed!
Mint Julep Punch
Punchbowl alcoholic drinks for parties are making a comeback, so poke around your mom's basement and snag a cool vintage vessel before your siblings get there! Then, mix up a crowd-size take on refreshing mint juleps (which, by the way, have never gone out of style).
Pumpkin Eggnog
When pumpkin-spice season rolls around, slip the wildly popular flavoring into one of our most clever party drinks of the year. Serve it with your Halloween party menu, and you'll want to serve it again at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. You'll have some canned pumpkin left over from the recipe—use it in this amazing Pumpkin Latte Coffee Cake.
Strawberry-Mint Lemonade
Some non-alcoholic drinks for parties lack oomph—that pleasing weightiness that spirits can bring to the glass. This pretty pitcher cocktail gets around that issue thanks to a strawberry-mint simple syrup, which adds roundness and body to the drink without alcohol.
Hot Orange Mocha
Coffee drinks are a great way to welcome guests into your home for a midday brunch. For evening gatherings, they make fun after-dinner indulgence. This one brings a bright, citrusy twist to the ever-popular coffee-chocolate combo. Add a little whiskey if you're looking for a spiked sip.
Bourbon-Citrus Sipper
Serving apple cider in a slow cooker is hardly the latest thing, but citrus, baking spices, and a touch of anise make this party drink really sing. Whether you add the bourbon or leave it out, serve this sipper on the chilliest winter nights—it will make everyone merry and bright in no time.
Orange-Mango Agua Fresca
For your next brunch, consider the non-alcoholic party drink agua fresca. Popular throughout Mexico, these are generally made by combining fruit juice, lime juice, water, and a sweetener. Fresca means "fresh," and as the name suggests, these light, bright concoctions are more sip-worthy throughout a party than a simple glass of juice.
Cafe Rompope (Mexican Coffee Eggnog)
Think of rompope as a little like a rum-spiked eggnog latte. It crosses the richness of eggnog with an enticing depth of Kahlua and spice (and lots of other things that are nice). In winter, make it your alcoholic drink for parties you host throughout the holiday season; other times of the year, enjoy it as a liquid dessert.
Sweet-Tea Swagger
What gives this sip its swagger? Rum! Combine that with a certain Southern charmer known as sweet tea, and you've got one cool and charismatic sip. Add it to your list of party drinks to serve when the mercury rises. Garnish with skewered watermelon and mint for a fresh finishing touch.
Strawberry-Basil Smash
The dilemma: One friend loves tequila, another prefers gin. And what to do about the rum and vodka fans? Here's a genius solution from cookbook author Gaby Dalkin: Mix up one perfect punch that will taste great with just about any clear spirit. Flavored with strawberries, lemon juice, and a hint of basil, this combo does just that.
Watermelon Cooler
You've heard of pretty in pink—now, how about ravishing in red? Indeed, this dashing, alcohol-free sipper will bring the right kind of drama to your party. With fresh watermelon, sweet white grape juice, cooling mint, and plenty of fizz, this festive and fabulous punch definitely makes a statement.
Strawberry Sangria
Wine spritzers may be oh-so 20th century, but we still like adding club soda to wine to make fizzy, refreshing, low-alcohol party drinks. With a luscious DIY strawberry syrup, this recipe brings craft cocktail appeal to the wine-cooler concept. Consider it a "craft cooler!"
Classic Margaritas
Ditch the margarita mix! Once you've tasted a from-scratch margarita made from fresh-squeezed limes, there's no going back to the readymade versions. Our pitcher-size recipe makes it easy to make these party drinks for a crowd.
Cranberry-Cider Sangria
You can serve this fruity drink in two ways: hot from a slow cooker or chilled in a pitcher. Actually, make that four ways: You can also serve it with alcohol or without. No matter how you serve this sweet-tart, winter-spiced sangria, it will surely delight your guests—up to 24 of them!
