drinks

Drinks are often one of the hardest things about entertaining. Figuring out how to host a festive gathering where everyone has a drink that pleases, without having to spend a fortune or stock your house with enough bottles to open a bar. And while BYOB is always an option, you are then still stuck with an obligation to provide all the mixers and garnishes and other drink fixings.

The holidays are a time of indulgence, particularly when it comes to alcohol. But there are plenty of people who want to avoid it altogether, or, even if you do want to drink, want to make sure to be able to go to the office the day after the office party. If for whatever reason you're not interested in alcohol, you're in luck. This year has been a banner one for the development of non-alcoholic drink options that aren't just a Shirley Temple. 

I grew up in the Jello era, when colorful fruity molds graced most holiday buffet tables, when tomato aspic was still a thing that was offered regularly as an appetizer on the menu of the social club my grandparents belonged to, and when a bowl of flavored jiggle was in our home fridge eight days out of ten. I remember when Sugar-Free Jello hit the market, that magical 10 calorie a serving guilt-free wobble, and suddenly our family jello consumption increased tenfold.

For some drinkers, the black liquorice smell of Jägermeister— or even just the sight of its distinctive green bottle— is associated with memories of brutal hangovers and 20-something fun times. But as is so often the case, maybe adding coffee will change things for the better.

For some people, it's never too hot for hot coffee, and never too cold for cold brew. For the rest of us, cold brew is something that starts popping up more regularly in May, and by mid-summer, it's the only way to get through a day caffeinated without sweating through your work clothes. The thing about buying cold brew in cans, though, is so often you're not just buying cold brew.

Ice pops are good. Cocktails? Also good. Combining them, especially in the summer, is a natural fit. After all, you don't need to add ice to your drink if it's already made of ice. And what's more, making your own boozy ice pops at home is pretty easy, as long as you have realistic expectations of your freezer's capability. 

You asked, and Starbucks listened: The S’mores Frappuccino is returning this summer.

Hosting Easter brunch? We’ve got the scoop on how to kick it up a notch. Aldi is bringing back their bottled mimosas for the second year in a row, and this year they’re spicing them up with a new flavor—pineapple.