Charcuterie boards are a staple of entertaining. No matter what kind of get-together you’re throwing, everyone loves grazing around a well-curated selection of meats and cheeses, and it’s even better when you have a festive drink to go along with it. Of course, we all know that wine and cheese pair well together, but you can just as easily find delicious non-alcoholic beverages to complement your platters. Every event feels more like a celebration when you have a drink in your hand, and no one should have to miss out on that experience just because they’re going alcohol-free!
With both charcuterie boards and mocktails, half the fun is in creating it. Being able to pick out the individual ingredients and flavors that you’ll enjoy the most allows you to create something truly special. It’s a personalized experience that you can tailor to whoever you’re enjoying it with. Our friends at Platterful make the experience easy peasy – they send out monthly boxes with everything you need to build an Instagram-worthy board! Use code RAISINGTHEBAR for a special discount when you try out their service!
The key to any good charcuterie board is balance. You want to make sure you have an excellent combination of flavors and textures – a crunchy cracker to pair with a slice of creamy brie, or a sweet jam to cut through the bite of a sharp gouda. The same principle should apply to your mocktail. If you fill your board with rich, heavy flavors, you should aim for something light and refreshing. The recipes featured in our June box, made with a non-alcoholic sparkling wine from Jøyus, would be the perfect counterpoint to hard cheeses and meats like prosciutto and salami. Alternatively if your charcuterie is made up of lighter fare, you may look for a more robust tasting drink to round things out. Consider a non-alcoholic take on an Old Fashioned to balance out more mild cheeses. If you’re not in the mood to mix something up, check out our recs for our favorite ready to drink options here!
By pairing mocktails and charcuterie, you’re able to build a festive, social atmosphere that everyone can enjoy. And because they’re sans alcohol, everyone is able to stay present in the moment. It’s an easy and fun way to create a gathering that all of your friends will cherish!
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