Q: I'm pregnant and probably the thing I miss most is my occasional glass of bourbon! I have other beverages so I don't feel too left out, but I really miss that smokey, rich, slightly sweet taste of bourbon. I know nothing will be the same, but I've been trying to think of a beverage or "mocktail" that might give a similar experience. Any ideas?
Sent by Jen
Editor: Readers, any suggestions for non-alcoholic drinks that are a good alternative to bourbon?
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Related: 15 Delicious Non-Alcoholic Spritzers, Sodas, and Mocktails
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Monterey Pitcher fr...

I've been there! Although I was happy not to drink when I was pregnant, I missed the ritual of a Friday night cocktail. I ended up reverting back to my childhood and having a 1:2 ratio of orange juice and ginger ale. I upgraded to good strong jamaican ginger beer and it was pretty good. Enjoy your pregnancy!
I drink bitters & soda as a spacer btwx cocktails. Maybe you can find a richer flavor? Or make a beverage from molasses?
Indeed Green Tea and Hibiscus Iced Tea is the one, and as follows:
2 tsp Kusmi Tea (Ginger-lemon green tea)
1 tsp green tea - either Japanese or Chinese
1 tsp Hibiscus dried flower
4 cups water
8 tbsp sugar + juice of one lemon
Put the two teas and hibiscus in a large tea cattle and drop the boiling water. Brew the tea for 14 minutes; strain and put the tea into one liter capacity bottle. Let it cool down. In a blender, put the tea mixture, sugar and fresh lemon juice and process. Refrigerate until cold to serve. Cheers!
Tea. I know this sounds nuts, but it's true! I went to a tea tasting at L'Espalier here in Boston, and they have a tea sommalier named Cynthia Gold---she recommended some of the strong smoky teas especially for people who like that somewhat bitter and smoky taste of whiskey but can't/don't drink. And I have to tell you, as someone who drinks, these teas were great!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapsang_souchong
Bourbon is a tough one. I can't think of a beverage that would satisfy that taste, but maybe some salted caramel ice cream? You could make it into a milk shake! :)
I recently discovered that Trader Joe's sparkling pomegranate juice hits a lot of the same notes for me that red wine does, if that is any help. It's got the right texture, a flavor that isn't obviously pomegranate or grape (it contains both juices) and isn't too sweet.
Another fairly realistic mocktail is tonic and lime.
what about a pu-erh tea? it's very smokey and complex. brew it super strong, chill it, sip slowly.
one of my favorite non-alcoholic drinks is a big glug of apple cider vinegar with a little honey in some water (not sure if apple cider vinegar is ok during pregnancy?). if you use really good vinegar (i use Bragg's), the drink is very complex, a little tart, a little sweet.
Ditto tea, smoked tea especially. Try Upton's Tea Co's Mincing Lane blend; brew it strong. I wanted red wine badly while I was pregnant, and if brewed strongly enough, tea can also get at that dry tannic taste that I wanted in wine,
Make mocktails with bacon-flavored syrup!
I second amidalailama. There are lots of smokey teas. Also, if you are really desperate, this tea is very expensive, but actually aged in whiskey barrels:
http://www.rareteacellar.com/category_s/89.htm
If I was pregnant, I might use it as an excuse to buy it!
pregnancy drinks for me were- ginger ale in a champagne flute, cranberry juice in a red wine glass and ginger beer on the rocks- a good one like from Fever Tree. I know none of these are bourbon but the ginger beer was my closest sip to it. For me drinking out of the right glass was the trick! enjoy it!
Definitely try tea. You can find lapsong souchong, assam, or chicory tea at many grocery stores. You could also try ordering tea from online; I particularly like Adagio Teas. Or, even better idea: all that hard work of being pregnant, you definitely earned yourself a trip to a loose-leaf tea store. Just walk in and describe your favorite whiskey flavors, and they'll set you up with a tea to match them.
Cold Japanese barley tea (mugicha) is a nice drink, too, and it doesn't have caffeine. But it's nothing like alcohol. Don't worry, it's only a few months...
I'm not pregnant, but have been looking for some lower calorie drinks to replace a portion of my craft beer habit with. For me, it's about the ritual of indulgence after work, so these ideas are great for me too!
I would try mixing iced lapsang souchang tea with lemonade.
Just have a sip of bourbon. You and your baby will be totally fine.
I became obsessed with seltzer when pregnant. Not quite bourbon but hey, pregnancy is only 40 weeks, not forever!
Also a small sip every now and then won't hurt the baby.
This is just bad advice bordering on dangerous. Just drink a little poison, it won't kill the baby. *rolls eyes*
There is no minimum acceptable level of alcohol to drink while pregnant. If you drink a little, your baby may not have FAS, but it is very possible you will still adversely affect your baby's health. Don't drink "just a little."
Try darjeeling tea with sweetened with brown sugar!
I'm on team bitters and soda!
Or maybe an arnold palmer?
You're perfectly safe to have a cocktail while pregnant. People have been drinking for years with no adverse effects. Just don't over do it.
With that being said your friends/family will tell you otherwise as will many websites. There are as many people that are 100% against it as there are people saying it is is safe.
You may make your own decision.
As for the sayings such as "any amount is bad, or it's unknown how little it takes to negatively affect an unborn child" i wonder how much high fructose corn syrup, or bpa exposure, or any of the other hundreds of man-made flavors, colors, or preservatives we take in on a daily basis can negatively affect a child.
Ok, rant over.
Carefully ignite some bourbon to burn off the alcohol. Add it to some black tea, with honey and lemon and a pinch of sea salt.
When I was younger, we would warm up some Dr. Pepper to fool friends to think that it was Southern Comfort.
the safest non alcoholic drink when pregnant? anyone tried water? its the safest for the baby. i also suggest waiting out your pregnancy until you can get your drink on. after having the baby, feel free to drink all you can. you can even make your bourbon if you want (maybe while breastfeeding? =P) via a copper whiskey still. just a suggestion though.