If you are anyone like me, 2025 was a year of pickling. So, now with the dawn of 2026, there comes the opportunity to start off the new year right. Each December begins the tradition of New Year’s resolutions that usually do not fare well. But that is usually because we bite off more than we can chew, like vowing to lose fifty pounds, or work out eight days a week, or pledging to endure Dry January.

For me, Dry January lasted until the evening of the 2nd. But that did not stop me from thinking about celebrating the hope of Dry January with a memorial mocktail.

I know what you are thinking. Mocktail? Most are ugly, taste awful – either too sweet, too bland, or both – and most important of all, are downright boring to drink. Not the Cherry Velveteen, the perfect after dinner mocktail. She is gorgeous, tastes better, and best of all, is fun to drink. In fact, you will need a spoon and, I promise, you will not miss the liquor!

What takes this mocktail over the top is the frozen martini glass that it is served in. The secret is the FREEZE brand martini glass. (You can make this mocktail in a regular frozen martini glass, but the results may not be the same.) These glasses incorporate technology to keep your martini ice cold for longer. They are perfect for any kind of martini but are critical for the Velveteen that will convert the luscious, creamy, spicy, dark cherry and chocolate after dinner drink into the perfect after dinner desert. That’s right. Don’t forget the spoon! The drink will freeze along the sides of the glass turning the after-dinner mocktail into a frozen desert! It’s a perfect 2 for 1! And since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, there is no better way to get in the mood than with this indulgent, rose pink, dusted chocolate, delight. 

By the way, if your New Year’s resolution list includes calorie consciousness, keep this in mind. Believe it or not, the Cherry Velveteen has fewer calories than a high proof, top shelf Cosmo!

Cherry Velveteen

Ingredients:

3 oz half and half

1 1/2 oz dark cherry syrup

½ oz fresh lemon juice

3 dashes of Peychaud’s bitters (adds miniscule alcohol, but if absolutely no alcohol is a necessity, consider All the Bitter New Orleans or Bark and Bitter bitters instead)

Luxardo cherry and dark chocolate powder for garnish

Directions:

Place the Luxardo cherry at the bottom of a well-frozen FREEZE martini glass.

Stir the half and half, cherry syrup and bitters in a glass with ice cubes until well chilled or into a cocktail shaker with chipped ice and shake for 5-10 seconds.

Strain the mixture into the prepared frozen martini glass and dust half the glass with powdered dark chocolate.

Serve immediately and enjoy.