You’ve resolved to start the new year with some new habits, and we want to cheer you on. To do that, we’ve developed a list of mocktails to keep you sober, celebratory, and supply chain-centric. Our list has something for every occasion, whether you’re in the mood to commemorate a smart pivot with scenario planning (What-if Scen-egroni, anyone?) or mourn a delay (We need picklebackorders, stat!). Let’s turn your “chin chin” into “chain chain” with these themed mocktails.
Arnold BOMer
Your bill of material for this play on an Arnold Palmer mocktail is simple: lemonade, tea, and ice. What could be sweeter?
Cube-age Libre
Our wish for you this year: plenty of cubic space for whatever you’re storing or transporting. If it doesn’t happen, then there’s always this alternative, made with Coca-Cola, lime and vanilla extract (or keep the usual rum if you’re not participating in dry January).
Demand Driver
Demand for screwdrivers, the inspiration for this drink, was influenced by American soldiers stationed overseas during World War II and became more widespread as vodka gained popularity in the 50s and 60s. For a dry version, we recommend combining orange juice and any non-alcoholic beverage of choice. Then, toast whatever drives demand in your industry. Cheers!
Dirty ChAI Tea Latte
AI has spiked just about every digital punch these days, including supply chain software. The Dirty ChAI Tea Latte captures the coziness of a coffee chat with the automation of a Claude or Copilot. To make one, combine black tea, espresso, and some warming spices⏤ask your favorite chat bot for some recommendations. Then add your choice of sweetener and frothy, steamed milk.
Hot Buffered Rum
Keep yourself warm while protecting your supply chain from stockouts. This cozy tribute to buffer stock combines butter, sugar, spice, and a little hot water or coffee to make your dry January delightful.
Inventory Manage-mint Julep
You kept your inventory balanced the past year. Now don’t short yourself! Enjoy some excesses, like this twist on a mint julep. Swap ginger ale for bourbon and mix with muddled mint leaves to create a spicy mocktail.
Lemon Drop Ship
Salute the speed and convenience of drop shipping with a lemon drop ship. Convert this classic cocktail into a mocktail by mixing lemon juice, simple syrup and club soda. Although, if you truly want to honor the expedience of drop shipping, you could try a lemon drop ship shot. Skip the juicing and simply bite on a lemon wedge after each sip. No matter the conveyance, this is a satisfying sip.
MEIOld-fashioned
This drink might be old⏤it was invented in the 1800s⏤but your supply chain processes are not. Just like how you optimize inventory across multiple echelons in your supply chain, the old-fashioned mocktail muddles sugar with water, bitters (there are many non-alcoholic versions available or you can use dried citrus), and cooled black or Early Grey tea to create the perfect refreshment.
Picklebackorder
You have customer demand for a product, but you’re short on stock to satisfy it. What a pickle! If you’re feeling a little salty, take a “hair of the dog” approach and wash it down with some pickle brine⏤with or without a mixer.
S&OPiña Colada
Aligning your supply chain with your company’s business objectives shouldn’t be a “strain.” (Colada means “strained” in Spanish. Get it?) Let this be the year you put the cherry on top of your sales and operations planning processes, so you can sip and celebrate without concern. Mix strained pineapple juice with coconut cream and coconut water then garnish with a cherry.
What-if Scen-egroni
When an unplanned change happens, you use what-if scenarios to make informed supply chain decisions. In other words, you never let the bitter overtake the sweet, which is why the negroni is a classic option for your dry January. To make, infuse a simple syrup with your choice of herbs. Mix the infused syrup with a splash or grapefruit or orange juice, club soda and ice. Add a touch of grenadine or red food coloring if you want to achieve the classic negroni coloring.
And just in case you need it….
Some of us might not make it through January as dry as we intended. If that’s the case, we’ve got you covered. All of the mocktails above can become alcoholic when you need a skip day or when you’re less sober-curious in February. Finally, if you’re more of a straight-no-mixers type, you can always go with a classic:
Just-Gin-Time
Clean, smooth, and simple. Are we talking about your inventory management or this drink? Maybe both. To make your own, all you need is gin.
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