Looking for drinks that start with D? This list is handy for quizzes, alphabet food challenges, themed party menus, school activities, or simply finding something a bit different to sip. Some are everyday supermarket staples, some are café favourites, and a few are classic cocktails you may spot on a drinks menu.

As Reduced Grub is all about making food and drink stretch further, you will also find budget tips throughout, including cheaper swaps, homemade ideas and ways to use up ingredients you already have.

Drinks That Start With D: Quick List

Here is a quick overview before we get into the details.

Soft Drinks That Start With D

Dandelion and Burdock

Dandelion and burdock is one of the most recognisable British drinks that start with D. It is a fizzy soft drink with a herbal, slightly earthy flavour and a nostalgic feel. You will often find it in large bottles in supermarkets, corner shops and discount shops.

Money-saving tip: own-brand dandelion and burdock is usually far cheaper than premium bottled versions. If you are serving it at a party, chill a big bottle and pour it over ice with a slice of lemon to make it feel a little fancier.

Diet Cola

Diet cola is a popular low or no sugar fizzy drink. It is one of the easiest D drinks to find, from supermarket multipacks to pub mixers and meal deal fridges.

For saving money, compare the price per litre rather than the price per bottle. Large bottles can be better value for home use, while cans are handy if you want portion control or packed lunches.

Diet Lemonade

Diet lemonade is a useful drink to keep in the cupboard because it works as both a soft drink and a mixer. It can be served on its own, with cordial, with fruit juice, or with alcohol for adult drinks.

Cheap serving idea: mix diet lemonade with a splash of orange juice and frozen berries for an easy mocktail. Frozen fruit is often better value than fresh berries and doubles up as ice.

Dr Pepper

Dr Pepper is a fizzy soft drink with a distinctive blend of fruity, cherry-like and spiced flavours. It is widely available in the UK in bottles, cans and multipacks.

If branded fizzy drinks are pushing up your food shop, look for offers on multipacks or try supermarket versions of cherry cola-style drinks. They will not taste identical, but they can be a decent cheaper option.

Dandelion Tea

Dandelion tea is a herbal drink made from dandelion root or leaves. It has an earthy flavour and is usually sold in tea bags or loose form. Some people drink it as a caffeine-free alternative to ordinary tea.

As with all herbal teas, check the packet if you are pregnant, taking medication or have a medical condition, as some herbal ingredients may not suit everyone.

Diluted Squash

Diluted squash may sound obvious, but it absolutely belongs on a list of drinks beginning with D. Orange squash, blackcurrant squash and summer fruits squash are all budget-friendly options for families.

Reduced Grub tip: double concentrate squash often lasts longer, but only if you use the recommended amount. It is easy to over-pour, so measure it once into your usual glass to get a feel for how little you need.

Hot Drinks That Start With D

Decaf Coffee

Decaf coffee is coffee with most of the caffeine removed. It is available as instant coffee, ground coffee, coffee pods and café drinks. It is a good option for anyone who enjoys the taste of coffee but wants to reduce caffeine, especially later in the day.

Instant decaf is usually cheaper per cup than pods or takeaway coffee. If you like milky café-style drinks, warm milk in a pan or microwave and whisk it for a simple homemade latte effect.

Decaf Tea

Decaf tea is another simple D drink. It tastes similar to regular black tea, although the flavour can vary by brand. It is useful for anyone who drinks several cups a day and wants a lower-caffeine option.

To get better value, buy larger boxes when they are on offer, but only if you know you like the brand. Tea bags can lose freshness over time once opened, so keep them in an airtight container.

Drinking Chocolate

Drinking chocolate is a classic hot drink made with cocoa powder, sugar and milk or water, depending on the product. It is popular with children and adults, particularly in colder months.

Budget upgrade: add a tiny pinch of salt and a drop of vanilla extract to basic drinking chocolate. It makes a cheaper mix taste richer without needing squirty cream or marshmallows.

Double Espresso

A double espresso is a small but strong coffee made with two shots of espresso. You will see it in coffee shops, but you can also make something similar at home with an espresso machine, moka pot or strong instant coffee.

If you are trying to cut takeaway spending, learning to make a strong coffee base at home is useful. A double espresso can become an iced coffee, latte, mocha or affogato-style pudding drink with a scoop of ice cream.

Dirty Chai

Dirty chai is a chai latte with a shot of espresso added. It combines spiced tea, milk and coffee, giving you warming flavours with a coffee kick.

To make a cheaper version at home, brew a strong chai tea bag in a mug, add a spoonful of instant coffee, top with hot milk and sweeten to taste. It is not identical to a coffee shop version, but it is comforting and costs much less.

Dulce de Leche Latte

A dulce de leche latte is a sweet coffee drink flavoured with dulce de leche, a caramel-like milk spread. It is rich, creamy and firmly in treat territory.

If you have a jar open for baking, stir a teaspoon into hot coffee before adding milk. This is a good way to use up the last bit in the jar rather than letting it sit in the fridge.

Cold Coffee and Café Drinks Beginning With D

Dalgona Coffee

Dalgona coffee became famous as a whipped coffee drink. It is usually made by whisking instant coffee, sugar and hot water until thick and foamy, then spooning it over cold or hot milk.

It is one of the best drinks that start with D if you want something café-style without buying syrups or specialist kit. A hand whisk works, but an electric whisk makes it much quicker.

Double Chocolate Frappé

A double chocolate frappé is a blended cold drink made with milk, ice and chocolate flavouring. Some versions include coffee, while others are more like a chocolate milkshake.

At home, blend milk, ice, cocoa powder and a spoon of chocolate spread. It is a useful way to use up milk close to its use-by date, as long as it still smells and tastes normal and has been stored correctly.

Dairy-Free Latte

A dairy-free latte is made with coffee and a plant-based milk such as oat, soya, almond or coconut drink. Oat drink tends to be popular for coffee because it froths well and has a mild flavour.

Barista-style plant milks can be pricier, so watch for yellow-sticker reductions or long-life cartons on offer. Long-life cartons are handy for the cupboard and reduce the chance of running out.

Smoothies and Milkshakes That Start With D

Date Shake

A date shake is naturally sweet and creamy. Blend pitted dates with milk, yoghurt or a dairy-free alternative. Add banana if you want it thicker.

Basic date shake idea:

• 3 to 4 pitted dates
• 1 banana, ideally overripe
• 250ml milk or oat drink
• A pinch of cinnamon
• Ice, if you like it cold

Blend until smooth. If your dates are firm, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes first, then drain before blending.

Dragon Fruit Smoothie

A dragon fruit smoothie is bright, colourful and often made with frozen dragon fruit, banana, berries and juice or milk. Fresh dragon fruit can be expensive in the UK, so frozen packs are usually more practical if you can find them.

For a cheaper version, use a small amount of dragon fruit for colour and bulk it out with banana, apple, frozen berries or yoghurt.

Damson Smoothie

Damsons are tart little plums that work well in cooked fruit, jams and drinks. A damson smoothie is best made with cooked, cooled damsons because raw damsons can be sharp.

Never blend damson stones. Cook the fruit, remove the stones, cool it, then blend the flesh with yoghurt, milk and honey or sugar to taste.

Double Berry Smoothie

A double berry smoothie can be made with any two berries, such as strawberries and raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, or frozen mixed berries. It is an easy D drink because the name is flexible.

Money-saving tip: use frozen berries. They are often cheaper than fresh, last longer and make smoothies cold without watering them down with ice.

Alcoholic Drinks That Start With D

The following D drinks contain alcohol, so they are for adults of legal drinking age. Drink responsibly, and if you are serving guests, offer non-alcoholic choices too.

Daiquiri

A daiquiri is a classic cocktail usually made with rum, lime juice and sugar syrup. The traditional version is shaken and served chilled, while frozen strawberry daiquiris are blended with ice and fruit.

Budget tip: bottled lime juice is convenient, but fresh limes usually taste better. Buy limes when reduced, juice them, and freeze the juice in an ice cube tray for future cocktails or cooking.

Dark and Stormy

A Dark and Stormy is made with dark rum and ginger beer, often with lime. It is bold, spicy and simple to put together.

Ginger beer from discount supermarkets works well as a mixer. If you are making drinks for a group, set up a jug of ginger beer, lime wedges and ice, then let adults add their own rum measure.

Dry Martini

A dry martini is a cocktail made with gin and dry vermouth, usually served very cold with an olive or lemon twist. It is a strong drink, so small servings are the norm.

Vermouth does not last forever once opened. Keep it in the fridge and use it in cooking, spritz-style drinks or sauces to avoid waste.

Damson Gin

Damson gin is a fruity gin liqueur made by steeping damsons with gin and sugar. It is often homemade in autumn when damsons are in season, though you can also buy it ready-made.

If making your own, use clean bottles and follow a reputable recipe. Store it in a cool, dark place while it infuses, and strain it properly before bottling.

Draught Beer

Draught beer, also written as draft beer in some places, is beer served from a keg or cask rather than a bottle or can. In the UK, draught beer is most commonly associated with pubs, bars and festivals.

For a lower-cost night in, compare supermarket craft beer, ale and lager multipacks. You do not get the pub atmosphere, but you can save a fair bit by hosting a simple bring-a-bottle evening.

Dry Cider

Dry cider is cider with a less sweet flavour. It can be served chilled, used in pork dishes, added to stews, or reduced into sauces.

If you have leftover cider, freeze it in small portions for cooking. Use it from frozen in casseroles, gravy or braised onions.

Mocktails and Party Drinks Beginning With D

Designated Driver Mocktail

A designated driver mocktail is not one fixed recipe, but it is a useful D-themed name for a non-alcoholic party drink. Try lemonade, orange juice, cranberry juice and lime over ice.

Serve it in a nice glass with fruit and nobody feels like they are missing out. It is also much cheaper than buying lots of individual alcohol-free bottles.

Dry January Spritz

A Dry January spritz is another flexible D drink. Mix sparkling water or diet lemonade with fruit juice, bitters if suitable, and citrus slices. If you are avoiding alcohol completely, check labels carefully, as some bitters and alcohol-free drinks may still contain trace alcohol.

Dragon Fruit Lemonade

Dragon fruit lemonade is made by adding dragon fruit purée or small cubes of dragon fruit to lemonade. It looks impressive but can be made cheaply by using mostly lemonade and just a little fruit.

More Drinks That Start With D

Need even more ideas? Here are extra D drinks to add to your alphabet list.

• Dairy milk – plain cow’s milk, served cold or warm.
• Dairy-free hot chocolate – hot chocolate made with oat, soya, almond or coconut drink.
• Detox water – usually water infused with fruit, cucumber or herbs. The name is popular, but it is best thought of as flavoured water rather than a miracle drink.
• Dill pickle juice – the brine from pickles, sometimes used in cocktails or as a sharp savoury sip.
• Doppio – the Italian term for a double espresso.
• Dutch cocoa drink – a chocolate drink made with Dutch-processed cocoa.
• Demerara syrup drink – cocktails, iced coffee or lemonade sweetened with syrup made from demerara sugar.
• Desi chai – spiced tea popular in South Asian households, often brewed with milk, tea and spices.
• Doodh soda – a milk and lemon-lime soda drink popular in parts of South Asia.
• Dutch beer – beer from the Netherlands, including lager styles widely sold in the UK.

Cheap Ways to Serve Drinks That Start With D

Alphabet food and drink themes can be fun, but they do not need to be expensive. Here are practical ways to keep costs down.

• Use supermarket own brands: diet lemonade, cola, squash and ginger beer are often much cheaper as own-brand versions.
• Buy larger bottles for groups: for parties, 2-litre bottles are usually better value than individual cans.
• Make café drinks at home: dalgona coffee, dirty chai and drinking chocolate can all be made with basic cupboard ingredients.
• Use frozen fruit: frozen berries, banana slices and mango chunks are ideal for smoothies and reduce waste.
• Freeze citrus juice: lemon and lime juice can be frozen in ice cube trays for cocktails, mocktails and cooking.
• Keep a cordial or squash in: it is one of the cheapest ways to offer flavoured drinks without buying lots of cans.
• Label leftovers: if you open juice, milk alternatives or mixers, write the opening date on the carton and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.

Best D Drinks for Different Occasions

FAQs About Drinks That Start With D

What is a drink that starts with D?

Dandelion and burdock is a classic drink that starts with D. Other examples include daiquiri, dalgona coffee, decaf coffee, diet lemonade, dirty chai, Dr Pepper and drinking chocolate.

What alcoholic drinks start with D?

Alcoholic drinks beginning with D include daiquiri, Dark and Stormy, dry martini, damson gin, draught beer and dry cider.

What soft drinks start with D?

Soft drinks that start with D include dandelion and burdock, diet cola, diet lemonade, Dr Pepper, diluted squash and dragon fruit lemonade.

What hot drinks start with D?

Hot D drinks include decaf coffee, decaf tea, drinking chocolate, double espresso, dirty chai and dulce de leche latte.

What is a cheap drink beginning with D?

Diluted squash is one of the cheapest drinks beginning with D, especially if you buy double concentrate. Diet lemonade and own-brand dandelion and burdock can also be low-cost options.

What D drinks can I make at home?

You can make dalgona coffee, dirty chai, drinking chocolate, date shakes, double berry smoothies, dragon fruit lemonade and designated driver mocktails at home with simple ingredients.

Are there healthy drinks that start with D?

Decaf tea, dandelion tea, dairy milk, dairy-free milk drinks and smoothies made with fruit can all fit into a balanced diet. Be mindful of added sugar in fizzy drinks, flavoured coffees and milkshakes.