For those trying to maintain sobriety due to personal and health reasons or to address a substance abuse disorder, replacing alcohol with non-alcoholic beverages in social settings is typically limited to options like warm tea, fruit juice, water or decaf coffee. While those are suitable safe options, they don’t provide the same familiar sensory experience that comes with drinking a fancy beverage. Fortunately, the beverage industry has stepped up with delicious non-alcoholic cocktail recipes and ready-to-drink brands that will provide people with the experience they enjoy but without the alcohol.
Recipes for Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
You may be a little skeptical about non-alcoholic cocktails, known as mocktails, but these drinks are full of flavor and allow you to join in the celebration without drinking alcohol. If you are hosting an event, it is a good idea to offer at least one fun and tasty mocktail along with your regular alcohol cocktails. Here are a few recipes to inspire you:
Citrus Fizz
1.75 oz Seedlip Grove 42
.75 oz marmalade cordial
Soda water
To make your own marmalade cordial, combine 150 mL of hot water with 300 mg of marmalade. Run the mixture through a fine strainer and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Combine Seedlip Grove 42 and marmalade cordial in a shaker with ice.
Mix and strain into a glass with fresh ice. Top with soda water for a little fizz to complete the drink.
Virgin Watermelon Margarita
1 medium sized watermelon
.5 cup lime juice,
4 tsp of agave
Soda water
Cut a seedless watermelon into chunks and puree in a blender until you have a total of four cups of watermelon puree.
Add lime juice and agave into the blender and pulse to mix well.
Serve into 4 margarita glasses and top with soda water.
Virgin Cucumber Gimlet
1 oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
1.5 oz soda water
Combine lime juice and simple syrup in a shaker with ice.
Pour this non-alcoholic cocktail over fresh crushed ice, add soda water and stir. Garnish with a cucumber slice.
Raspberry Bee’s Knees
1 oz water
.5 oz honey
.5 oz lemon juice
5-8 raspberries
Soda water
Add raspberries and honey into an empty shaker and muddle.
Add lemon, water and ice, and shake vigorously.
Pour into a glass and top off with soda water. Garnish with fresh raspberries.
Magic Apple
2 oz Ritual whiskey alternative
2 dashes bitters
2 oz apple juice or cider
Garnish: Apple and cinnamon stick
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, and mix.
Pour the mixture over fresh ice, and garnish with an apple slide and a cinnamon stick.
Mango Mule
1.5 oz mango puree
1.5 oz lime juice
1.5 oz ginger beer
4-6 cucumber slices
.5 oz honey
Add cucumber and honey into an empty shaker and muddle.
Add ice, mango puree and lime juice, and shake well.
Strain mixture into a copper mug over fresh ice.
Top off with ginger beer and stir before serving.
Ready-to-Drink Mocktails
If you don’t want to put the effort into making your own mocktails, look for ready-to-drink non-alcoholic cocktails at liquor and grocery stores. They have all the great taste without all the work. Here are some recommendations to get you started:
De Kuyper Zero
For those in the Netherlands, be sure to try De Kuyper Zero, which is the latest creation from the Dekuypers Royal Distillery. The company has been producing high-quality cocktails for over 325 years, which makes them the perfect distillery to lead the trend and create healthier, alcohol-free options. Their mocktails can be purchased in 200mL glass bottles at grocery stores across the Netherlands. Here is a quick look at some of their tasty flavors:
Pornstar Martini – This mocktail combines passionfruit, vanilla, and a little lime for a unique flavor. All you have to do is shake all ingredients with a little ice to create a layer of foam and then serve in a martini glass. For a little more flourish, garnish with some passionfruit.
Mojito – Enjoy the classic combination of lime, mint and sugar cane spirits for a refreshing drink. To enjoy the full experience, serve over crushed ice in a tall glass and garnish with fresh mint leaves.
Classic Margarita – Sweet and sour achieve the perfect balance in this classic margarita with lime, orange, and agave flavors. Be sure to serve it in a chilled margarita glass and add a sliced lime wedge.
Strawberry Daiquiri – For a fruity, non-alcoholic cocktail, try out the De Kuyper strawberry daiquiri for just the right mixture of strawberry, sugar cane flavor and a hint of lime. It is best served in a cocktail coupe and garnished with a lime wedge.
Sunwink
Sunwink is another delicious and convenient non-alcoholic brand that can be ordered on Amazon. Not only are these mocktails delicious, they are made with your health in mind. Sunwink’s mocktails contain organic ingredients, herbs, and superfoods that will help detoxify your body, improve your mood and quiet your mind. Some popular flavors include Lemon-Rose Uplift, Detox Ginger, and Hibiscus Mint Unwind. Perhaps best of all, each mocktail has just 50 calories or less.
FAUXMOSA
If you are missing your traditional Sunday brunch mimosa, FAUXMOSA has you covered. You can enjoy delicious drinks that offer the taste of champagne along with real fruit juice, botanical flavors and adaptogens. As an added bonus, FAUXMOSAs are made using all-natural ingredients and there are zero artificial sweeteners, added sugar or preservatives.
For those who enjoy a well-made drink, but can’t have or simply don’t want the alcohol, there is an increasing number of delicious non-alcoholic cocktail options hitting the market. For those who found themselves drinking more during the COVID-19 pandemic, mocktails can provide a tasty alternative to help form new healthy habits. You can mix up your own mocktails or purchase pre-made drinks that have all the taste with none of the work.
FAQs
What can I drink to relax instead of alcohol?
There are plenty of non-alcoholic options that have all the flavor and feel of your favorite drinks without the alcohol.
What are non-alcoholic cocktails called?
Non-alcoholic drinks are known as mocktails.
What is the best mocktail?
Citrus fizz, virgin watermelon margarita, virgin cucumber gimlet, raspberry bee’s knees, magic apple, and mango mule, just to name a few.
What are some good non-alcoholic drinks?
De Kuyper Zero, Sunwink, and FAUXMOSA are all high quality non-alcoholic ready-to-drink brands.
