Whether you're choosing to skip spirits due to age, health, or personal reasons, there's no sense in missing out on flavorful drinks. There's a wealth of nonalcoholic cocktails, whether traditional or modern, to satisfy any occasion or festive mood.
Cranberry Sparkler
A simple yet refreshing drink, it pairs well with summer and sunshine but goes just as well with a fire and blankets.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Club soda to top off
- Ice
- Orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, filled with ice, add cranberry juice and lime juice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with orange wheel.
Nonalcoholic Sangria Punch
Unlike traditional sangria, this nonalcoholic recipe calls for zero-proof red wine to keep that hearty base but without any added alcohol.
Ingredients
- 750 mL nonalcoholic cabernet sauvignon
- 8 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
- 4 ounces orgeat syrup
- 1 whole orange, sliced
- 1 whole lemon, sliced
- 1 whole lime, sliced
- Ice
- 8-10 ounces club soda
- Cherry and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, add ice, nonalcoholic wine, orange juice, orgeat syrup, orange slices, lemon slices, and lime slices.
- Stir to combine and refrigerate for at least three hours.
- Top off with club soda prior to serving.
- Pour mix into rocks glasses over fresh ice.
- Garnish individual servings with cherry and mint sprig.
Nonalcoholic Mint Julep
Channel your southern side with a nonalcoholic mint julep. Traditionally made with bourbon, this refreshing mint julep skips the spirits to keep the character of this southern libation. Earn some bonus points for serving your julep in traditional julep cups garnished with sprigs of mint.
Ingredients
- 8 fresh mint leaves
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 4 ounces ginger ale
- Crushed ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or julep cup, muddle mint leaves and simple syrup.
- Add crushed ice.
- Top off with ginger ale.
- Stir to frost glass.
- Garnish with mint sprig.
Spirit Free Bellini
Hosting a baby shower brunch or need a libation-free brunch option? This nonalcoholic drink is the perfect accompaniment; it tastes like a special occasion, but even the mom-to-be and others can enjoy this delicious brunch mocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces peach nectar
- Sparkling apple cider to top off
- Peach slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a champagne flute or cocktail glass, add peach nectar.
- Top off with sparkling apple cider.
- Garnish with peach slice.
Mocktail Mary
This drink is perfect for brunch or any time of the day. It even has the traditional heat of a Bloody Mary, so many won't notice it's alcohol-free.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces Bloody Mary mix
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce Tabasco sauce, to taste
- Ice
- Celery stalk, lemon wedge, and thyme sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Bloody Mary mix, lemon juice, and Tabasco sauce.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with celery stalk, lemon wedge, and thyme sprig.
Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri
What's more festive when you're sitting poolside than a frozen berry drink in a fabulous cocktail glass? This is a quintessential summertime mocktail.
Ingredients
- 6-8 large fresh strawberries, hulled
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ cups cracked ice
- Whole strawberry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a margarita or cocktail glass.
- In a blender, add cracked ice, strawberries, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Blend until desired thickness.
- Pour into chilled glass.
- Garnish with whole strawberry.
Blackberry Nojito
Mint and blackberries are the perfect flavor combination for a refreshing mocktail and this blend is a juicy spirit-free riff on the traditional mojito.
Ingredients
- 10 mint sprigs
- 1 ounce blackberry simple syrup
- 3 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Mint sprig, lime wheel, and fresh blackberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint sprigs and blackberry simple syrup.
- Add ice and lime juice.
- Shake to mix.
- Without straining, pour into rocks glass.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with mint sprig, lime wheel, and blackberries.
Strawberry Cucumber Mule Mocktail
Don't be fooled by the beer in ginger beer-- it's naturally nonalcoholic and provides the right zing and spice to complement the fruit.
Ingredients
- 5 basil leaves,
- 3 strawberries, sliced
- 2 cucumber slices
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Lime wheel, basil leaves, and strawberries to garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or mule cup, muddle basil leaves, strawberries, cucumber slices, and simple syrup.
- Add ice and lime juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with strawberries, basil leaves, and lime wheel.
Blue Raspberry Faux-tini
A slightly sour bright blue mocktail, you can sip this in the sun as you watch the waves roll in or fireside as the snowfalls.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces blue raspberry punch
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Cherry and lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, blue raspberry punch, lemon juice, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cherry and lemon wheel.
Golden Sparkles
A fizzy golden mocktail, just the look of this is enough to persuade anyone to skip the booze.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce honey simple syrup
- Sparkling white grape juice to top off
Instructions
- To make honey simple syrup, warm 4 ounces of honey with 4 ounces of water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until honey dissolves.
- In a champagne flute, add lemon juice and honey simple syrup.
- Top off with sparkling white grape juice.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Kiddy Cosmo
A libation-free version of the classic Cosmopolitan cocktail, it's just as elegant as the original.
Ingredients
- 1 ounces cranberry juice
- ½ ounce tart cherry juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- Ice
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cranberry juice, lime juice, and orange juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Garden Party Lemonade
The key ingredient, butterfly pea flower, adds a gorgeous eyecatching pop of color to classic lemonade flavors.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces lemonade
- 1 ounce butterfly pea flower tea
- Ice
- Raspberry club soda to top off
- Lemon wheel to garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, lemonade, and butterfly pea flower tea.
- Top off with raspberry club soda.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Jubilant Sunset
Enjoy the colors of a sunset in a slightly tart yet savory mocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tart cherry juice
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce vanilla syrup
- 2 dashes walnut bitters
- Ice
- Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cherry juice, lemon juice, vanilla syrup, and walnut bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon twist.
Tulip Club
Egg whites aren't just for cocktails. It's an ever-important ingredient that gives this mocktail a savory and creamy flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cran-raspberry juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Raspberries for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add cran-raspberry juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with raspberries.
A Touch of Green
There's no green in this nonalcoholic cocktail, but it is a mocktail version of the classic Irish coffee.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Irish creme coffee creamer
- ½ ounce cinnamon simple syrup
- ¼ ounce rum extract
- ¼ ounce caramel syrup
- 6-8 ounces iced coffee
- Ice
- Whipped cream and ground nutmeg to top off
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, coffee creamer, cinnamon simple syrup, rum extract, caramel syrup, and iced coffee.
- Shake well until caramel syrup has dissolved.
- Strain into cocktail mug or highball over fresh ice.
- Garnish with whipped cream and ground nutmeg.
Tips for Making Great Nonalcoholic Cocktails
Whether you want to make your nonalcoholic cocktails stand out or you (rightly) don't want to give up the pizazz and flair of traditional cocktails, consider these tips to be a guide as you muddle and shake with your own mocktail spirit.
- Always garnish your nonalcoholic cocktails. There are plenty of creative and fun garnish ideas you can try.
- Choose fun glasses or stick with traditional barware. A nonalcoholic cocktail is just as deserving of the right glassware. Consider investing in traditional barware, such as fun cocktail glasses and more, and use those to serve your drinks to make them seem more special.
- Add a dash of bitters! It will add interesting notes and an extra layer of complexity to your mocktails while remaining alcohol-free.
- Create infused simple syrups for your mocktails. When you make simple syrup, add some fresh herbs or aromatic whole spices while it simmers, and then strain out the solids to add extra zip to your nonalcoholic cocktails.
- Citrus juice adds balance. If you're making a sweeter mocktail, always add a squeeze of lime or lemon to balance flavors so they don't become cloying or overpower the drink altogether.
- Add fruit slices and herb sprigs to sparkling water for a quick and refreshing nonalcoholic cocktail.
- Add fun touches such as paper umbrellas, fruit skewers, or interesting straws to take your nonalcoholic cocktails to the next level.
No Alcohol Needed
There are endless possibilities when it comes to nonalcoholic cocktails. Just about any of your favorite cocktails can be turned into an alcohol-free version. These alternatives are just as festive and tasty as the traditional versions, plus you won't have to worry about overindulging.
