Cocktail & Other Recipes By Spirit Other Cocktails

9 Mocktails to Try Right Now

They’re so delicious you won’t even miss the alcohol.

By
Tyler Zielinski
Tyler Zielinski
Tyler Zielinski
Tyler Zielinski is a freelance writer specializing in cocktails and spirits and a bartender at Lawrence Park in Hudson, NY.
Learn about Liquor.com's Editorial Process
Updated 01/19/23
Rosemary Pomegranate Soda non alcoholic cocktail
Rosemary-Pomegranate Soda Image:

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

The rise of non-alcoholic cocktails is a trend that brings a sense of relief. For a cocktail enthusiast, one of the most exciting aspects of tippling is enjoying the blend of unique flavors that typically only alcoholic ingredients can express, but not everyone chooses to or is able to consume booze. 

A new wave of alternative non-alcoholic options—along with the acceptance and popularity of the decision not to drink for a night, a month, or however long you choose—is a welcome change in the drinks world. And along with it comes some delicious concoctions.

For flavor seekers who still want the pleasure of a good drink but without the alcohol, alcohol-free cocktails—also frequently called mocktails, N/A, or no-ABV cocktails—provide an excellent alternative option at home, as well as in bars. There’s no need to sacrifice flavor and nuance any longer.

While cocktail bars are mixing up advanced mocktails using custom-made syrups, shrubs, ferments, and non-alcoholic distilled spirits (such as Seedlip), home bartenders can embrace simpler applications before diving into these more complex culinary-focused drinks. These are nine easy alcohol-free cocktails to try right now.

  • Tonic Rickey

    Tonic Rickey non alcoholic cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Cocktail blogger Camille Wilson combines tonic water, seltzer water, lime juice, simple syrup, and two dashes of Angostura bitters to make this simple yet complex-tasting Rickey riff. The bitters contribute a scant amount of alcohol, but you can use an alcohol-free brand like All the Bitters to make the drink entirely zero-proof.

  • Non-Alcoholic Spicy Margarita

    Non-Alcoholic Spicy Margarita

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    For this Spicy Margarita twist, bar pro Natasha David leans on savory ingredients like muddled jalapeño coins, fresh-pressed celery juice, and a homemade salt solution. Combined with agave nectar and lime juice, they produce a refreshing and instantly craveable drink.

    Get the recipe.

  • Mint-Basil Limeade

    Mint-Basil Limeade

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    The Mint-Basil Limeade is essentially a Mojito without the rum. To make one, muddle fresh mint and basil in a Collins glass with simple syrup, add lime juice and ice, and fill the glass with a craft soda water—Fever-Tree, Q Mixers or Topo Chico are your best options. The resulting drink is refreshing, herbal, clean, and an excellent way to lift your spirits without the addition of spirits.

    Get the recipe.

  • Shirley Temple

    Shirley Temple

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    The bona fide classic that every preteen drinks at family parties can actually become a sophisticated sipper when made with quality ingredients. The version many of us are familiar typically just combines Sprite and cheap store-bought grenadine. This grown-up recipe employs a homemade grenadine, freshly squeezed lime juice, and ginger ale.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 5 of 9 below.

  • Gin-Free & Tonic

    Gin Free and Tonic

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    For the Gin & Tonic lover who wants a no-ABV version of their favorite drink, this non-alcoholic take on the classic cocktail omits the gin, instead calling for a custom juniper syrup, which is paired with tonic water and lemon. If you can’t be bothered with the homemade syrup, one of Seedlip’s non-alcoholic spirits is a perfect replacement.

    Get the recipe.

  • Salty Ginger-Ade

    Salty ginger ade non alcoholic cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This cocktail pulls inspiration from jaljeera, a refreshing Indian beverage that’s rich with spices and herbs. The base of the drink is usually a spice mix (cumin, black salt, ginger, mint, and a fruit powder such as amchoor), sometimes with the addition of muddled dates or tamarind. This mocktail combines sweet dates with cumin, salt, lime juice, mint, and ginger beer for a perfectly balanced mixture that offers depth and complexity.

    Get the recipe.

  • Rosemary-Pomegranate Soda

    Rosemary Pomegranate Soda non alcoholic cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This recipe was created by Nic Sims, a former chef who has been sober for 20 years, as a way to enjoy nuanced drinks without alcohol. The simple balance of pomegranate juice, rosemary syrup, and soda, with a sprig of rosemary as an aromatic garnish, is a great example of how simple combinations can display exceptional flavor.

    Get the recipe.

  • Strawberry Crush

    Strawberry Crush cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    The key to making this mocktail memorable is using fresh, ripe strawberries. The berries get muddled with mint and simple syrup, then are topped with lime juice and ginger beer. It’s an easy drink to crush—hence its name—all afternoon.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 9 of 9 below.

  • Don’t Call Me Shirley

    Don't Call Me Shirley cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Bar pro Colleen Kenny created this version of the Shirley Temple for drinkers seeking something non-alcoholic and familiar. The usual Sprite or ginger ale is traded for quality soda water, plus freshly squeezed lemon and lime juices, and homemade grenadine makes the cocktail strongly resemble the familiar classic. But don’t call it Shirley—it’s not cloyingly sweet like the concoction that generally goes by that name.

    Get the recipe.