We’re rounding out Dry January with three non-alcoholic drinks: the Piña Colada, Aperol Spritz, and Strawberry Daiquiri. These delicious mocktails are some of our favorite drinks without alcohol– and even though they’re great for hot summer days, they’re equally good alcohol-free party options all year long.
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If you don’t drink (or are cutting back), you could of course stick with kombucha, coconut water, sparkling water, or ginger beer when at a birthday party or holiday gathering. But everyone likes to feel included! There’s something about holding your Martini glass, even if it’s full of a refreshing mocktail sans alcohol.
Make sure to check out our non-alcoholic Mojito recipe and our virgin version of the Margarita. We also have other creative mocktail recipes in a variety of articles about Dry January and zero-proof cocktails.
ELEVATING ZERO-PROOF MIXED DRINKS
It used to be that your only non-alcoholic options at a bar were water, soda, or something very sweet like a Shirley Temple. But grown-ups who aren’t drinking alcohol don’t want to order something that makes them look like a little kid– They want a fancy drink without alcohol, complete with complex flavors.
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Fortunately, booze-free cocktails have come a long way, and there are a variety of mocktails available these days. There are many zero-proof spirits on the market– meaning you don’t have to eliminate the base completely, leaving you with watered down virgin cocktails.
Of course, if you’re looking for a quick, zero-proof alternative, you can always add a little non-alcoholic bitters to club soda or muddle some fresh mint for flavor. But we’re going to show you how to make three perfect mocktails for when you want a “real” drink.
HOW TO MAKE OUR FAVORITE MOCKTAIL RECIPES
Watch the full video below to see Chris’ non-alcoholic versions of three classic cocktails and to find out more about making your own non-alcoholic spirit bases, which will really take your mocktails to the next level! Make sure to check out our brand new Mocktail Mixology Masterclass to delve into how to make these bases and truly master zero-proof cocktails.
THREE OF OUR FAVORITE NON-ALCOHOLIC COCKTAILS
Below are three super fun mocktails using alcohol-free spirits. You can use non-alcoholic spirits already on the market or make your own after taking our mocktail course.
Remember that these alcohol-free versions are often sweeter and less “spicy” than traditional alcohol cocktails, so if you’re trying to make your favorite drink at home as an alcohol-free option, you may have to adjust the recipe a bit, as we have below.
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STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI
This fruity mocktail isn’t just a blend of fruit and simple syrup thrown in a blender. It’s beautifully balanced using non-alcoholic alternatives, making you look like the sophisticated adult you are while offering you a delicious drink– a very refreshing option for a beverage sans alcohol.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Rum– Lyre’s non-alcoholic or DIY rum alternative base
- 0.75 ounce Fresh Lime Juice
- 0.5 ounce Simple Syrup
- 2 Whole Strawberries– cut into quarters
Directions:
1) Add strawberry chunks to your small cocktail shaker tin, muddle them into a pulp, and then add all remaining ingredients.
2) Add ice and shake until chilled, about 10 seconds, and then double strain into a coupe cocktail glass.
3) Add a lime wheel for garnish.
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APEROL SPRITZ
This refreshing drink is the perfect apéritif for a dinner party– No one at your next social gathering will even know you’re not drinking if you don’t want them to! With simple ingredients that still bring that bitter bite, this chic cocktail could easily be mistaken for its boozy counterpart.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Lyre’s Bitter Orange Non-Alcoholic Liqueur
- 3 ounces Non-Alcoholic Prosecco Alternative (We used Fre non-alcoholic wine)
- 1 ounce Soda Water
Directions:
1. Build the cocktail with all ingredients into a wine glass.
2. Add ice and stir to mix, chill, and dilute.
3. Garnish with an orange wheel.
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Piña Colada
Here’s the perfect choice of tropical mocktail– a great drink for when you’re poolside or you just want to feel like you’re on an island. The tropical flavors come from coconut milk cream and pineapple, making it a delicious specialty drink comparable to the original version. Note that this non-alcoholic piña colada is not a frozen drink.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Non-Alcoholic Rum Base (Lyre’s or DIY)
- 1 ounce Real Cream of Coconut
- 1.5 ounces Pineapple Juice
- 0.5 ounces Fresh Lime Juice
Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake hard for 10 seconds.
2. Strain into hurricane glass over ice (pebble ice or crushed ice is best here; if you don’t have a hurricane glass, tall glasses like a highball glass will do instead).
3. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.
NON-ALCOHOLIC MOCKTAILS FOR ALL
So which of these flavorful mocktail versions is your favorite? Do you have other specialty mocktails that you prefer? We’d love to hear all about them! Leave us a comment and let us know what you think.
