Cocktail trends come and go, but this one’s here to stay. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about mixing drinks in 2022 it’s that cocktails needn’t have alcohol to be absolutely delicious. Take the tajin-sprinkled beverage above. It’s a non-alcoholic “elixir” fashioned after our most popular coconut-lime margarita. There’s not a drop of liquor in it, and it’s just for you. Whether you love the word “mocktail” or loathe it, we have the non-alcoholic recipes to help make every season a merry one.
1. Non-Alcoholic Ginger, Turmeric and Lemon Tonic
How much do you want to hand some suspendered barkeep $14 for this lovely Non-Alcoholic Ginger, Turmeric and Lemon Tonic? No need; it’s a snap to make at home. If you like gin or citrus cocktails, this is the one to give yourself a break from alcohol. If you’re already a non-boozer or are a lemonade lover, this will be a nice riff on your go-to. There are no fancy syrups: just lemon juice, fresh ginger, turmeric, honey, and a crack each of pepper and salt. Top with lemon slices and seltzer; it’s the N/A spritz you didn’t know you needed in your life.
2. Sour Blossom
Grove 42, Seedlip’s non-alcoholic “spirit” of distilled botanicals and extracts with orange and mandarin peel, blood orange, ginger and lemongrass, is the key to this N/A drink’s success. It’s gorgeous at the base of Seedlip’s own marvelous Sour Blossom cocktail recipe. Making it is as easy as mixing blood orange and lemon juices and simple syrup with the spirit base. And look how elegant.
3. Green Apple Ginger Fizz
Certain times of year, we need to conjure spring, summer and autumn. Those flavors bubble together in our Green Apple Ginger Fizz, which shines thanks to crisp Granny Smith apples, storebought gingerale and a homemade ginger syrup, plus plenty of ice. It’s a snap to pull together, super-refreshing, and the addition of spicy ginger is sure to whet the appetite. You can even set out a big pitcher, so if you’re throwing a party, guests can help themselves.
4. Ruby Spice Highball
Sure, it’s lovely at the holidays, but pomegranate and cranberry shouldn’t be relegated to that time period. They’re too tasty. The Ruby Spice Highball is stunning: Frozen cubes of pomegranate and cranberry juice nestle alongside plain ice cubes in the glass. (The drink is called a highball, but you can easily use an Old Fashioned glass, as shown here.) The drink mingles chai tea and non-alcoholic sparkling French apple cider. Light, bright and cheery, it’s lovely with a garnish of berries (on a pineapple cocktail pick!) and a slice of lemon.
5. Mulled Spiced Cider
Some of these mocktails are eye-openers, as is the berry-strewn number above. Others are soothing, and say “pull up a chair and stay awhile.” Mulled Spiced Cider occupies the latter category. It’s a classic for a reason, folks. Whether your go-to is a bunch of cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice or a combination of all three, we’re going to stick with the beloved, five-star-reviewed, mulling spices our founder concocted 50 years ago. Some things don’t go out of style.
6. Mint Ginger Ale
Ginger has been used as a stomach soother almost since antiquity. Though its gastrointestinal properties are still a slight mystery, it’s safe to say we’d love to be handed a glass of Mint Ginger Ale upon walking into any home, any time. It’s minty, it’s sugary, it’s gingery, and if someone at your gathering really wants a boozy drink, they can add a splash or two of bourbon and be happy as a clam. (Bourbon and ginger is a dive bar classic for good reason!)
7. Chile Hot Toddy
Tuck into a big, beautiful braise for supper? Consider a post-meal digestif like this Chile Hot Toddy. It’s got dandelion root tea, lemon and blood orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and four Thai chiles, all steeped in water, then spiked with plenty of fresh lemon juice. Don’t worry; there’s a ton of wildflower honey in there, too, for balance and soothing qualities. It’s clear and clean-feeling, bracing with a bit of heat, and just the thing to sip on while you’re watching dumb television in cozy chairs (or lying on the floor; no judgment) after the big meal.
8. Coconut-Lime “Margarita”
Test kitchen cook Devon Francis wanted nothing less than a “mood booster” when she concocted this non-alcoholic Coconut-Lime “Margarita” based on our most popular cocktail recipe. Out the door walked Tequila and Cointreau, and in strutted ginger, honey, maca root powder, orange juice and ever-so-slightly Tajín. It’s a delight, as are you, even if you don’t feel that way in the depths of winter.
