The Classics, Minus the Booze

A mocktail is simply a non-alcoholic mixed drink designed to taste like a beloved cocktail. Just without the alcohol. Bartenders replicate classic flavors using syrups, tinctures, herbs, spices, and ingredients often found in cocktails, but use non-alcoholic spirits in place of whiskey, gin, rum, vodka, or tequila.

Below, you’ll find a list of classic drinks, including the iconic Mojito, Old Fashioned, and even Margarita. All loaded with fresh flavors and completely booze-free. Instead of liquor, these drinks feature NA vodka, rum, tequila, gin, whiskey, and even a THC spirit for our California dry readers. 

When it comes to fresh rum-based cocktails, it’s difficult to beat the appeal of a well-made Mojito. But, if you’re going dry this month, you can still enjoy this timeless drink with a booze-free twist featuring Monday Zero Alcohol Rum.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Monday Zero Alcohol Rum
• 6-8 mint leaves
• 1 lime (cut into wedges)
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• Club soda topper

Preparation: In a Highball glass, gently muddle the mint leaves and 2 lime wedges. Add simple syrup and non-alcoholic rum. Add crushed ice. Top with soda water and stir gently to combine. Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.

In the pantheon of brunch cocktails, nothing beats the epic, savory Bloody Mary. Lucky for you, even if you aren’t drinking vodka, there’s a version that features just as much flavor with none of the pesky alcohol, using Clean V Non-Alcoholic Vodka.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Clean V Non-Alcoholic Vodka
• 4 ounces tomato juice
• ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1-2 dashes hot sauce
• ½ teaspoon horseradish
• ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1-2 dashes celery salt
• 1-2 dashed cracked black pepper
• Cooked bacon
• Celery stick

Preparation: Add the NA vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, celery salt, and black pepper to an ice-filled shaker. Shake vigorously to combine. Strain into an ice-filled Highball glass. Garnish with a piece of bacon and a celery stick.

A simple, citrusy Gin Gimlet is difficult to beat. And you can make this popular drink without the alcohol. Especially if you use a well-made NA gin like Lyre’s Dry London Spirit.

 Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Lyre’s Dry London Spirit
• ¾ ounces fresh lime juice
• ½ ounces simple syrup
• Lime wheel

Preparation: Add the NA gin, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup to an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously to combine. Strain into a chilled Coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Let’s be honest. The classic Old Fashioned is a pretty boozy drink. It can still be made in Dry January if you opt to use NA aromatic bitters and an NA whiskey like Ritual Whiskey Alternative.

 Ingredients:

• 3 ounces Ritual Whiskey Alternative
• ¼ ounces simple syrup
• 2-3 dashes NA aromatic bitters
• Orange twist

Preparation: In an ice-filled mixing glass, add the NA whiskey, simple syrup, and bitters. Stir gently to combine. Strain into an ice-filled Rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

If you’re booze-free but still imbibing THC spirits, there are cocktail options for you this month, too. You can make the popular Gin & Tonic with Lyre’s Dry London Spirit and Artet Cannabis Aperitif.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Lyre’s Dry London Spirit
• 1.5 ounces Artet Cannabis Aperitif
• Tonic water topper
• Lime wheel

Preparation: Add ice to a Highball glass. Pour in the NA gin and THC spirit. Top with tonic water. Gently stir to combine. Garnish with a lime wheel.

If you have some NA tequila on hand like Spiritless Jalisco 55, you should use it instead of your favorite tequila to craft an NA Margarita this month.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Spiritless Jalisco 55
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• ½ simple syrup
• ½ ounce fresh orange juice
• Kosher salt
• Lime wedge

Preparation: Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a Margarita glass. Dip it until coated in Kosher salt. Set the glass aside. In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, add the NA tequila, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and fresh orange juice, Shake vigorously to combine. Strain into the prepared Margarita glass with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.