Drinks Nonalcoholic Drinks Non-Alcoholic Cocktails 17 Nonalcoholic Cocktails for Your Next Holiday Party Full of flavor with none of the booze, these alcohol-free cocktails won't disappoint. With 17 recipes to choose from, there's an option for every party guest. By Oset Babür-Winter Oset Babür-Winter Title: Senior Drinks Editor, Food & WineLocation: New York CityExperience: Oset Babür-Winter has completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust's (WSET) Level 3 Award in wines and was previously the magazine's associate culture editor, where she edited Obsessions. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 11, 2024 Close Photo: Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne Whether you prefer to call them mocktails (we don't, for the record), zero-proof, or spirit-free drinks, we'd like to encourage you to dive deep into the world of nonalcoholic mixed drinks, which can be every bit as complex, delicious, and worth getting excited about as its boozy counterpart. The traditional principles used to craft alcoholic mixed drinks — finding balance in flavor and selecting thoughtful garnishes, glassware, and ice — apply to alcohol-free cocktails as well. While some of the recipes we enjoy the most call for a few additional steps, like making a syrup or a tincture, you'll be surprised by how easy many of these recipes can be used again to add extra flavor to everything from ice cream to coffee. Here's how to make 17 of our favorite nonalcoholic cocktails, from a booze-free riff on a classic Negroni to a caffeinated Coffee Cooler. 01 of 17 Saffron Cordial Photo by Eva Kolenko / Food Styling by Carrie Purcell / Prop Styling by Jillian Knox In Turkish culture, this floral, citrusy, sweet cordial is believed to have protective properties: If someone trips on a flat path, it's poured on the spot to ward off the evil eye. Magical properties aside, this chilled, sunshine-yellow drink gets its hue from saffron threads; grinding them with sugar helps them dissolve easily. If saving overnight, discard the lemon slices, as they can turn the cordial slightly bitter. During Ottoman times, şerbeti made with saffron was commonplace at communal bathhouses known as hammam; nod to its roots by making this cordial part of a moment of self-care, or enjoy it anytime you need a refreshing drink. Get the Recipe 02 of 17 Non-Alcoholic Negroni Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon The classic Negroni can still pack tons of flavor without the booze. Get the Recipe I Tried Non — the NA Wine That's So Good, It Fooled a Rosé Drinker 03 of 17 Sharab Rose Raspberry Shrub Cocktail Ed Anderson This tart non-alcoholic cocktail is bright and floral from the raspberries and rose water. Get the Recipe 04 of 17 Frozen Shirley Temple Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon This simple frozen cocktail can be made with or without alcohol, depending on your audience. Get the Recipe 05 of 17 Nonalcoholic Champagne Spritz Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele This tart, rose-colored spritz proves that the joy of a classic Champagne cocktail can easily be made without alcohol. Get the Recipe 06 of 17 Strawberry-Chile Balsamic Shrub Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christine Keely Sweet strawberries meet up with tart balsamic and smoky chiles in this fruity shrub. Get the Recipe 07 of 17 Pineapple and Tamarind Cooler José Mandojana This tangy and sweet nonalcoholic punch delivers a little kick of heat thanks to the mix of habanero powder and salt that rims each glass. Chef Gregory Gourdet uses tamarind pulp to make a fruity, tart syrup that helps balance the tropical sweetness of the pureed pineapple. The drink has a slightly thick consistency, but served over plenty of crushed ice, it’s perfectly refreshing. Get the Recipe 08 of 17 Watermelon Limeade Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne This sweet watermelon limeade is a refreshing way to toast summer afternoons. Get the Recipe 09 of 17 Green Refresher Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter In the Green Refresher, one of our favorite NA concoctions from expert distiller and mixologist Sebastian Reaburn, the herbaceous, earthy notes of Japanese sencha tea perfectly complement the sweet, tart flavor of apple juice. Get the Recipe 10 of 17 Coffee Cooler Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter Love an Espresso Martini but don't want the booze? The Coffee Cooler scratches any itch for caffeine with added sweetness from freshly squeezed orange juice. Get the Recipe 11 of 17 Ghia Sour Carey Jones Ghia is a Campari-lover's booze-free best friend, and this simple spritz shows off the complex botanicals and herbs in one of our favorite NA aperitifs. Get the Recipe Martini & Rossi’s Nonalcoholic Aperitivos Make My Mocktails So Much Better 12 of 17 Cherry Red Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter Mixologist Sebastian Reaburn uses black cherries when he makes this cocktail, which was inspired, he says, by "classic American flavors like Big Red chewing gum and Cherry Coke." Get the Recipe 13 of 17 Jardin Verde Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis This refreshing non-alcoholic cocktail from Bryan Dayton is featured in Julia Bainbridge's book, Good Drinks. It is sweet and mildly bitter from Seedlip Garden 108 with botanical notes that shine with the addition of fragrant, herbal tonic water. Get the Recipe 14 of 17 Shift Drink MAtt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter The Shift Drink is a combination of freshly squeezed grapefruit and lemon juices, an intensely fragrant spiced honey syrup, ginger beer, and one of many nonalcoholic spirits available, Amass Riverine. Get the Recipe 15 of 17 Psychedelic Backyard Matt Taylor-Gross Verjus adds a pleasant kick of acidity to this non-alcoholic cocktail from mixologist and author John deBary. Get the Recipe 16 of 17 Oriole's G&T Tisane Victor Protasio From Chicago restaurant Oriole, this chilled tisane calls for juniper berries, coriander seeds, osmanthus flowers, Szechuan peppercorns, white peppercorns, and mustard seeds. Get the Recipe 17 of 17 Pumpkin Shrub Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Liberty Fennell Who says pumpkin drinks can't have a welcome kick of acidity? Get the Recipe I Tried Jukes—the Nonalcoholic Wine Served in Some of the World’s Best Restaurants Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! 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