Alcohol-free cocktails made easy
Indulge with these delicious non-alcoholic cocktails.
Creating non-alcoholic drinks with party appeal is easy. Choose a delicious alcohol-free cocktail from the tutorials below and gain some alcohol-free inspiration.
The health benefits of switching to non-alcoholic drinks are clear. In the short term, you’re more likely to get a better night’s sleep; feel fresher in the morning and have a more productive day the next day as a result.1
Importantly, reducing the number of units you consume helps avoid these serious long-term effects of drinking, including some cancers, mental health problems, stroke, high blood pressure and heart disease.
If you drink, the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines recommend it’s safest for both men and women to drink no more than 14 units a week, spread over three or more days with several drink-free days, and no bingeing.
With alcohol itself containing around seven calories a gram, changing to a drink with no alcohol in it can mean fewer calories. But, whatever you’re drinking, it’s important to look at the whole picture - the calories in any drink don’t just come from alcohol. So, if you’re making a alcohol-free cocktail consider swapping sugary syrups for low calorie alternatives.
Swapping to some alcohol-free beers or wine can also be a step in the right direction if you are trying to cut your calories and your alcohol consumption – and they’re more popular than ever.2 Find out more about making the change here.
Lime Rickey
Legend has it that this close relation to the mojito was invented by Colonel Rickey, a nineteenth century English officer posted in Washington. For a seasonal twist, try making with crushed ice. Either buy some ready made, or take a rolling pin to a bag of ice in the kitchen.
Ingredients
- Lime juice, 30ml
- Sugar syrup, or low calorie alternative, 30ml
- Orange bitters 15ml, or orange peel
- Soda water, 120ml
- Lime to garnish
Directions
- Take the limes and squeeze them into a highball glass
- Pour in the sugar syrup
- Add the orange bitters
- Top the glass with a shaker and shake the contents thoroughly
- Take a tall glass, add ice
- Pour the shaken contents through a strainer and into the glass
- Add the soda water
- Stir
- Garnish with lime peel
- Drink and enjoy!
The Real Shirley Temple
For a spot of film star glamour, try this Hollywood classic. Apparently, it was first served to the young starlet by a barman in Beverley Hills when she first hit the big-time. If you’re not a fan of ginger ale, try it with lemonade instead.
Ingredients
- Grenadine 45ml
- Diet ginger ale 180ml
- One lemon
Directions
- Pour grenadine into a tall glass
- Add ice
- Pour in ginger ale
- Stir
- Garnish with lemon peel
Virgin Mary
This non-alcoholic version of the Bloody Mary is a tomato juice drink that you can sip any time of day. For best results, use top quality tomato juice for a rich and authentic taste. It’s also a healthy choice for breakfast.
Ingredients
- Tomato juice, 180ml
- Half a lemon
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- Tabasco sauce, several drops
- Worcestershire sauce
- Celery stick
- Pickles
Directions
- Squeeze half a lemon into a tall glass filled with ice
- Add salt and pepper
- Add a couple of dashes of Tabasco sauce
- Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce. Add tomato juice
- Mix well with a long spoon
- Garnish with celery stick, lemon and pickles
Sparkling Pom Collins
This contemporary non-alcoholic version of a Tom Collins puts a new healthier twist on a traditional cocktail.
Ingredients
- Pomegranate juice, 60ml
- Soda water, 30ml
- Pomegranate seeds, 1 serving
- Lime x 1
- Ice
Directions
- Squeeze the lime into tall a tall glass
- Add ice
- Pour in 60ml pomegranate juice
- Add 30ml soda water
- Garnish with fresh pomegranate seeds
- Stir and enjoy!
Ginger Limeade
Ginger limeade is a deliciously sweet ‘n citrusy alcohol-free cocktail. Its sophisticated bite makes it a great choice to keep your guests warm and cosy when the temperature is dropping outside. For best results, cut the ginger as fine as you can.
Ingredients
- Diet lemonade, 180ml
- Fresh ginger,root, thumb
- Lime x 1
Directions
- Thinly slice the ginger and place them in a cocktail mixer, or plastic container
- Crush the ginger by muddling it with a pestle
- Squeeze a lime on top of the crushed ginger
- Put the top on the cocktail shaker (or something tight enough to stop any liquid coming out) and shake the contents
- Take a highball glass, add ice
- Pour shaker contents into glass through a strainer
- Pour lemonade into glass
- Garnish with a slice of lime and finely diced ginger
- Serve and enjoy
Further advice and information
Arming yourself with strategies and tips can help you or a loved one take small steps towards big results.
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Last Reviewed: 7th August 2023
Next Review due: 7th August 2026