5 Mocktails That May Make You Reconsider Your Cocktail

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Husband and wife drinking wine together.

While some people may cut back on alcohol as they age, who says they can’t celebrate with the occasional fancy, yet innocent, non-alcoholic libation? Ranging from proven classics to creative and contemporary, we’ve concocted a starter list of recipes and mocktail ideas not just for seniors, but for all sippers alike. Once you get the hang of how to swap alcohol out and keep flavor in, you’ll be slinging mocktails like a pro.

The Kova Classic

Meet the fabulously virgin alternative of the traditional “Old Fashioned.” Meaning “strong or loud,” this mocktail really brings the flavor, but lacks the alcoholic punch. While it requires a little more time than some other virgin options, if you’re looking for powerful taste, you can’t go wrong with this tried and true “brew.”

For one serving:

Add one bag of barley tea to three cups of water, then refrigerate for 2 hours.
Place a sugar cube (about a teaspoon) in glass.
Add an orange slice, 2 shakes of bitters and then muddle.
Stir in splashes of tea (to taste and until sugar dissolves).
Garnish with a cherry.

Extra sipping knowledge:

Barley and some tea bags may contain gluten, so skip ahead if gluten is on your list of no-nos.
Bitters are an infusion of spices, roots and herbs that contain alcohol, but when diluted, are not considered to be an alcoholic beverage.
if you’re trying to cut back on sugar, consider bypassing the orange and/or cherry, or swapping in an alternative sweetener.

Millie’s Mary

From the Latin name meaning “gentle, brave strength,” this Bloody Mary remix is a tamer way to kick off your morning.

For one serving:

Combine 8.5 oz tomato juice, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, ½ teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce and ice cubes.
Pour back and forth from one glass to another to fully mix.
Add salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste.
Still missing something? Consider a tiny splash of fish sauce.

Extra sipping snowledge:

Want to make a breakfast of it? Consider adding some shrimp, celery or pickled green beans as an edible garnish.
If you are vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, like gluten sensitivity, beware of premade Bloody Mary mixes — you may want to double check what’s in them.
Keep it fresh and creative each time by playing around with different spice mixes to salt the rim of your glass.

Dexter Mule

The nonalcoholic version of this ginger delight is named for the Latin word meaning “skilled, or one who dyes.” Appropriately, it has a beautiful orange hue.

For one serving:

Combine 1 oz orange juice, ½ cup of ginger beer and 2 oz club soda.
Add ice and stir—don’t shake.
Garnish with zest of an orange.

Extra sipping knowledge:

Ginger beer is deceivingly named, as most are classified as non-alcoholic, and around only 0.5% alcohol — similar to kombucha tea.
Getting bored with fruit garnishes? If you’ve got some extra cooking time, candied ginger can help take your presentation up a notch.
Don’t dismiss the power of drinkware! Make your mocktails even more authentic with some mule mugs.

Elle-ini

Think Bellini, just minus the booze. Named for its beauty and sweetness, this mocktail is best at brunch.

For one serving:

Thaw a bag of frozen peaches and then blend in a blender until they are puréed.
Add ginger ale to taste.
Drop in 3-4 fresh blueberries.

Extra sipping knowledge:

If you want to dial back the sweetness, consider using ginger beer instead of ginger ale to add a spicy bite.
Always opt for fresh peaches when they are in season. And don’t forget to peel and pit them before they go into the blender.
With this basic format of fruit purée + ginger ale/beer, the options of different flavors and fruit combinations are endless, so get creative!

The Millman Chillman

There’s nothing more refreshing and relaxing than cucumbers. Time to break out the muddle—you’ll be craving this one morning, noon and night.

For one serving:

Muddle cucumber and mint together.
Combine with ½ cup soda water, 1 oz lime juice, a splash of liquid sweetener or ginger ale and ice. Stir.
Garnish with lime or cucumber.

Extra sipping knowledge:

Cucumbers make a great canvas for flavor pairings. Melon. Strawberries. Anything citrus. Basil. Lemongrass.. No fridge is complete without cukes.
Why not have a mocktail for dessert? Simply adjusting the sweetness level can turn this from a morning beverage to an after-dinner sweet-tooth-satisfier.
On those extra hot summer days, try this in frozen “mocktail-rita” format instead of on the rocks.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to dress up your drinks without alcohol; this list is just the beginning. With a little imagination and perhaps some trial and error, anyone can become a master mocktailer. And if you do enjoy the occasional cocktail, don’t miss these oldies but goodies. Cheers!