Let’s face it; we live in a society of social drinkers. From TV shows to movies, scenes are always being shot in drinking establishments or characters are being seen with drinks in casual settings. It’s how we mingle and chat with friends (or strangers) without the awkwardness of what to do with our hands; we just hold our drink!
But there are also those who can’t consume alcohol and those who may choose not to for any number of reasons. So, what types of virgin drinks and mocktails can you create? The answer is – any kind you want.
Whether you want a genuine, south-of-the-border quality virgin margarita recipe or you miss having a nice red with dinner, there is a mocktail for you. To keep it simple, we decided to pick 5 drinks that are universal in appeal, as well as appropriate for any occasion.
Agave Virgin Margarita Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 oz non-alcoholic tequila
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- .5 oz agave nectar
- 5 droppers of “All the Bitter Orange” bitters
- Tiny pinch of salt (Maldon if possible)
Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients, including salt, in a shaker with ice, shake until chilled.
2. Strain into a glass over fresh ice.
3. Garnish with lime wedge and optional salt rim.
The Perfect Cosmopolitan Mocktail
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Seedlip Grove 42
- ¾ oz non-alcoholic orange liqueur
- ¾ oz fresh lime juice
- .5 oz cranberry juice
- ¼ oz simple syrup
- 1 dropper of “All the Bitter New Orleans” bitters
Directions:
1. Mix everything in shaker with ice, shake until chilled
2. Strain into coupe glass, garnish with lime wheel/wedge
A Classic Virgin Maple Old Fashioned
Ingredients:
- 2.5 oz non-alcoholic whiskey
- ¼ oz maple syrup
- 4 droppers of “All the Bitter Aromatic” bitters
- Orange peel twist
Directions:
1. Mix non-alcoholic whiskey, maple syrup, and bitters in shaker with ice, shake until chilled
2. Strain into glass over one, large ice cube
3. Garnish with orange twist
The Essential Champagne Mocktail
Ingredients:
- 1 sugar cube
- 2 droppers of “All the Bitter” (any flavor)
- 5 oz non-alcoholic sparkling wine
- Lemon peel twist
Directions:
1. Place sugar cube on bottom of champagne glass and douse with 2 dashes of bitters
2. Fill flute with N/A sparkling wine
3. Garnish with lemon peel
The Quintessential House Red
Ingredients:
- 3.5 oz black tea (over-steeped), chilled
- 1.5 oz tart cherry juice or red verjus
- 1 oz blackberry herb shrub
- 5 droppers of “All the Bitter Aromatic” bitters
Directions:
1. Make a strong cup of black tea, let steep for 10 minutes, then chill
2. Mix tea, shrub, verjus/cherry juice, and bitters in shaker (no ice), shake, and strain into wine glass
There Are a Lot More Where These Came From
As we mentioned in the intro, there are countless mocktail recipes available for nearly any traditional alcoholic beverage, from our virgin margarita recipe to Mai Tais to Mojitos, all you have to do is have quality substitutes for the liquor and you and your guests will never feel left out.
