29 Best Nonalcoholic Drinks (Just Don’t Call Them Mocktails, Please)
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Readers often ask us for the best mocktail recipes—and we certainly have lots of nonalcoholic drinks on Epicurious. But, like many bartenders who have been working to create more flavorful and delicious booze-free cocktails, we’d prefer to do away with the word mocktail altogether. These zero-proof drinks aren’t a joke or something lesser. They’re refreshing and balanced, sometimes savory or spicy, with flavor complexity contributed by bitterness, tartness, tannic teas, and/or fresh herbs. Some of these beverages lean on the long list of mostly new nonalcoholic bottlings, while others require only the groceries you likely already have at home. Scroll down to pick an option for your next dinner party or holiday celebration.
Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo1/29Guava, Grapefruit, and Rosemary Agua Fresca
Agua fresca is a great template for many of our favorite nonalcoholic drink recipes. You can adjust the sweetness levels to your taste and swap in whatever ripe fruit you have on hand. The rosemary in this version is wonderfully aromatic and piney.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton4/29Not-a-Colada
You could make a standard virgin piña colada by just mixing coconut cream, lime, and pineapple juice. But this version of the nonalcoholic piña colada is more balanced and multifaceted, thanks to tangy apple cider vinegar, vanilla extract, and a little dark cane syrup.
Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo5/29Padova Spritz
It's easier than ever to make a great booze-free spritz—pour in club soda and nonalcoholic sparkling wine (we like Eins Zwei Zero from Leitz) and any NA aperitif or bitter syrup. This drink from Julia Bainbridge's Good Drinks—a great resource for nonalcoholic recipes—gets fuller flavor, though, from a combo of chinotto soda and tart red verjus.
Photo and Food Styling by Joseph De Leo7/29Lime Rickey
This classic soda fountain drink is little more than carbonated water, tart lime, a touch of sweetener, and a splash of bitters for complexity. Note: Some bitters are made with alcohol. If you're trying to completely avoid booze, sub a nonalcoholic brand, or skip them altogether.
Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo8/29Ginger and Tamarind Refresher
Tangy tamarind adds deep flavor and tartness to this fizzy ginger drink from cookbook author Nik Sharma.
Photo by Kelly Puleio10/29The Blaylock
Here's a simple but dynamic nonalcoholic drink, made in a pitcher with just honey, fresh grapefruit, lemon, and seltzer. (Keep in mind that some folks need to avoid grapefruit juice if they're on certain medications, though.)
Photo by Jennifer Davick12/29Blackberry-Basil Mule
Ripe summer blackberries and fresh herbs star in this alcohol-free drink. Basil balances the sweetness of the fruit, but mint would also work well.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert13/29Raspberry Lemonade
Step away from the frozen lemonade concentrate—this fresh pink lemonade is the one you want. It starts with fresh raspberry syrup, plus the juice from about five lemons. Grab your citrus juicer!
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Pearl Jones14/29Spicy Citrus Refresher
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton15/29Japanese Thirst Killer
This soda fountain drink, which leans on acid phosphate for its tartness, can be traced back to 1915. The bitters add a small amount of alcohol, though the drink still clocks in at about the same ABV as a non-alcoholic beer.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce19/29Classic Milk Tea
How do you get that delightfully chewy-bouncy texture of boba at home? Make your own bubble tea—and adjust the flavors, sweetness, and toppings to your personal preference while you're at it. Click here for our bubble tea how-to, then jump to the recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Liza Jernow22/29Iced Chai
Iced chai often tastes bland and watered down. But not this version, which simmers the spices and tea in milk to fully bloom their flavor before chilling over ice. Read more about the brewing method here, then jump to the recipe.
