Non-Alcoholic

U.S. participation in Dry January might have fallen by 4% in 2023, but 15% of the population still decided to cut back on their alcohol consumption during the first month of the year. Of those, seven out of 10 participants managed to totally abstain until February. 

While a cocktail, beer, or glass of wine is a great way to end the day or enjoy a special moment, there might be times when you'd prefer a non alcoholic beverage instead. Years ago, your options might have been limited, but that isn't the case any longer.

In fact, as the alcohol market continues to grow and expand, non alcoholic drinks are likewise rising in the ranks. Today, you can find delicious, sophisticated concoctions that deliver all of the bliss without any of the buzz. Today, we're sharing a few of the most popular ones!

Features to Look for in a Non Alcoholic Drink

Yes, Shirley Temples will always hold a special place in our hearts. However, most of us have grown tired of this go-to order. We want a grown-up drink that tastes great, looks fancy, and meets our personal taste preferences. 

While there's no drink that will appeal to everyone, there are a few characteristics that can help a non alcoholic beverage feel more balanced. Mostly, you need a delicate blend of different flavor profiles, with just the right amount of each of the following:

• Acidity
• Sweetness
• Salinity
• Bitterness

As you take one sip after the other, those different elements will meld together, creating a drink that you'll love to savor. In an alcoholic drink, the alcohol delivers that soft burn that helps slow you down, so you'll need to find a way to replicate that in your non alcoholic wine or beer. 

To create a similar effect, look for drinks that highlight similarly bitter, spicy, or sour tones. This way, you'll be more likely to pause while drinking, and truly enjoy the experience. Here are a few of our top picks!

Virgin Mojito

Craving a taste of the tropics? The traditional mojito is a classic highball drink that traces its roots back to Cuba. Made with white rum (try this Captain Morgan version), lime, mint leaves, club soda, and sugar, it's your one-way ticket to paradise.

If you want to make a non alcoholic version of this beauty, all you have to do is combine the same ingredients in the same quantities but skip the rum. You'll still have to muddle the mint leaves so there's a bit of work involved, but we promise the end result is worth it. Here's what you'll need for one drink:

• About 10 fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 medium lime, cut into wedges and divided
• Two tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 cup club soda
• Ice cubes

Place the mint leaves and one lime wedge into your glass. Using a muddler, gently crush the mint leaves and lime to release their fragrant, delicious juices. Then, add the remaining lime wedges, along with the sugar. 

Next, add ice almost to the top and pour in your club soda. Stir it all together, add a little more sugar if you need to, and enjoy!

Non Alcoholic Merlot

There's nothing like pouring up a tall glass of wine after a long and rewarding day. The ultimate slow-down drink, it doesn't take long for your favorite bottle to fill you with a warm, easy feeling of relaxation.

Sometimes, the very act of sipping on a glass of something dark and red can elicit the same effect. If you want a non alcoholic wine that delivers, try a bottle that has all of the goodness you love, only without the alcohol. One of our favorites is the Sutter Home Fre Alcohol Removed California Merlot NV.

From appearance to taste, this bottle of alcohol-removed Merlot is as convincing as it gets. The wine itself is a gorgeous shade of ruby red, the poignant aromas have distinct notes of cherries and raspberries, and the texture is smooth and sleek. Flavor-wise, it features the signature fruitiness of a Merlot, which pairs beautifully with your favorite meat dishes, from poultry to steak.

Ginger and Juice

Despite the name, ginger beer is a non alcoholic beverage. This sweetened and carbonated drink is a great choice as the season heats up, offering a powerful blend of robust, aromatic, and spicy flavors that are super refreshing and easy to enjoy.

One of our favorites is the Q Spectacular Ginger Beer, which tends to feature more spice, less sugar, and more carbonation than other options. Made with all-natural ingredients, it's filled with tons of fresh ginger, as well as organic agave, cardamom, coriander, and lime.

Delicious on its own, ginger beer also makes an excellent base for some of your favorite mocktails! If you need a simple one that you can whip up in a dash, try a Ginger and Juice! Here's what you'll need to make it:

• 3/4 cup ginger beer
• 2 ounces pineapple juice
• 6 to 8 mint leaves (keep them on hand after making mojitos!)
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• Pinch of salt
• Ice

Lightly crush the mint leaves with your hands until their juices start to release. Then, add them to the bottom of your glass, along with the salt and lime juice. Muddle slightly, and then add ice. 

Next, pour in the pineapple juice and the apple cider vinegar. Stir well, and top with the ginger beer. You can add a small pineapple slice for garnish!

Sparkling Grape Juice

Sparkling grape juice shouldn't just be reserved for the little kids' table on New Year's Eve. You can also find classy options that are decidedly for grown-ups, such as the Donelli Blood Orange Flavor Sparkling Grape Juice.

Perfect for a weeknight, it's also the ideal bottle to reach for when it's time to celebrate a special occasion with the entire family. This juice is rich in minerals and doesn't contain any type of preservatives or sulfur dioxide. Serve it chilled and enjoy the refreshing taste!

Virgin Bloody Mary

Bloody Marys are one of the most versatile and flexible drinks out there, and nearly every bartender will put their own spin on the brunch staple. While alcoholic versions are made with vodka, you can get all of the wonderfully pungent, bitter flavors without adding any type of spirit. In this recipe, the secret ingredient is pickle juice!

Here's what you'll need:

• 2 cups prepared tomato juice
• 1/4 cup dill pickle juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• Small dash of celery seeds 
• Small dash of cayenne pepper

Start by combining everything into a large pitcher. Mix well, then pour each glass about 2/3 of the way full. For garnish, you can use any of the following:

• Small celery heart stalks with leaves
• Large olives
• Lemon wedges

This is the perfect drink to serve the morning after a big party, or at a brunch before a special event. You'll never miss the vodka, thanks to the sour, spicy ingredients it contains!

Sparkling Wine

There is a range of different non alcoholic wines that you can choose from, but ones that sparkle and fizz are especially delicious. When you're in the mood for something slightly sweet and clean-tasting, try a bottle of alcohol-free sparkling wine!

One of our top sellers is the Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Alcohol Free German Sparkling Rose. Made of 100% pinot noir grapes that macerate for six hours before pressing, the carbon dioxide it contains keeps it from being too sweet. Instead, it actually has a delicate, almost dry flavor that tastes convincingly like alcoholic wine! 

You'll love the red, fruity flavor that cools down the palate and instantly transports you to a sunny, lakeside picnic. Pour up a glass, kick your feet up, and relish the moment. 

Whiskey Alternative

Few drinks pair better with a cozy evening than whiskey. If you enjoy cuddling up by the fire with a good book and a glass in your hands, you might think there's no non alcoholic spirit that can touch the warmth that real whiskey brings. 

Until recently, this might have been true. However, we now have access to delicious whiskey alternatives that taste convincingly close to the real thing. One of those is Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative.

The perfect drink to sip on in the company of a good friend or that book that's been sitting on your nightstand, it delivers all of the rich, warming flavors you've come to expect from your favorite whiskey, but none of the alcohol. While it's great to enjoy on its own, it also makes a great base for a virgin old-fashioned. 

To make this mocktail, gather the following ingredients:

• 3 ounces whiskey alternative
• 3/4 ounce simple syrup
• 2 to 4 dashes orange bitters
• 1 to 3 dashes aromatic bitters
• Orange slices for garnish
• Ice

Add everything to a mixing glass and stir rapidly to chill. Then, strain the drink into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with your orange slice and let the relaxation begin. 

Non Alcoholic Aperitif

Also known as a liquid appetizer, an aperitif is a type of alcoholic drink that's typically served before a meal. This tradition traces back to Italy, where aperitifs have been used for centuries to stimulate appetites. Usually, these drinks contain heavy notes of bitter or dry flavors.

A few of the most common ones include:

• White wine
• Dry vermouth
• Fizzy, bitter drinks (such as Campari)

You can also serve other types of cocktails, such as martinis, gin and tonics, and negronis before dinner to whet the palate. To do so without the addition of alcohol, you'll need a specially-formulated aperitif, and Lyre's has just the solution. 

Lyre's Italian Orange Impossibly Crafted Non-Alcoholic Spirit doesn't taste like any other drink on the market, and that's because it isn't. Alcohol-free, it delivers the sweetly sour taste of a classic bitter orange aperitif, with notes of red citrus that linger mid-sip. There's also a pithy dryness that allows it to work as a great stand-in for the real deal.

Enjoy this one on its own, or add a splash of soda, tonic, or citrus water for a spritzy alternative. If you're craving a negroni in particular, add the brand's Dry London Spirit and Aperitif Rosso.

Gin-Free Tom Collins

A Tom Collins is a traditional cocktail that contains gin, sugar, lemon juice, and fizzy water. If you want to omit the alcohol, simply leave out the gin. You can also swap the sugar for simple syrup for a slightly lighter taste. 

Want to kick this drink up a notch? Make it with grapefruit soda! Or, if you prefer the taste of gin and want a similar alternative, try making your favorite recipe with Abstinence Cape Citrus Non Alcoholic Gin Spirit. 

Made with natural citrus fruits from the Cape Floral Kingdom in Africa's Western Cape, this spirit features a bright and bold citrus flavor, balanced beautifully by the region's world-renowned flora, including buchu, pepper, fennel, and ginger. There's also a hint of warmness thanks to the addition of cassia bark. 

To make a traditional Tom Collins using this substitute, you'll need the following:

• 2 ounces non-alcoholic gin
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 to 1 ounce simple syrup
• 2 to 3 ounces club soda
• Ice
• Lemon slice for garnish

Fill your cocktail shaker with ice and then add the other ingredients except for the club soda. Shake well, and pour into a tall glass over fresh ice. Top with the club soda and add the lemon slice on top!

Check Out More Non Alcoholic Drink Options

Whether you're in the mood for a mocktail or you want to sip your spirit straight, you can find a ton of non-alcoholic drink options on the market. While each person will have their own preferences, the best non alcoholic beer, wine, or spirit is the one that you enjoy! Take your time trying out a few of your favorites and find out what you like, sans alcohol. 

At Liquorama, we're proud to offer a vast collection of non alcoholic drinks for you to enjoy. Check out our full selection today and we'll ship your picks right to your doorstep!