Alcohol-free drinks are no longer an afterthought at parties. At confirmations and graduations they are often what most people drink, and at weddings, birthdays and company parties there is always a group of guests who are driving home, expecting a baby or simply want something good without alcohol. Those guests deserve more than soda water and orange juice. Here is what to offer, how much you need and how to make the alcohol-free bar look great.
What to offer
The easiest way is to think of the alcohol-free bar in three layers:
- Ready-to-drink. Non-alcoholic aperitifs in cans, such as Apéro Soda, Spicy Pink Paloma and Americano from Stockholms Bränneri. All you need is ice and a glass, and every guest gets their own drink.
- Mixers. Good tonic water, ginger beer and ginger ale are the base of most alcohol-free long drinks. Add a bottle of non-alcoholic amaro and you can serve grown-up drinks without alcohol.
- One or two mocktails. An alcohol-free cocktail mixed on the spot with fresh juice and syrup is what guests remember.
You don't need everything. At an afternoon party, ready-to-drink cans and a jug of lemonade are enough. At an evening party with a bar, it is good to have all three.
How much per guest?
Our bartenders use this rule: two drinks per guest in the first hour and one per hour after that. Make at least a quarter of the drinks alcohol-free, and more at confirmations, graduations and parties where many guests drive. At an afternoon party where people sit at the table for a long time, you can reduce the numbers by a third.
| Guests | Total drinks (4 hrs) | Alcohol-free (25%) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 150 | about 38 |
| 50 | 250 | about 63 |
| 100 | 500 | about 125 |
One 200 ml bottle of mixer makes one long drink, and one can is one drink. For a more precise calculation, including glasses and ice, use the calculator in our article how many drinks do you need for a party.
Three easy mocktails
Alcohol-free Mule
Fill a glass with ice, add 20 ml of lime juice and top up with ginger beer. Garnish with dried lime and mint. A few dashes of ginger juice add more heat.
Alcohol-free Paloma
A salted rim on a highball glass, ice, 15 ml lime juice and grapefruit soda to top up. Garnish with dried grapefruit.
Alcohol-free bitter spritz
Ice in a large wine glass, one bottle of Bitter Aperitivo, a splash of soda water and a dried orange slice. A lovely welcome drink on a tray.
More recipes with syrup and purée are in our article alcohol-free cocktails: 6 easy recipes.
Foam without egg
Sours with a beautiful foamy head are popular, but raw egg whites are a hassle at a party and don't suit everyone. Fee Foam from Fee Brothers solves that: two dashes in the shaker instead of egg white. Dry shake without ice first, then with ice, and you get a dense foam that is vegan and taste-neutral. With sour mix, or lemon juice and sugar syrup, you have an alcohol-free sour in half a minute.
Garnish: dried fruit
Garnish is what makes an alcohol-free drink look like a cocktail. Dried citrus is the most practical garnish for a party: no cutting, no dripping, and it keeps for a long time, so leftovers can be used later.
| Per 100 g bag | Slices | Goes with |
|---|---|---|
| Dried lime | about 115 | Tonic, Mule, mojito |
| Dried lemon | about 90 | Lemonade, iced tea, sours |
| Dried orange | about 58 | Spritz, Americano, amaro |
| Pink grapefruit | about 50 | Paloma, grapefruit soda |
Allow one slice per glass. At a party of 50 with around 60 garnished alcohol-free drinks, one bag is plenty. See all dried fruit for cocktails.
Checklist for the alcohol-free bar
- Two or three alcohol-free drinks on the menu, written on a board so guests can see what's on offer
- Mixers: tonic, ginger beer, ginger ale and grapefruit soda
- Fresh juice and syrups for mocktails
- Dried fruit and mint for garnish
- Plenty of ice: about 1 kg per guest if cocktails are on the menu
- Nice glasses: highball and wine glasses to rent, returned unwashed
- Cold water available at all times
All the items for sale come with your booking in the Reykjavik area. Want someone to run the bar? Our bartenders mix alcohol-free drinks as well as any others, and go through the drinks menu with you before the party. The full range is under non-alcoholic drinks and mixers.
Frequently asked questions
What share of the drinks should be alcohol-free?
At least a quarter, and often half or more at confirmations and graduations.
Which mixers do I need for an alcohol-free bar?
Tonic, ginger beer and ginger ale cover most alcohol-free long drinks. Grapefruit soda for a Paloma and Bitter Aperitivo for a spritz add variety.
How do I get foam on an alcohol-free cocktail without egg?
Two dashes of Fee Foam in the shaker, dry shake without ice first and then with ice.