Alcohol-free cocktails have become a regular feature of a good party. At confirmations and graduations they are often the main drink, and at other parties there are always guests who are driving home, expecting a baby or simply want something nice without alcohol. Here are six recipes anyone can make, and they look just as good as any other cocktail.
The recipes are for one glass. Fill the glass with ice first unless stated otherwise.
1. Passion fruit lemonade
- 50 ml passion fruit purée
- 15 ml sugar syrup
- 20 ml lime juice
- Soda water to top up
Shake the purée, syrup and juice with ice, pour into a highball glass and top up with soda water.
2. Strawberry lemonade
- 30 ml strawberry syrup
- 25 ml lemon juice
- Cold water or soda water to top up
Stir the syrup and juice together in the glass and top up. Looks lovely garnished with a slice of lemon. Easy to make in a large jug for the buffet.
3. Raspberry fizz
- 25 ml raspberry syrup
- 20 ml lemon juice
- Soda water to top up
- A few mint leaves
Lightly muddle the mint in the glass, add the syrup, juice and ice, and top up with soda water.
4. Green apple spritz
- 25 ml green apple syrup
- 15 ml lime juice
- Tonic or soda water to top up
Stir together in a wine glass with ice and garnish with a slice of apple. Tonic gives the drink a more grown-up, drier taste.
5. Alcohol-free mojito
- 8–10 mint leaves
- 25 ml sugar syrup
- 25 ml lime juice
- Soda water to top up
Muddle the mint with the syrup and juice in the bottom of the glass, fill with crushed ice and pour soda water over. Stir up from the bottom.
6. Vanilla iced coffee
- 150 ml cold coffee
- 15–20 ml vanilla syrup
- Milk or oat milk to taste
Stir the syrup into the coffee, pour over ice and add the milk. Goes well with the cakes at confirmations and afternoon gatherings.
Tips for the alcohol-free bar
- Fresh juice matters most. Freshly squeezed or good pure juice makes more of a difference than anything else.
- Plenty of ice. Allow 1 kg per guest if cocktails are on the menu.
- Nice glasses. An alcohol-free drink in a good glass feels every bit as much like a cocktail. Hire highball and wine glasses and return them unwashed.
- Let a bartender handle it. Our bartenders mix alcohol-free cocktails just as well as any others.
How much syrup do you need? One litre makes 33–50 drinks. More in our article syrups and purée: how much do you need.
Frequently asked questions
Which alcohol-free cocktail is easiest for a large party?
Strawberry lemonade. You can mix it in a jug in advance: 1 part strawberry syrup, 1 part lemon juice and around 8 parts water or soda water.
How many alcohol-free cocktails does a litre of passion fruit purée make?
Around 20 passion fruit lemonades, based on 50 ml per glass.