Whether it’s summertime and you’re prepping for poolside hangs, or it’s sweater season and holiday gatherings are fast approaching, cocktails might be top of mind. If you’re looking to survive an onslaught of toasts or make sure everyone has something delicious to sip, it’s good to have a few low and no-alcohol cocktail recipes on hand.
Low-alcohol drinks typically have no more than 10% alcohol by volume (abv), give or take. To mix low-abv libations, you’ll want to stock your bar with options like Sherry, vermouth, Port, a flavored liqueur like amarone and bitters.
Cocktails made without alcohol are crafted from zero-proof or less than 0.5% abv distilled spirits. These offerings are often fermented to mimic classic spirits such as gin, whiskey or vodka but are flavored with herbs, botanicals and fruit extracts.
Here are 13 tasty low and non-alcoholic cocktails for any season.
Low-Alcohol Cocktails
La Dolce Vida
This Sherry-forward sipper combines nutty Manzanilla Sherry and Bonal into a French wine-based apertif similar to sweet vermouth. Garnished with a lemon twist, it can be just as impressive as a Manhattan.
White Wine Spritzer
White wine spritzers are classic, refreshing drinks. Whether Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio or Riesling, add a little sparkle to your holiday with this simple two-ingredient cocktail.
The Classic Kir Cocktail
This simple, elegant, two-ingredient classic cocktail is both the perfect apéritif, and a great way to use your leftover white wine.
Dripping Springs Spritzer
This refreshing spritzer from Grand Army Bar in Brooklyn, NY, uses a splash of Ricard and St-Germain to bring life to a combination of sparkling wine, seltzer and vermouth.
Low-Proof Mint Julep
This low-alcohol version of a classic Mint Julep cocktail recipe features Cynar, an Italian amaro, rather than full-strength Bourbon.
Amaro Highball
Italy’s best amaro are often served as after-dinner drinks, but Montenegro Amaro meets aperitivo hour in this simple highball cocktail recipe.
Low-Proof Daiquiri
Manzanilla Sherry takes the place of rum in this lower-alcohol alternative to a full-strength Daiquiri—a “Snaiquiri,” if you will.
Lavender 75
This cockail, from Seattle’s Bookstore Bar & Café, is a take on the French 75. It still has sparkling wine, but the gin is replaced with lavender syrup.
Campari Sun
Highbrow meets High Life in this summery cocktail, based off a combination dubbed the “Camparty,” where Campari is added to beer.
Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
Non-Alcoholic Spiritless Whiskey Sour Cocktail
This refreshing, smooth cocktail is made with non-alcoholic bourbon, a distilled spirit with notes of caramel, vanilla and oak. Combine it with ginger syrup, egg white and fresh lemon juice and you’ve got yourself a sweet and tart cocktail.
Non-Alcoholic Martini
Love martini’s but would prefer the un-leaded version this season? Try this classic drink crafted with alcohol-free dry gin and dry vermouth—garnished with plenty olives of course.
Ginger Snap
This spicy and citrusy concoction of pear syrup, lime juice and ginger beer is the perfect non-alcoholic substitute of a Moscow Mule that will have you feeling zingy from the inside out.
The Detox
This trio of pineapple juice, celery juice and lime juice is a deliciously clean non-alcoholic drink that comes together with a savory dash of sea salt.
This article was updated on June 14th, 2023
Last Updated: June 14, 2023
