20 N/A Cocktails to Sip This Winter

Cutting back on your alcohol consumption but still have a yen for wintery drinks? Try these 20 non-alcoholic drinks and mocktails, from tonics to booze-free sangrias to shrubs.

By
Elana Lepkowski
Elana Lepowski
Elana Lepkowski
Elana Lepkowski has an extensive background in the gourmet and celebrity food industries. She has been writing for for various media outlets since 2006.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
and
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated November 15, 2022
Mocktails for Dry January

Over the last decade the N/A spirits category has blossomed from, “Have you heard about this gin that has no booze in it?” to a full catalog of wines, beers, cocktails, and other spirits. That's GREAT news for those who do not partake in alcohol because it opens up the world of mocktails and N/A or no-ABV (alcohol by volume) cocktails.

With the number of N/A drink options now available, it’s possible to build an entirely sober bar (here’s how to do it).  Grab your favorite N/A bottles because we gathered our favorite mocktails for you below. Cheers!

Robin Shreeves joins Elana Lepkowski in compiling this list.

  • Non-Alcoholic Negroni (NAgroni)

    Overhead view of two Negronis with non alcoholic gin, bar nuts and an orange wedge.
    Sam Schick

    Do you crave the bittersweet taste of a Negroni? Perhaps invest in a few bottles of booze-free gin and vermouth to mix up this alcohol-free take on a classic cocktail. The ratios are different, but the taste is just as bold as the original.

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  • Earl Grey Tea and Tonic

    Earl grey tea and tonic drink with ice
    Elana Lepkowski

    Tea provides a wonderful stand-in for alcohol with its strong tannins and often complex flavor profiles. A citrus-y Earl Gray tea syrup has a luscious mouthfeel in this bright and bubbly drink made with lemon and tonic water. 

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  • Hibiscus Spritz

    Horizontal view of two side by side tall glassed with hibiscus cocktails inside. Ice cubes are inside the glass and a lime wedge sits on the lip of each glass with additional lime wedges to the right of the glasses. Partial view of a bowl of dried hibiscus in the background to the right of the second glass.
    Nick Evans

    Dried hibiscus petals pack a TON of flavor—use it to make a ruby-hued syrup. For a simple N/A spritz, pair it with ice and sparkling water. I like it with a generous squeeze of lime. It's a refreshing, anytime drink. Bonus: The syrup will last for weeks in the fridge!

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  • Non-Alcoholic Mexican Mule

    Non-alcoholic Mexican mule
    Sam Schick

    Moscow Mule has a spicy kick and this N/A version does too. It uses booze-free tequila, ginger beer, agave, and lime juice for a familiar, yet exciting twist on a classic. An alcohol-free vodka would make it a little less spicy and a more understated mocktail.

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    Continue to 5 of 20 below.

  • How to Make Ginger Switchel

    Switchel recipe with ginger
    Leela Cyd

    If gingery drinks are your thing, try this combination of ginger and vinegar with a touch of honey. It’s super easy to make—no wonder folks have been enjoying it since the 17th century! It's a great base for sparkling water or even iced tea.

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  • Non-Alcoholic Sangria With Pomegranate and Citrus

    Virgin Sangria with Pomegranat
    Sally Vargas

    Do you miss Sangria when you’re taking the light on the booze? Pomegranate juice and two kinds of teas stand in for the wine in Maggie Hoffman's recipe. (She's the author of two books on cocktails.) Virgin Pomegranate-Citrus Sangria. It’s sweet, tart, and has a little kick from cayenne. Brunch is saved with this N/A sipper!

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  • Pear-Ginger Shrub

    pear ginger shrub drink
    Elana Lepkowski

    Pears are in season in January and a perfectly ripe bunch will make a flavorful shrub. Steeped with ginger or vanilla, this tart shrub is invigorating sipped on its own or mixed with club soda. Complete the party with a cheese plate.

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  • Lavender Lemonade

    Lavender Lemonade
    Elise Bauer

    Want to elevate a tart lemonade? Add a hint of lavender. Want even more? Add a splash of club soda and an ounce of Seedlip’s Grove 42 for a burst of citrus.

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    Continue to 9 of 20 below.

  • Winter Spiced Orange Mocktail

    Spiced bitter orange mocktail with cinnamon and star anise
    Elana Lepkowski

    Highlight fresh citrus with this spice-scented mocktail. This is a recipe for a bitter orange squash (a fruity syrup, not a vegetable). Serve it with sparkling water, as a sweetener for your tea, or even drizzled over an orange loaf (a baked dessert, not a mocktail).

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  • Limeade with Mint

    Minty Limeade
    Elise Bauer

    While limeades conjure up summers by the pool, it’s also a mood booster on cold winter days. With a hint of mint, this refreshing drink can be enjoyed from morning till night. And if you’re looking for a nightcap, add an ounce and a half of booze-free tequila.

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  • Cucumber Lime Mint Aqua Fresca

    Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca
    Elise Bauer

    Make a pitcher of emerald-hued Cucumber Lime Mint Agua Fresca when you need an N/A drink for a crowd! It’s a great option when you’re hosting and need something for imbibing guests (place a bottle of vodka nearby) and those who aren't.

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  • Cucumber Mint “Shrub” Soda

    Cucumber Mint Soda
    Elise Bauer

    Take your cucumber and mint on a tangy journey when you make it into a shrub! This tart, sour, and sweet soda is adapted from a Persian drink. It will make you wonder why you haven't been drinking vinegar all along.

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    Continue to 13 of 20 below.

  • Hot Mulled Cider

    Hot Mulled Cider
    Elise Bauer

    Batch up this cold weather favorite for a week’s worth of warm, comforting, mulled cider. The secret to a deep apple flavor is using freshly pressed cider, not the shelf stable kind, plus whole spices for more potent flavors.

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  • Classic Mimosa (Made Zero Proof)

    Prosecco, orange juice, orange slices and three glasses of the best mimosas are on a tray. Whole oranges are to the left of the tray.
    Elana Lepkowski

    Pretend that bottle of La Marca in the photo above is an alcohol-free brut-style sparkling wine. Boom! You've just visualized how easy it is to make an N/A mimosa. With so many varieties on the market now, you may even consider creating a N/A Mimosa Bar.

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  • Homemade Butterbeer

    Mugs of Butterbeer Topped with Whipped Cream

    Simply Recipes / Elana Lepkowski

    You don't have to be a kid to enjoy this Harry Potter-inspired drink. Use store-bought or homemade butterscotch syrup and add it to cream soda. Top with whipped cream—flavored with more butterscotch syrup—and you're drinking like you're a Gryffindor.

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  • Raspberry Lime Rickey

    Best ever raspberry lime rickey in two glasses with a pitcher behind it.
    Sally Vargas

    Originating in New England, this popular, refreshing, fizzy, N/A drink contains a simple-to-make tart and sweet raspberry syrup, lime juice, and seltzer. This is the perfect mocktail for a mixed group with some who want to abstain and others who want a little nip because it works well with vodka or gin in it.

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    Continue to 17 of 20 below.

  • Apple Cider Hot Toddy

    hot toddy in a glass
    Nancy Mitchell

    There's nothing like a hot toddy to perk you up when you're feeling a little under the weather. Omit the whiskey in this recipe to make a Not Toddy, and you have all the flavor and warming vibes with none of the booze.

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  • Rosemary Lemon Rhubarb Spritzer

    strawberry rhubarb spritz
    Elise Bauer

    As winter comes to a close and spring is in the air, that's when you'll want to your attention to this non-alcoholic spritzer. Rhubarb pieces, water, sugar, and rosemary leaves simmer until the rhubarb disintegrates. Add a little lemon, chill, and you'll have syrup to add to soda water to make a refreshing spritzer.

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  • Cranberry Tangerine Shrub

    Cranberry Tangerine Shrub in a Drink Topped with Ice, Sparkling Water, and Cranberries Surrounded by More Cranberries, a Peeled Tangerine, and a Tray with Drink Supplies

    Simply Recipes / Elana Lepkowski

    This puckery shrub harnesses all the crantastic joys of the holidays. It's a snap to make and keeps well in the fridge for weeks. The shrub itself is a base syrup to mix with sparkling water, N/A gin and tonic, or whatever else your heart desires.

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  • Tepache

    Glass of tepache.

    Simply Recipes / Elana Lepkowski

    Wintery? No, but this on-trend fermented pineapple drink has a natural fizz that's invigorating in bleak winter months. Intimidated by home fermentation? It doesn't get any easier than this one. Bonus: homemade tepache is way easier on the wallet than buying it in cans or bottles.

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