16 zero-proof drinks you’ll actually want

The best zero-proof drinks feel like a small event: a good glass, plenty of ice, something to smell or crunch, and a balance of sweet, sour, bitter and fizz. Use fresh citrus, real ice and a garnish. Amounts are for one drink.

Everyday

1. Lime and bitters. Tall glass of ice, 5 to 6 dashes of aromatic bitters (check the label; they contain trace alcohol, so skip them if you avoid all alcohol), the juice of half a lime, topped with soda water. Sits well with anyone’s ‘cocktail’ ritual.
2. Ginger fizz. Ice, 3 to 4 slices fresh ginger, juice of half a lemon, 1 teaspoon honey, top with soda water.
3. Cucumber mint cooler. Muddle 4 cucumber slices and 6 mint leaves with a squeeze of lime and a teaspoon of syrup, add ice and soda water.
4. Hibiscus iced tea. Steep a hibiscus tea bag in hot water for 5 minutes, chill, serve with ice and an orange slice.
5. Tart cherry spritz. 2 ounces unsweetened tart cherry juice, a squeeze of lime, ice, and topped with soda water.

Cocktail-style

6. Virgin mule. Ice, juice of half a lime, 3 ounces ginger beer, a mint sprig. Serve in a copper mug if you have one. 7. Rosemary grapefruit. 3 ounces grapefruit juice, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, a sprig of rosemary, ice and a splash of soda. 8. Pineapple basil smash. Muddle 3 basil leaves with 3 ounces pineapple juice and half a lime. Shake with ice, strain and top with soda. 9. Spiced apple ‘old fashioned.’ 3 ounces apple cider, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, a dash of cinnamon and a cinnamon stick. Serve over one big ice cube. 10. Blackberry thyme sour. Muddle 5 blackberries with a sprig of thyme, juice of half a lemon and a teaspoon of syrup. Shake with ice and strain over ice.

Celebration

11. Sparkling pear. 2 ounces pear juice in a flute topped with sparkling water or a zero-proof sparkling wine, with a thin slice of pear. 12. Elderflower spritz. 1 ounce elderflower cordial, ice, sparkling water and a slice of cucumber. 13. Pomegranate ‘champagne.’ 1 ounce pomegranate juice topped with chilled zero-proof sparkling wine and a few pomegranate seeds.

Cozy

14. Golden milk. Warm 1 cup milk (dairy or plant), whisk in half a teaspoon turmeric, a pinch of black pepper, a pinch of cinnamon and a teaspoon of honey. 15. Spiced chai. Simmer a chai tea bag with a cinnamon stick and a slice of ginger in milk for 5 minutes. Sweeten lightly. 16. Hot chocolate, the good kind. Whisk cocoa, a little sugar and a pinch of salt into warm milk, top with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Make it feel special

• The glass. Use the one you would use for wine or a cocktail.
• The ice. Large cubes look elegant and melt slowly.
• The garnish. A citrus peel, herbs, berries or a cinnamon stick.
• The sound. Fizz, ice clinking. Pour at the table.
• The occasion. Sit down, put your phone away and enjoy it.

Buying guide

Zero-proof beer, wine, spirits and sparkling drinks have improved enormously. Try several; taste is personal. Check the label. ‘Non-alcoholic’ in the US can contain up to 0.5% alcohol by volume, and ‘alcohol-free’ or ‘0.0%’ means none. If you are avoiding all alcohol for health, pregnancy or recovery reasons, check with your doctor and choose 0.0% products. Some people find that drinks that taste very like alcohol trigger cravings; if that is you, choose flavors that feel different.

At a bar or restaurant

Ask for a mocktail or the zero-proof menu. Otherwise order soda water with lime and bitters, ginger beer, a tonic with herbs, a shrub or a fresh juice with soda. Tip as you would on a cocktail. It helps the place want to keep making them.