Remember poor Rudolph and how none of the other reindeer wanted to play with him? Being left out is never fun, especially around the holidays! If you’re like us, you love having friends and family gathered in your home during the holidays.
Remember poor Rudolph and how none of the other reindeer wanted to play with him? Being left out is never fun, especially around the holidays! If you’re like us, you love having friends and family gathered in your home during the holidays. It’s important to make sure everyone feels considered, including your non-drinking guests. That means preparing for different drink preferences and tastes, but not to worry! We know just what you need for your upcoming Friendsmas or ugly sweater party.
This season, we’re sharing our list of festive mocktails paired with cocktail versions to make sure every guest has a delicious drink in hand at all of your parties and holiday get-togethers. You’ll truly be the host with the most with these twinning non-alcoholic and alcoholic recipes.
Join us as we spill the secret on how to make an easy holiday cocktail along with its non-alcoholic mocktail alternative. Check out the rest of our holiday mocktail and cocktail pairs below so everyone can eat, drink and be merry!
If you’re dreaming of a white cosmo for Christmas, but still need to drive the sleigh – this cosnoplitian is the merriest mocktail of them all. The White Cosnopolitan is a refreshing non-alcoholic concoction with a light, fruity flavor that’s perfect for your holiday gatherings. Seedlip Grove is distilled with a blend of 42 botanicals and herbs including allspice, rosemary and bitter orange, which gives this mocktail a sophisticated taste to impress all your non-drinking guests.
The Recipe
1 ounce white cranberry juice
½ ounce lime juice
½ ounce simple syrup
Sugar-coated cranberries (optional)
Rosemary sprig
Place a martini glass in the freezer. In a shaker with ice, add Seedlip Grove 42, white cranberry juice, lime juice and simple syrup. Shake well. Remove glass from freezer. Strain mixture into chilled glass. Garnish with a skewer of sugar-coated cranberries and a rosemary sprig.
Alcoholic Version
Replace the 2 ounces of Seedlip Grove 42 with 2 ounces of Ketel One Vodka. Prepare in the same method as above.
If you’re feeling festive but want to skip the spirits, cozy up with this classic non-alcoholic hot toddy. It’s warm, soothing, and still delivers that hint of holiday spice you crave. With a splash of Nkd Distillery Whiskey Alternative, honey and lemon, this toddy is the perfect fireside companion. Stir up your mug, add a slice of lemon and a cinnamon stick, and let the seasonal aromas work their magic—ideal for those sleighing the night responsibly.
The Recipe
¾ cup water
2 to 3 teaspoons honey, to taste
2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice, to taste
Lemon wheel
Cinnamon stick
In a teapot or saucepan, bring water to a simmer. Pour the hot water into a mug. Add whiskey, honey and lemon juice. Stir until the honey has disappeared into the hot water. Add more honey or lemon juice as desired. Garnish with a lemon round and cinnamon stick.
Alcoholic Version
Replace the 1 ½ ounces Nkd Distillery Whiskey Alternative Non-Alcoholic Spirit with 1 ½ ounces of Quarter Horse Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Prepare in the same method as above.
There truly is nothing better than a chilled, crisp glass of sparkling wine during the holidays. As you celebrate this season, you’ll want to make sure you can still share a toast with any party guest who is cutting out or limiting alcohol. This sparkling spice mocktail is the ideal alternative. The alcohol-removed brut still has all the bubbles of a sparkling wine without the booze.
The Recipe
1 slice fresh ginger
1 teaspoon sugar
½ pinch cinnamon
2 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
2 ½ ounces Fre Sparkling Brut, Alcohol-Removed Wine
Muddle ginger, sugar and cinnamon in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add grapefruit juice, fill with ice, and shake well. Strain into a Champagne flute and top with Fre Brut.
Alcoholic Version
Replace the 2 ½ ounces of Fre Brut with 2 ½ ounces of Haton Champagne Brut Classic Champagne. Prepare in the same method as above.
This non-alcoholic spiced cranberry margarita features Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative, a low-calorie alternative to traditional tequila that is the highest-rated non-alcoholic spirit. The taste is light and smooth with just enough sweetness to cut through the tart cranberries. It's a fantastic mocktail for those who want to enjoy the classic flavors of a margarita without the alcohol.
The Recipe
1 ½ ounces Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative
½ ounce agave syrup
½ ounce non-alcoholic triple sec
1 ounce lime juice
¾ ounce cranberry juice
Fresh cranberries
Rim a glass with salt and set aside. Add tequila alternative, agave syrup, non-alcoholic triple sec syrup, lime juice and cranberry juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into rimmed glass over fresh ice. Garnish with fresh cranberries and lime wheel.
Alcoholic Version
Replace the 1 ½ ounces of Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative with 1 ½ ounces CavAgave Blanco Tequila and the ½ ounce of non-alcoholic triple sec with Charles Regnier Triple Sec. Prepare in the same method as above.
This holiday mocktail combines Zilch Brut Bubbles Non-Alcoholic with a splash of tart cherry juice for a festive red hue. Add a rosemary sprig and dried berries for a garnish that’s merry and bright—perfect for toasting to the season.
The Recipe
6 ounces Zilch Brut Bubbles Non-Alcoholic
1 ounce pure tart cherry juice, refrigerated
Rosemary sprig, optional
Dried berries, optional
In a glass with ice, add Zilch Brut and cherry juice. Stir to combine. Optional garnish with rosemary sprig and dried berries.
Alcoholic Version
Replace the 6 ounces of Zilch Zero-Alcohol Brut Bubbles with 6 ounces Octopoda Prosecco Brut DOC. Prepare in the same method as above.
The Apple Pie Sangria is the ultimate mocktail to enjoy on sweater weather days. Classic flavors of the season, like apple and cinnamon, are mixed with Fre Chardonnay - an alcohol-removed wine that expresses with hints of apple, tropical fruit aromas and crisp citrus. If you’re hosting, we recommend making this mocktail by the batch. Trust us, it will go quickly!
The Recipe
Honey
Cinnamon sugar (equal parts cinnamon and sugar)
2 ounces apple juice
1 ounce lemon juice
2 ounces Fre Chardonnay, Alcohol-Removed Wine
Vanilla simple syrup*
Apple slices
Cinnamon sticks
Vanilla Simple Syrup
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
For vanilla simple syrup: Add water and sugar to a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and add vanilla bean. Let steep for several hours. Strain into a jar or bottle. Will keep, tightly sealed and refrigerated, for up to one month.
For mocktail: Rim a glass with honey and then dip in cinnamon sugar. Set it aside. In a shaker with ice add apple juice, lemon juice, Fre Chardonnay and simple syrup. Shake well. Fill rimmed glass with ice and strain mixture into it. Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks.
Alcoholic Version
Replace the 2 ounces of Fre Chardonnay with 2 ounces of Octopoda Russian River Chardonnay. Prepare in the same method as above.
With fragrant floral notes and just the right amount of sweetness, the cranberry gimlet is a reimagined classic to serve to your non-drinking guests. The Ritual Zero Proof Gin Alternative is crisp and bright, featuring flavors of English cucumber and juniper berries. The result is a balanced mocktail that has just enough kick to keep you warm all season long.
The Recipe
1 ½ ounces Ritual Zero Proof Gin Alternative
1 ounce lime juice
¾ ounce cranberry juice
½ ounce simple syrup
Fresh rosemary sprig
In a shaker with ice, add gin alternative, lime juice, cranberry juice and simple syrup. Shake well. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig.
Alcoholic Version
Replace the 1 ½ ounces of Ritual Zero Proof Gin Alternative with 1 ½ ounces of Balfour Street Gin. Prepare in the same method as above.
