Low and no-alcohol drinks
A good bar always has something for the person who is not drinking, or not drinking much. Here are alcohol-free drinks made with the same care as the classics, and the gentlest classics on this site.
Plainly
- This site is for adults of legal drinking age where they live.
- Never drink and drive, and do not drink if you are pregnant or could be.
- A cocktail is often stronger than it tastes. Every drink page shows its estimated alcohol in grams, UK units and US standard drinks, so you can count.
- Alternate with water, eat, and make your last drink an alcohol-free one.
- If you are worried about your drinking, or someone else's, talk to a doctor or a local support service.
Six alcohol-free drinks worth making
No bitters in these: cocktail bitters are 35–45% alcohol, so even a dash is not alcohol-free.
Virgin Mary
- 150 ml tomato juice
- 15 ml fresh lemon juice
- 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 2 dashes hot pepper sauce
- A pinch each of celery salt and black pepper
The Bloody Mary without vodka loses nothing important. Roll it gently between two tins rather than shaking, so the tomato does not go foamy, and pour over ice.
Shirley Temple
- 180 ml ginger ale
- 15 ml grenadine (pomegranate syrup)
- 10 ml fresh lime juice
The classic mid-20th-century alcohol-free drink. Real pomegranate grenadine and a squeeze of lime keep it from being merely sweet.
Mint and lime cooler
- 8–10 mint leaves
- 25 ml fresh lime juice
- 20 ml simple syrup
- Soda water to top (about 120 ml)
A Mojito without rum. Press the mint gently with the syrup, add lime and crushed ice, stir, and top with soda.
Salted grapefruit soda
- 60 ml fresh pink grapefruit juice
- 10 ml fresh lime juice
- 10 ml agave syrup
- Soda water to top (about 120 ml)
- Salt for half the rim
Built on the Paloma. The salt rim matters more than you would think; it makes grapefruit taste sweeter and rounder.
Coconut and pineapple blend
- 120 ml pineapple juice
- 60 ml sweetened cream of coconut
- 15 ml fresh lime juice
- A cup of crushed ice
The Piña Colada's alcohol-free twin. Blend until smooth. The lime is not traditional but keeps it from cloying.
Espresso tonic
- 150 ml cold tonic water
- One fresh espresso (about 30 ml)
Pour the tonic over ice, then float the espresso slowly on top. Bitter, bright and very refreshing in hot weather. Contains caffeine.
The lightest classics on the site
Ranked by estimated alcohol per drink, lowest first. Wine and aperitivo drinks dominate: the Americano and the spritz were made for long afternoons.
| Drink | ABV | Alcohol | UK units | US std drinks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mimosa | 6.0% | 7.1 g | 0.9 | 0.5 |
| Bellini | 7.3% | 7.8 g | 1.0 | 0.6 |
| Amaretto Sour | 9.3% | 8.5 g | 1.1 | 0.6 |
| Americano | 7.9% | 9.7 g | 1.2 | 0.7 |
| Grasshopper | 11.1% | 11.4 g | 1.4 | 0.8 |
| Bamboo | 12.5% | 12.0 g | 1.5 | 0.9 |
| Sherry Cobbler | 10.2% | 12.1 g | 1.5 | 0.9 |
| Champagne Cocktail | 12.6% | 12.2 g | 1.5 | 0.9 |
| Spritz | 8.5% | 13.0 g | 1.6 | 0.9 |
| Kir Royale | 12.4% | 13.3 g | 1.7 | 0.9 |
| Blood and Sand | 13.4% | 14.2 g | 1.8 | 1.0 |
| Bloody Mary | 10.6% | 14.2 g | 1.8 | 1.0 |
Any highball can be made lighter: halve the spirit and keep the mixer. A spritz with more soda is still a spritz.