5 alcohol-free or low-alcohol cocktails you’ve been waiting for!
Ahhhh the return of the holidays, the new year… It often rhymes with Dry January or 28 days without alcohol. After 3 years of doing the 28-day alcohol-free challenge for the Jean Lapointe Foundation, I became aware of my consumption and I developed alcohol-free and low-alcohol cocktail recipes. These recipes really helped me get through it! My advice, during these months of challenge: Go at your own pace, it’s okay to cheat, listen to your desires, the goal is to become aware of the place that alcohol occupies in your life, not to feel bad because you did not achieve your goal.
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1. Paloma “ish”
In a long glass filled with ice, add 2 oz grapefruit juice, 1 oz agave syrup or simple syrup, 1 oz fresh lime juice, ¼ oz olive brine. Mix and top with 4 oz of sparkling water.
*I like to add 1 oz of non-alcoholic Aperol and you can add a rim of Tajin spice.
2. Lillet/Vermouth/Aperol/Port with Tonic or Soda
In a long glass filled with ice, add 1 ½ oz of Lillet, Vermouth, Aperol or white Port. Top with 3 oz of sparkling water or tonic.
*It’s really up to your taste! Personally, I like the tonic best with white Port or Lillet and Vermouth or Aperol with sparkling water. *These aperitifs are between 11% and 20% alcohol by volume. So, much lower than strong alcohols like gin or vodka.
3. Sparkling water + dash bitters
I love grapefruit sparkling water! I add a few drops of Grapefruit & Hops Bitter. It just adds a little twist, a little kick.
*The most popular bitter is Angostura, you can find it in some grocery stores. *For more original bitters, I recommend the Alambika store. *Bitters contain between 35%-45% alcohol by volume and are considered non-alcoholic products.
4. Michelada
I admit that I drank A LOT this summer! This mocktail is based on Lager-type blond beer and Clamato. There isn’t really a recipe, it’s very “by eye” and taste. More or less beer, more or less Clamato, a dash of hot sauce, a dash of soy sauce and the juice of half a lime. Be creative!
*Michelada was created in Mexico to “cure” hangovers. *You will easily find non-alcoholic Corona or Heineken in grocery stores. Otherwise, any non-alcoholic lager (Lager) will do.
5. Based on sparkling wine
There are very good non-alcoholic sparkling wines and the possibilities are endless! Here are some simple ideas:
- Bellini – Add peach puree to your sparkling wine.
- Aperol Spritz – Add Aperol or Campari to your sparkling wine.
- Kir Royal – Add blackcurrant liqueur or blackcurrant syrup to your sparkling wine.
- French 75 – Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to your sparkling wine.
- Mimosa – Add orange juice to your sparkling wine.
