When you think of a cocktail, there are several famous options that pop into your mind.
It may be a memory of one you drank in a certain place many years ago, or your favourite weekend tipple.
No matter why your favourite cocktail has made its way to the top of your list, it may seem strange to think of it without the alcohol.
Alcohol can play a key part in many cocktails, adding flavour and bitterness throughout, but with sober October on the horizon, maybe now is the perfect time to nail your alcohol-free recipe.
Who knows?
It may taste just as good as the real thing.
In this guide from the team at Lixir Drinks, we’re going to delve into five famous cocktails, and teach you how to create the perfect alcohol-free alternative to enjoy this October.
Let’s take a look.
What is Sober October?
Sober October is an annual challenge in which all participants commit to not drinking any alcohol for the entire month.
This is often done in collaboration with Macmillan Cancer Support and funds are usually raised for this.
Last year, a whopping 75,000 people signed up to complete the month, raising £5 million in the process.
If you’re thinking of signing up this year, we say go for it!
But don’t forget about your favourite cocktail, as with these five recipes, you can enjoy them just as much, just without any alcohol.
5 Famous Alcohol-Free Cocktail Recipes
Gin and Tonic
Let’s start with a classic, and the gin and tonic.
This simple cocktail exudes elegance and with the right flavour combinations can really pack a punch.
The secret here is to swap the gin out for a non-alcoholic version. It’s really that easy.
Once you’ve done that, make sure to spice things up with a flavoured tonic water to really make a beverage to remember.
Fill your glass with ice, pour it in, and garnish with a slice of lemon or lime and this absolute classic is just as enjoyable as the version with alcohol included.
Why not get a pack of mixed tonic and experiment until you find your favourite flavour?
Moscow Mule
A Moscow mule is another fan-favourite, and when served in a copper mug to keep everything nice and cool, it is always a treat.
This usually contains vodka, but for this drink, we’re removing it. What’s interesting here is that we’re not looking to replace it.
The other ingredients, lime juice and ginger beer, are more than enough to carry the cocktail on its own, and when served in a glass (or copper mug) topped up with ice with a lime wedge to garnish, you will struggle to find something as refreshing and tasty as this.
Mojito
On a warm day, there’s nothing more refreshing than a mojito.
The combination of the fresh mint and the sour citrus combine to create a stunning flavour that is enjoyed all over the world.
This normally contains white rum, but for this recipe we’re removing that, and focusing on incorporating the flavour from elsewhere.
So, to start with, muddle up some mint leaves and add fresh lime juice and syrup. Now add ice, before topping everything up with soda water.
There you have it, take a sip and the delightful taste of a mojito should be right there.
Give everything a good stir before serving and add some more mint and maybe even a slice of lime and your very own alcohol-free mojito is ready to enjoy.
Dark ‘n’ Stormy
We’re heading into the world of rum again with a dark ‘n’ stormy.
This cocktail is refreshing, packed with the classic zing of citrus, and always tasty.
This is similar to the Moscow mule, but instead of containing vodka, dark rum is used here. This makes the non-alcoholic recipe a little different.
For this one, we recommend finding a great non-alcoholic dark rum substitute.
This can add the kick of the rum but with none of the alcohol.
From here, you simply have to fill in the gaps. This means adding ginger beer and ice and a dash of lime juice if you fancy.
Add ice and a wedge of lime before serving and you have the perfect non-alcoholic replacement.
Shirley Temple
A cocktail that is befitting of any tabletop during the warm months of summer is a Shirley Temple.
We’ve cheated a little bit here, as this drink actually doesn’t have any alcohol in it anyway.
Why is it on the list, you ask? Well, it’s so tasty we thought giving you the recipe will mean you can try it out and who knows, it may become your favourite tipple throughout sober October and beyond.
So, this cocktail all starts with a glass full of ice. From here, in goes ginger ale and soda (this should be lemon and lime infused if possible).
The real hero of this recipe is some grenadine syrup, so add a small amount of this in to really enhance the taste.
And finally, stir gently, add a slice of orange if you like, and don’t forget the trademark cherry that always goes on top.
Build Your Perfect Alcohol-Free Cocktail with Lixir Drinks
Every one of these cocktails tastes amazing without any alcohol.
The key is to always use high-quality ingredients, and what connects all of the above cocktails is that Lixir Drinks can play a big part in creating them.
From soda and tonic water to ginger ale, our products are made to taste great.
Why not head over to our shop and take a look for yourself?
Or, if you have any questions, speak to one of our team who are always happy to help.
