Drinks Nonalcoholic Drinks The 10 Best Nonalcoholic Holiday Cocktails to Celebrate the Season For folks looking to keep it festive but alcohol-free. By Prairie Rose Prairie Rose Prairie Rose is Food & Wine's senior drinks editor. A trained sommelier, cocktail book author, and wine and spirits educator, in addition to Food & Wine she is also the senior editor of Liquor.com. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on November 19, 2024 Close Photo: Eva Kolenko / Food Styling by Carrie Purcell / Prop Styling by Jillian Knox When it comes to holiday entertaining, choosing what to serve your guests to drink may be one of the most important decisions you’ll make. To accommodate a crowd, it’s also crucial to have options for folks looking to be festive but alcohol-free. With the recent influx of products that range from booze-free spirits to nonalcoholic wines and alcohol-free beer, it’s easier than ever to find ready-to-drink options without the buzz. But there’s something special about crafting a dazzling holiday beverage from scratch. Make Big-Batch Drinks in Advance for the Easiest Holiday Cocktail Hour Nonalcoholic cocktails can be fun, flavor-rich, and just as satisfying as the high-octane versions. From a Nonalcoholic Champagne Spritz to a Vegan “Eggnog” and a Non-Alcoholic Negroni that rivals the real thing, here are 10 options to ensure your guests have flowing cups of booze-free cheer that won’t disappoint. 01 of 10 Nonalcoholic Negroni Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon A traditional Negroni is a simple three-ingredient drink composed of gin, bittersweet red liqueur (such as Campari), and sweet vermouth. This nonalcoholic version takes advantage of Ritual Zero-Proof brand’s gin alternative and as well as their non-alcoholic aperitif — which adds the signature red hue. The aperitif is a complex blend of herbal, citrus and spice notes that mimic the assertive bitterness of an Italian aperitivo. Get the Recipe 02 of 10 Sharab Rose Raspberry Shrub Cocktail Ed Anderson Inspired by sharab el ward, a rose-flavored drink that can be found in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan, this tart non-alcoholic cocktail is bright and floral. This recipe is based on the Lebanese version of the traditional drink with a nod to the seventeenth-century English shrub, made with alcohol or a vinegar syrup. This is a non-alcoholic vinegar syrup variation made with raspberries and rose water. Get the Recipe 03 of 10 Safran Şerbeti (Saffron Cordial) Photo by Eva Kolenko / Food Styling by Carrie Purcell / Prop Styling by Jillian Knox This traditional Turkish cordial dates to the Ottoman times and gets its sunshine-yellow hue from saffron threads. Floral, citrusy, and sweet, this refreshing drink is composed of granulated sugar, saffron, water, ground ginger, lemon, and honey. Serve chilled with lemon slices on its own or over ice. Get the Recipe 04 of 10 Nonalcoholic Champagne Spritz Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele This simple blush-colored spritz calls for a sparkling nonalcoholic rosé from French Bloom made from a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes and Ghia’s nonalcoholic aperitif, Berry, a strawberry-based beverage. Tart, effervescent and fruity, this spritz evokes notes of peach, strawberries, and rose petals. Get the Recipe 05 of 10 Coffee Cooler Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babur-Winter This nonalcoholic refresher gets its buzz from freshly brewed coffee. Fragrant cardamom, orange juice, simple syrup, and club soda round out this fizzy and floral drink. Serve this aromatic coffee cooler at the beginning of the night for a quick pick me up, or close out your evening — with the option to use decaf — for a satisfying nightcap. Get the Recipe 06 of 10 Ghia Sour Carey Jones This sour leans on the popular N/A aperitif Ghia as well. Their flagship bottling balances fruity elements like Riesling grapes and yuzu with botanicals like rosemary, ginger, and gentian. Shaken over ice with orange and lemon juices, and a touch of simple syrup, this ruby-hued sour is bittersweet, refreshing, and looks especially festive in a coupe glass. Get the Recipe 07 of 10 Pumpkin Shrub Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Liberty Fennell This fall-friendly take on a bright, acidic shrub is made up of pumpkin puree, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, apple cider vinegar and a pinch of salt. You can use this vinegar-based syrup to bring depth and body as well as that beloved pumpkin spice to a variety of nonalcoholic drink offerings. Try mixing it with nonalcoholic bubbly or club soda, or add it to your favorite coffee drink. Get the Recipe 08 of 10 Nonalcoholic Cranberry-Pomegranate Punch Frederick Hardy II / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Christina Daley A holiday punch is a favorite pastime, and this nonalcoholic version is one everyone can enjoy. Cardamom-cinnamon syrup give this drink a spicy kick while cranberry, pomegranate, and lemon juices make up the base. The festive fizz comes from nonalcoholic sparkling wine (such as French Bloom Le Blanc). Get the Recipe 09 of 10 Ginger-Lemon Tonic Linda Xiao / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley This refreshing ginger and lemon highball was inspired by a drink Food & Wine special projects editor Lucy Simon’s grandmother made when she was a child to soothe an upset stomach or sore throat. Though this only has three-ingredients — ginger syrup, freshly squeezed lemon juice and tonic water — this tart, fizzy drink is complex and well balanced. Get the Recipe 10 of 10 Vegan “Eggnog” Photo by Victor Protasio / Prop Styling by Christine Keely This egg-free (and booze-free) variation and the holiday classic relies on basmati rice to add texture for a luxurious and creamy drink. Warming spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg mingle with fragrant vanilla and subtly bitter tahini for a rich and satisfying egg nog alternative. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit