Message in a Bottle: Non-Alcoholic Spirits & Mixers Make Holiday Happy Hour Recipes Easy & Delicious
If your idea of a Non-Alcoholic (NA) drink conjures memories of sweet Shirley Temples or Roy Rogers ~ you had as fun a childhood as I did ~ grabbing those sugary RED “cherries” to garnish that satisfying, mouth-popping snap while holding the finger-staining stem. But the curtain has come down on those kid cocktails & their Hollywood namesakes. Let’s practice some cosmopolitan “adulting.”
It was after my sweet, sophisticated, epicurean hairdresser asked me to suggest some good non-alcoholic (NA) spirits that I determined it was time to provide my tasteful Duchess Picks.
I, of course, enthusiastically offered her the brands I’ve tested over the last few years and have come to feature on our bar carts and in our speakeasy.
It was only afterwards that I realized this Ask was just the latest in a series of folks asking me what I’d recommend in the way of NA spirits.
So whether you’re coming off a successful “Sober October” or are “Sober Curious,” or considering adding NA to your speed rack, I figured it was time to showcase delicious, healthy cocktail rivals ~ or shall we just say, contenders...
Taste and technology is helping to deliver on the preferences from health and wellness aficionados who recognize the long-term deleterious effects of alcohol. The other major driver cohort of NA is the Gen Z and Millennial demographic.
In 2023, in fact, overall volume of no-alcohol rose just shy of 30% over the previous year according to the International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR) data.
The rise in consumption is only matched by the plethora of monikers! ~ in addition to NA, the category is referred to also as zero-alcohol spirits, Ready to Drink (RTDs), Subsiturers, Mocktails, and that clumsy “Alcohol Adjacent” products.
But seriously, alcohol adjacents include the cannabis THC beverages which I believe will surely grow as the population seeks their mood-altering alternatives that embrace the rise in cannabis products and have become so much easier to shop for in consumer retail stores. More on that for another day..
Craft Cocktails without the Boozy Woozies
I admit that I adore the glamour and romance that is part of the cocktail culture ~ the local histories that are oft-told around a Chicago speakeasy or grand hotel (e.g.Bloody Mary), saloons of the American West, or the jazzy Sazerac House in New Orleans to name just a few…
The regional tastes, the lore of the recipes, and the smoky, illicit stories, make for evocative, legendary history ~ and we continue to add to the canon.
The accessories and accouterments all just add to the glamorous adventure.
I love it so much that I even wrote a book about it too! (The Art of the Garnish.) And not to put too fine a point on it, but all spirits are made from my muse: Plants. Glorious, Glamorous Plants.
But times can change, even if it’s a wee bit, and what had been heretofore, at a glacial pace.
Societal norms pivot and adapt.
Today, there is so much more choice in the Low or No burgeoning beverage category.
There is more variety: a veritable spectrum ~ offering choices from the traditional, full-throated spirits to switching to NA options or to “halfsies” or diluting to zero.
Or some combination thereof …
There exists lots of creativity and innovation, especially with homegrown, fresh mixers, and quality seasonal ingredients, including herbs, spices, roots, and flowers.
What brands I recommend For You to Consider
My recommendations include, Seedlip ~ this maker is known as the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit. I was introduced to them via a press launch and I still think it’s the best. In fact, according to Seedlip, they have been voted Number One Best-Selling Non-Alcoholic Spirit by Drinks international for three years running. They even boast a Cocktail Book (Like me!).
The company’s British founder pioneered the Bud to Bloom movement with his “bespoke maceration, distillation, filtration, and blending process ~ for which each individual botanical ingredient is distilled separately, before blending.” It makes for a liquid devoid of sugar. The laborious process works.
The products are elegant, light, and tasty. There are now four crafted spirits:
Notas De Agave ~ the newest ~ good but a tad sweet for me ~ “A vibrant and refreshing blend of Prickly Pear, zesty Lime and Agave flavors with notes of Vanilla, Damiana flower and Peppercorn to awaken the palate.”
Seedlip Spice ~ my favorite * ~ “A warm, aromatic blend of Allspice & Cardamom with fresh citrus top notes to balance the long bitter finish.
Seedlip Garden ~ very good ~ “A fresh, herbal blend of Peas & traditional garden herbs including Rosemary, Thyme & Spearmint
Seedlip Grove ~ I very much enjoy ~ a citrus blend of Mediterranean Orange, Lemon Peel, Lemongrass and Ginger with a dry finish.”
You can garner promos if you order now: as a new customer and for Black Friday, with the company offering 25% off
Here are a few of their recipes. They also offer a Recipe Concierge on their website to personalize your drink preferences and/or boost your palette:
Classic Martini
Ingredients:
Seedlip Garden 108: 2.5 oz
Olive Brine: 3/4 oz
Glass & Garnish:
Coupe Glass
Garnish:
Castelvetrano Olive
Method:
Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker
Fill w/ ice and shake for 20 seconds
Strain into a chilled martini glass
Garnish w/ a Castelvetrano Olive
Garden Party
Ingredients:
Seedlip Garden 108: 2 oz
Seedlip Grove 42: ½ oz
Agave Syrup: ½ oz
Fresh Lime: ¾ oz
Saline: 2 drops
Glass:
Rocks
Garnish:
Lemon wheel
Mint leaf
Method:
Shake all ingredients
Strain over ice
Seedlip Espresso Martini
Ingredients:
Seedlip Spice 94: 2 oz
Cold Brew Concentrate: 2 oz
Sugar Syrup: ½ oz
Glass:
Coupe
Garnish:
Three Coffee beans
Method:
Add Spice 94, Cold Brew Concentrate & Sugar Syrup to a shaker.
Add ice & shake.
Double strain into a coupe glass.
And Like Thelma and Louise, any spirits go best with superior mixers.
My new discovery is the line of premium syrups and juices that is worthy of the classiest drinking meccas. In fact, Cheeky Cocktails are used by professional bartenders and now, for you at home.
I was so taken by the Cheeky Cocktails story and product line that I invited the founder and CEO, April Wachtel, to be a guest on my Ladies Who Lunch Conversations
More often than not, what keeps the home mixologist from achieving the extraordinary pizzazz of the notable bars and speakeasies is the lack of good, fresh and/or exotic ingredients.
And as Cheeky points out, craft cocktails are indeed delicious but they require a lot of work!
But now, April and her team have done the heavy lifting for us.
April’s experience as a bartender, a cocktail instructor (why didn’t they offer these classes when I was in school?!), and brand ambassador for Bacardi and beverage consultant for Diageo, fused her with the experience to produce mixers that are truly craft-cocktail worthy.
They source the all-natural, homegrown ingredients, offering Simple and Complex Syrups and juices. (No concentrates nor preservatives.)
While you can mix Cheeky with alcohol spirits, the good news is that their products are so delicious you can drink them straight-away or you can add a NA spirit as I’ve offered here.
I can just about taste the mouthwatering Cheeky Moscow Mule recipe:
Ingredients
1.5 ounce Seedlip Garden or Spice (or vodka)
.75 Cheeky Lime
.5 ounce Cheeky Ginger
Seltzer
Method:
Add all the ingredients (except seltzer) to a mixing shaker and fill with ice. Shake briefly and strain into a mule mug that is filled with ice. Top with seltzer and stir.
Garnish:
Perch a lime wheel or wedge on the mug rim along with a candied ginger.
And a delicious, no-fuss Espresso Martini is to mix a Cheeky Espresso with a spirit of your choice. Easy~Sneezy!
Monday Zero Alcohol Mezcal makes a mezcal that I really enjoy. The maker’s story is they craft with care from natural ingredients at their Southern California distillery. They claim their Monday's non-alcoholic spirits are a labor of love.
Sweet.
I like this mezcal straight on the rocks or mixed with pineapple and orange juice. Or, as I did, add to the Cheeky Hot Ginger Syrup with seltzer. mmmm.
Monday Zero also offers a Loyalty program.
Monday Mezcal Killer Bee Recipe
Ingredients
2 ounces Monday Mezcal
1.5 ounce Fresh Lemon
.75 ounces Honey Simple Syrup (use Cheeky’s here)
Method
Combine Monday Mezcal, lemon, and honey syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into your favorite glass. Garnish with honeycomb and charred lemon wheel.
I’m not exactly sure where I first learned of Spiritless, but I think it was at a press event ~ Zoom or… In any event, I was introduced to this female-led company and I liked their story.
From the bourbon capital of the world, Louisville, Kentucky, the three plucky and determined women crafted a NA bourbon you can sip and mix.
Further, building on their experience of entrepreneurism and ahem, challenges, (women juggle a lot!), the trio of Spiritless founders committed to empowering the next woman to launch a business. Through 2% for the Girls, they “donate up to 2% of Spiritless sales to nonprofits, programs and partnerships that foster entrepreneurialism, mentoring and leadership development among young women.”
I raise a glass to that spirit ~ that NA spirit!
I admit that while not totally impressed with my first tasting of their popular bourbon, I tried their Spiced variety and did like that.
Distilled Non-Alcoholic Cinnamon Whiskey
From the brand: Spiritless Kentucky 74 SPICED is a distilled non-alcoholic cinnamon whiskey featuring a slight twist on our traditional Kentucky 74 recipe. SPICED brings all the classic Kentucky 74 flavor, plus an extra cinnamon bite.
Flavor Profile
Kentucky 74 SPICED is a knockout punch in a glass. …Bring all of the oak, smoke, and caramel from their traditional Kentucky 74 recipe plus vanilla, and baking spices for a woodsy cinnamon bite.
The distilling process is what distinguishes Spiritless. Just like a fine craft Bourbon, Kentucky 74 is blended by selecting specific totes from various distillations, each with a unique character. Their distiller selects the perfect combination of totes to create Kentucky 74, a smooth, balanced spirit with hints of caramel, vanilla, and oak.
In the end, if you’re looking for a NA Bourbon, this is your go-to.
For Thanksgiving, Spiritless is offering a 15% off sale. They also offer easy-carry, pour-over mixers in portable 6-pack cans. So you can take your party on the road, to the beach or on a picnic.
Cherry Bourbon Crush Recipe
Ingredients:
1 Cup Frozen Cherries
4 oz Kentucky 74
1 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
¾ Cup Grenadine
½ can Ollipop Cherry Vanilla
Slush- 1 cup ice
Method:
Blend & pour into two glasses
Garnish:
Fresh Mint Leaves and Luxardo Cherry
I’d be totally remiss if I didn’t include Potent Potable Mixers in this recommended list of NA alternatives.
I first met Lou, the founder, along with his wife, Ash, at the farmer’s market near our country house.
Tasting their homegrown, lovingly crafted mixers was and is a revelation. Not surprisingly, they not only sold out quickly every week, but also they started selling at more markets and locally with either curbside pickup or delivery.
Made from scratch, they are truly delicious. The flavors shimmy off the palette and can elevate your cocktail experience with the seasonal botanicals, including flowers, herbs, or spices ingredients used to create these sophisticated mixers.
It’s art in a bottle!
I so often advise to drink with the seasons and using Potent Potables will deliver on that luxury, with no work on our part. Lou and family do that for us.
I adore the Salted Maple Sour, made with Lemon, maple, sea salt.
And wouldn’t these just go oh-so-well for your Thanksgiving holiday gatherings?
Vanilla Spiced Apple, made with red Delicious apple, lime, vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon and Hot Honey Orange Margarita,made with orange, lime, honey, habanero. Or how about this Autumn delight? Cranberry Orange Mule ~ cranberry, orange, lime, brown sugar, ginger.
You can add seltzer or spirits or NA spirits to any Potent Portable mix. Or go halfsies or drink straight-away.
They are that good.
We have a lot to be Thankful for ~ The Message in the Bottle is Good News
I hope that I’ve introduced you to revelatory choices from the best NA cocktail makers.
Technology in production processes and innovations in flavor profiles have distinguished this new class of beverages; fueled by a desire for a healthier alternative.
But ultimately, it’s all about the good taste.
Cheers!
