Alcohol-Free Drinks & Mocktails For The Holiday Season
Spirit-Free Options for Keeping Spirits Bright
If you’re alcohol-free or sober-curious, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can make it both a tempting time to drink as well as an unusually alienating time to avoid drinking.
The first step to surviving the holidays alcohol-free is managing stressors and anxiety during the holidays is a necessary step. No worries, I’ve got a free guide as well as a free holiday challenge support group to help you here.
The second step is to arm yourself with fun and festive alcohol-free options so that you’re not left drinking seltzer water all night! Whether you’re looking for an easy substitute or a full-blown fancy mocktail, I’ve got you covered! Check out some of my favorite sources for tasty recipes, shopping recommendations, and products below.
Tasty Recipes
There’s no way around it, my friend Marnie Rae is the queen of fancy mocktail making. You can check out her website or Instagram for great inspiration and recipes.
My friend Karolina also has several great suggestions on her website. Of course, you can always check out fun mocktail recipes on websites like Pinterest, too.
Shopping Recommendations
There are a couple of less-suspecting shopping locations I highly recommend you check out when looking for alcohol-free drinks.
While you can find most of the options I’ll share in the rest of this post at your run-of-the-mill grocery store, two of my favorite stops are World Market (lots of fun mocktail mixers) & Trader Joes (many great pre-mixed options).
IMPORTANT: You should never have to show your ID for purchasing alcohol-free beverages This is an important reminder because some kombuchas have been spiked (though this is rare).
Product Recommendations
LEVEL 1
These quick and easy alcohol-free drinks are grab-and-go and should be available almost anywhere.
Image courtesy Dry Soda.
Sparkling Water: I love Waterloo Sparkling Water, but Spindrift or La Croix are both great options that are readily available.
Sparkling Soda: Dry Sodas are elevated, sophisticated and absolutely delicious.
Kombucha: Kombucha is a fermented tea...it’s an acquired taste, so be sure to try this one out before heading off to a party. One brand you can find in many stores is Health-Ade. Another kombucha option is GT’s, but they are a brand that sometimes “spikes” their blends...so keep an eye out.
LEVEL 2
If you’re looking for something that mimics your fave alcoholic drink, but without the trouble of mixing and recipes, these purveyors have got you covered!
Image courtesy Gruvi.
Gruvi Prosecco (and beer). If you’re looking for a great substitute for sparkling wine for a toast, Gruvi has got you covered. Their product isn’t readily available in stores yet, so make sure you order ahead of time so that you can have your drinks in-hand before your event.
Use code Amanda15 for 15% off with Gruvi!
Fre Wines. Disclaimer: I’ve not personally tried Fre, I have many friends who have and say they make great wine substitutes.
LEVEL 3
If you have the desire for something that requires a bit more time and effort (and have the ability to do a little mixing and concocting, these two options are just what you need.
Sister Shrub. Shubs (much like kombucha) have an apple cider vinegar base and can thus be an acquired taste. My friend, Mary at Sister Shrub makes amazing mixers using only natural fruit juice, ACV, and spices. Just mix them with seltzer or sparkling water and you’ve got a fun, healthy drink.
Seedlip. If you’re looking to get a little fancy, Seedlip is the go-to when it comes to spirit-free...spirits. They also have a range of cocktail recipes on their site to inspire you.
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If you’re hosting your own shindig or going to a BYOB event all of the above are great options. Going to a hosted event, make sure to download my free holiday guide for tips on how to get your favorite alcohol-free options in-the-door (without sneaking them) so that you can enjoy a festive drink without drawing attention to yourself (not that there’s anything wrong with that!).