I am halfway through the Dry July and would like to celebrate but at a loss. I have the following ingredients, and define non alcoholic as non intoxicating not completely alcohol free, so splash of something ok.
N/A liqueurs:
Pathfinder
Seedlip Spice
Other:
Coffee
Coconut water, coconut cream
Tepache de piña
Enough pineapple to make a little pineapple juice
Strawberries
Tonic water
Yuzu lime tonic water
Ginger, lemon, lime, bitters
A pretty full bar, and a small amount of good red wine.
Considering just Pathfinder in tonic, that ends up like Chinola soda. But with all this I just feel like it could be more interesting!
I ended up with grapefruit juice, light tonic water, spoonful of Campari, and a tajin rim. Fantastic.
My mocktail approach is essentially all daiquiri format: 2 parts something with body or heat to 1 part acid to ~1\2 part sweetener.
The majority is often tea, or something with tannins. Ginger is really good since it has a “burn” like alcohol. Milk punches also work well for body.
I like acidifying various juices with citric and malic acid. Personally, I like to target lime acidity over lemon because I think malic acid has the sensation of more body.
Recently, I did 2 parts gunpowder tea to 1 part acid adjusted orange juice to .75 parts agave syrup.
I’ve never used any purpose made liquor alternatives.
Espresso Tonic (if you have espresso?). Amazing drink. The textures are incredible.
This sounds very good. I forgot about the cold brew-fresh oj-fizzy water combo, I like that. Have moka pot coffee, close to espresso.
Yep, moka will do the job! It’s probably my most common drink I go to when I want something fun and refreshing without the alcohol.
Pineapple Cobbler: 1 oz Strawberry Juice ½ oz Lime Juice 3 oz Pineapple Juice 4 oz Club Soda/Sprite
Piña juice, coconut cream, and crushed ice.
What’s your go to cocktail? That will inform my suggestions.
That said, I love club soda and bitters. I’m also partial to juice+mixer. Have not been satisfied with any phony negronis yet… hard to get NA Campari.
Also if you like beer there are a wealth of NA options these days
Lyre’s makes an N.A. “Italian Orange” that is essentially a Campari substitute. I make my wife a low alc. negroni with that, Lyre N.A. gin, and real vermouth, or mix it with seltzer for something like a Campari spritz. She likes it. Seems reasonable to me from a few sips, but I use alcoholic versions in mine, so I haven’t had it enough to have a strong opinion.
I should also note that I’m not a stickler for “real” Campari, and have used various Italian red equivalents, like Select, Short Path Amaro, or my current favorite Forthave Red. They all vary a little from Campari in terms of level of bitterness, sweeteness, and spice but bring the same general flavor. And of course the particular vermouth and gin have a big effect on a negroni too…
Thanks for the tip I’ll look into it! How bitter is the Lyres?
BTW, assuming you like bitter, and are struggling with getting a satisfying level of bitterness in non or low alcohol cocktails, I’ve found Amaro Alta Verde useful for that, provided just a little alcohol is OK. It is 24% alcohol but it is very bitter, so just a little bit goes a long way. It can punch up the bitterness in a thing without otherwise affecting the flavor too much.
TY!
Thanks for this. Yes bitter I love it in fruity drinks for sure, don’t really like many of the bittersweet drinks because my palate perceives them as hypersweet, syrupy like straight sugar.
I’m changing my answer to mild.
I only have the Red to compare it to directly, which itself is a touch less bitter than Campari (more subtle, softer, more complex spice flavors). But the Lyre is less bitter than the Red, also sweeter, and it has just a touch of citrus acidity (which I don’t recall from any alcoholic Campari type liquor). The Lyre is generally a little weak though it does give the general impression of the right sort of flavor.
Though it occurs to me I’m tasting the Red at a warm room temp, and the Lyre cold (it says to refrigerate or use within 2 weeks… No alcohol to preserve it!) I’ll leave some out and confirm again later. … Nope, controlling for temperature doesn’t change my assessment.
I want to say medium, but I’ll taste it tonight with that in mind and get back to you.
Modified Paper Plane with 2x bourbon and some of the Aperol replaced by Campari is probably my favorite, or just about anything with pineapple and whiskey. Also love a good margarita. Any sour is pretty good.
Favorite mocktail is by far the Friend Zone but it takes days to set up.
Honestly? Grapefruit juice with a salt rim
