More than half (57%) of global consumers are following Dry January this year, according to the 2023 Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report, with 40% planning to drink more non-alcoholic and low-ABV beverages throughout 2023. So while you should consider “Drynuary” drink specials, it’s wise to offer a robust selection of no-/low-ABV cocktails all year.
What’s more, guest standards for mocktails are now higher, as bartenders craft alcohol-free sips with flavor in the same vein as full-proof spirits. As a result, Bacardi’s trend report notes that up to 23% of Millennial and legal Gen Z consumers are becoming “blenders,” or those switching between no-/low-ABV and full-strength cocktails on the same occasion.
The increased availability of non-alcoholic spirits and craft mixers makes it a bit easier to offer high-quality, no-proof cocktails. Here are just a few that we like for early 2023.
Oh, Pear
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Seedlip Grove
- 1 oz. Asian pear cordial
- ¾ oz. Lemon juice
- Sage 2 small leaves or 1 large
- Soda to top
Instructions
- Shake ingredients (except soda) together.
- Fine strain over crushed ice in white wine glass.
- Top with soda and garnish with a small sage top.
Notes
Get Naked
Ingredients
- 2 oz. NKD LDY Gin Alternative non-alcoholic spirit
- 1 oz. Lemon juice
- ¾ oz. Red wine syrup fortified with foraged botanicals*
- 4 dashes Scrappy’s Black Lemon bitters
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker.
- Shake to chill and dilute.
- Double strain into rocks glass with KY Straight Ice.
Notes
Pure Imagination
Ingredients
- ½ oz. Ginger rosemary syrup
- ½ oz. Lavender syrup
- ½ oz. Lime juice
- Q Tonic water
Instructions
- Shake the first three ingredients.
- Pour ice into Collins glass.
- Top with Q Tonic.
- Garnish with herb sprig.
Notes
Blueberry Lemonade
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Blueberry Ginger Mint Amethyst NA Spirit
- 1 oz. House-made lemon syrup
- 1 oz. House-made lime syrup
Instructions
- Shake all ingredients together.
- Serve over ice.
- Garnish with blueberries in the glass and on a skewer.
Notes
Karl’s Dry Jan “Gin” Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 1 oz. Orange blossom honey syrup 1:1 blend of honey to water, orange blossom water to taste, and orange oil from orange peels
- 4 dashes Hella Bitters Eucalyptus bitters
- 4 drops Rice vinegar
- Small sprig of Rosemary
- 3 to 4 oz. Uncle Waithley’s Vincy Brew Caribbean ginger beer
- Sage leaf for garnish
Instructions
- Shake ingredients except ginger beer.
- Strain into rocks glass with ice.
- Top with ginger beer.
- Garnish with sage leaf.
Notes
Pitaya Faux Tai
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Coco Reàl
- 1 oz. Barmalade Blood Orange-Guava
- 2 oz. Fresh lime juice
- 2 tsps. Pink pitaya powder
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in cup with ice.
- Roll ingredients into mixing tin and back into cup.
- Garnish with lime wedge and edible orchid.
Notes
Rio Perdido Faux ‘Rita
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Liber & Co. Orgeat
- 1 oz. Fresh lime juice
- 1 oz Orange juice
- ½ tsp. Blue spirulina powder
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in cup with ice.
- Roll ingredients into mixing tin and back into cup.
- Garnish with lime wheel.
Notes
Menta Limón
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Ritual Zero Proof Gin
- 1 oz. Mint syrup*
- 1 oz. Lemon juice
Instructions
- Hard shake ingredients together.
- Add cobbled ice and a splash of soda.
- Pour into a Collins glass.
- Garnish with expressed mint sprigs.
Notes
Make simple syrup (2 parts sugar, 1 part water). Pour in quart container, while leaving about 1⁄4 of the container empty for the mint. Take two large bundles of mint, twist up, and add mint leaves to simple syrup. Stir in and let rest overnight in fridge. Strain and refrigerate. Kala Ellis, bar director at Oak Steakhouse Nashville, created this recipe.