Mocktails 101: The Difference Between Mocktails and Cocktails

No matter your stance on drinking, a beverage trend that simply can’t be ignored is the increasing popularity of non-alcoholic beverages, also called mocktails. In this extensive guide, we’ll break down everything you ever wanted to know about mocktails, including the main difference between mocktails and cocktails.

With over 10 years of experience crafting beverages at home, I’ve learned a thing or two about making variations of drinks. Whether you’re participating in Dry January, Dry July, or Sober October, it’s undeniable that the sober curious movement is picking up steam. While the name “mocktail” can sometimes be polarizing, one thing is certain: people love having options!

Sometimes, you want something simple and classic like a tart and tropical lemonade or a creative homemade Italian soda. Other times, you want a more intentional and carefully crafted beverage like a zero-proof blackberry sour or a mocktail paloma. Sober curious or not, there’s so much to learn about the world of making mocktails at home!

🆚 Mocktails vs Cocktails

Simply put, cocktails contain alcohol as an ingredient and mocktails do not. Both use a variety of ingredients to create a finished recipe, but mixing up mocktails specifically involves the absence of booze. The price of cocktails when going out is usually more expensive than mocktails, to accommodate for the inclusion of alcohol, which has a very complex distillation process.

There is also usually an age limit associated with consuming cocktails, because of alcohol. Mocktails do not usually have an age limit assigned to them, but with the increasing popularity of alcohol alternative spirits which are intended to compete flavor wise with their spirited alternatives, some places will put a limit on the approved age for drinking these beverages so we don’t encourage underage consumption. Anyone remember candy cigarettes?? 🫠

⬇️ no-ABV vs. low-ABV

Low alcohol drinks, also known as low-abv drinks, are also increasing in popularity alongside mocktail culture. While the term mocktail strictly refers to drinks with zero alcohol content, low-abv drinks are ones that have a bit of alcohol, but not as much as other well-known bar staples, like a long island iced tea.

Spritzes are often the drink of choice when it comes to low-alcohol content, as they are made with prosecco or other sparkling wines. But, you can essentially turn any cocktail or mocktail into a low alcohol drink! For cocktails, usually it’s advised to cut the amount of alcohol in half for a lower-alcohol version. In mocktails, add 1/2 to 1 ounce of your favorite spirit to create a low-abv drink.

📜 history of the mocktail

Non-alcoholic mixed drinks have a long history. Prohibition, anyone??? During this time when alcohol was illegal, bartenders attempted to create alcohol-free versions of their popular cocktails. When it comes to words, we often look to Merriam-Webster for guidance, and the famed dictionary shares that the earliest use of the term “mocktail” happened around 1916, well before prohibition which happened from 1920-1933.

But even before the prohibition era, there is a record of zero-proof recipes existing. Jerry Thomas, the famous cocktail author of the book “Bar-Tenders Guide” from 1862, had a whole chapter in his book for non-alcoholic drinks, called “temperance drinks.” Sure, it’s mostly lemonade and soda, but it proves that even in the 1800’s, inclusion mattered!

Modern mocktails rose to fame thanks to health and wellness movements, with challenges like Dry January and Sober October being popularized by the wellness and fitness industry. Religion also plays a big part in abstaining from alcohol, with certain faiths likening booze to the evils of the world, and others outright banning the consumption of alcohol altogether.

Regardless of the reason for not imbibing, people want choices in their beverages, and they also want flavor. Gone are the days of only finding grenadine spiked sodas on the mocktail menu. In fact, entire alcohol-free bars are popping up across the country. While the concept of a temperance bar is nothing new, the rise in popularity of places like NoLo, Dubai’s first “dry bar,” are no-doubt shaping the mocktail movement.

👋🏻 what’s in a name?

The word “mocktail” is often a hot-button topic among aficionados. Many industry professionals find the name demeaning, mainly because it essentially stands for “mock cocktail.” Those folks argue that this variety of beverage is worthy of it’s very own name, instead of calling it a “mock” version of its alcoholic cousin.

Personally, I can’t stand the use of the term “virgin” when describing drinks, especially after having to order so many “virgin strawberry daiquiris” at pool bars during my pre-teen life only to grow up and see the characters on Gossip Girl ordering dry martinis in manhattan. 🤣 The good news is, if you’re not a fan of the name “mocktail,” there are a NUMBER of other names you can use for these drinks:

👅 what do mocktails taste like?

The flavor of a mocktail usually depends on the ingredients, but most people tend to associate mocktails with being sweet or fruity. This is because of namesakes like the Shirley Temple or the Roy Rogers, which are sodas spiked with grenadine and topped with a maraschino cherry. Did you just get a cavity? Meeeee too. But! These days, mocktails are much more balanced. And, when you make them yourself, you can make them as sweet or as bitter as you like.

Their flavor depends on the ingredients used to make them, and the biggest criticism has been the lack of burn from alcohol, which is difficult to replicate in non-alcoholic spirits and booze-free alternatives. While a certain amount of depth may be missing in non-alcoholic drinks, there are TONS of things you can do to help balance these drinks out!

😈 using bitters in mocktails

Bitter flavors are essential in creating interesting drinks, just look at the popularity of the Aperol spritz! Bitterness allows you to balance the taste in zero proof drinks, while also helping to create a bit of depth and intrigue. You can get bitter flavor from bitter ingredients, like grapefruit syrup, or you can also add it by using a few dashes of bitters.

Traditionally, bitters are made using alcohol extraction of flavors, similar to cooking and baking extracts like vanilla extract or lemon extract. However, there are now brands available which use alternate methods of extraction to create bitters. My favorite is a brand called All The Bitter (affiliate link), which is founded by two sommeliers from Napa Valley’s The French Laundry, so you know they’re into flavor.

🍬 sweetness in mocktails

One of the biggest criticisms of alcohol-free drinks from people is that they tend to be too sweet. But the thing is, this attribute was kind of unfairly assigned. Many bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues just don’t have a dedicated recipe developer for non-alcoholic options like they do for cocktails. Up until recently, people have just been forced to accept drinks like lemonade or Sprite with grenadine added as a “mocktail,” so of course the syrupy sweet profile got pinned to these libations!

Sweetness should be balanced in beverages, but it is often a necessary component. One of the best ways to add flavor and sweetness is by using a high-quality simple syrup. And if you’ve been here a while, you know where I’m going with this. 😉 Making your own simple syrups at home is one of the easiest ways pump up the flavor of drinks, while staying in control of how sweet the drinks end up being.

Here are some great zero-proof drinks that use homemade simple syrups:

• paloma mocktail – a well-balanced and tequila-free grapefruit drink that is made using a homemade grapefruit simple syrup!
• blackberry sour – sour cocktails are traditionally made with whiskey, but this lemon blackberry mocktail uses a whiskey alternative spirit to bring the flavor of whiskey without the booze.
• non-alcoholic mule – this zero-proof mule is inspired by the classic Moscow mule, but this version is made without vodka!

🍾 alcohol alternatives

The market is currently being FLOODED with options for booze-free liquor substitutes, with a new brand popping up seemingly every month. These ingredients can make mixology fun for those adventurous enough to try. You’ll also need deep pockets, though, because with the market being only about 10 years old, these spirit alternatives are pricey. On average, expect to spend about $35 per bottle of spirit alternative.

In my experience, these are really made to be used in more complex cocktails, because they just simply don’t stand up on their own. Think of it like using turkey bacon in a sandwich. A turkey bacon BLT might not scratch the itch you’re trying to reach, but topping an avocado-teriyaki veggie burger with turkey bacon might more readily satisfy a carnivorous craving. 🦖

🛒 making mocktails without non-alcoholic spirits

If you’re just getting started mixing up mocktails at home, begin with simple ingredients to get a taste of what you like. You can make great non-alcoholic drinks using syrups, bitters, soda water, and fresh juices! And never underestimate the power of salt, specifically a homemade saline solution! It’s one of my favorite ways to play with flavor in any beverage!

🔅Try these zero-proof drinks without any alcohol-alternatives:

• espresso martini mocktail – regular ole filtered water stands in place of vodka and liqueurs in this classic espresso martini mocktail. Unlike others out there, it’s not creamy and the foam can actually hold espresso beans.
• homemade soda – that’s right, you can make your own sodas at home, even without a fancy-schmancy machine. All you need is carbonated water and an infused syrup and you’re ready to go! Get creative and use unexpected flavors from seasonal foods like persimmons, or create a custom mixed syrup using herbs like sage paired with tropical starfruit. You can even make syrups from vegetables, and get all “Michelin star” right in your own kitchen.
• limonata or lemonade – limonata is the Italian version of lemonade, made with lemon juice, simple syrup and sparkling water. Lemonade is also famously one of the first “temperance drinks,” and there are so many ways to customize it, like this passion fruit lemonade!

💬 final thoughts

What’s your stance on mocktails? Do you mind the name? Do you like the flexibility and variety they offer, or are you more of a water-only person? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear your thoughts!