3 Easy (And Festive) Zero-Proof Cocktails To Enjoy This New Year’s Eve—And Beyond

Full disclosure: I get pretty sick and tired of all things alcoholic by the time the holiday season starts to wind down. And by mid December, my strategy often involves sticking to one alcoholic beverage before switching to a much-lighter alternative—the zero-proof cocktail. (It’s the only real way to avoid overdoing it and waking up with an unbecoming—and excruciating—hangover.) So I’m always deeply appreciative of considerate hosts who think to offer spirit-free drinks for their non-imbibing guests.

I continue the practice at home too. Most days, when I’m not tasting spirits or cocktails for work, I drastically limit my intake: This time of year, I prefer to be California sober—with a non-alcoholic beverage in my hand. But admittedly, my drink-making skills aren’t the best, especially in the spirit-free department. And now that New Year’s Eve is coming up, I’m in dire need of holiday-forward inspiration.

So I reached out to Camille Wilson—a.k.a The Cocktail Snob—for some of her favorite tried-and-true zero-proof cocktails. (She just published Spirit Free Cocktails in November, so she obviously knows best.) “For me, zero-proof cocktails always push the bounds of my creativity because I can’t rely on spirits when I’m developing these recipes. And when I think of festive cocktails, I think of cocktails that not only taste great, but are also gorgeous in presentation,” Wilson says. “And my mom doesn’t drink alcohol, so I always think of my mocktail recipes—and writing the book was a way to honor her. As a creator whose content is centered around cocktails, I try to be mindful of my alcohol intake, so I end up incorporating a lot of spirit-free drinks into my routine on a weekly basis. I participated in Dry January for the first time in 2022 and look forward to doing it again in 2023.”

3 Festive Mocktail Recipes to Enjoy During the Holidays

TONIC RICKEY

“The Tonic Rickey is the mocktail I serve when I want to convince people that alcohol-free drinks can be as tasty and complex as cocktails,” Wilson says. “And it gets the job done every time! Though the ingredients on their own might sound a bit basic, when they join forces, they make for a sparkling refresher fit for any celebration.”

Ingredients:

0.5 oz. fresh lime juice

0.5 oz. simple syrup

1.5 oz. tonic water

1.5 oz. seltzer water

3 dashes aromatic bitters

Method: In a glass filled with ice, add the lime juice and simple syrup. Stir to combine. Slowly stir in the tonic water and seltzer water. Top with the bitters and serve.

POM BOMB

“The Pom Bomb is a festive cocktail served in the form of a giant ice sphere,” Wilson explains. “Topped with ginger beer, it melts as you drink it and never gets watered down. It’s a beautiful and delicious mocktail that’s great for impressing friends.”

Ingredients:

4 oz. pomegranate juice

4 oz. mango juice

2 oz. fresh lemon juice

Ginger beer, topper

Pomegranate arils, garnish

Method: In a pitcher or mixing glass, add the pomegranate, mango, and lemon juices. Stir to combine. Pour the juice mixture into sphere ice molds and until completely solid. To serve, place the frozen spheres into coupe glasses or wine glasses. Top with ginger beer and garnish with pomegranate arils.

ART BASIL

“The Art Basil is probably one of the most creative cocktails in the book—and developing it really pushed my creativity to another level,” Wilson says. “With green tea as the base, it’s slightly earthy in flavor. But the addition of the basil syrup is a nice surprise, while the lemon juice adds brightness.”

Ingredients:

1 egg white (optional)

2 oz. freshly brewed green tea

0.75 oz. lemon juice

0.5 oz. pineapple juice

1 cup water

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup basil leaves

basil leaf, for garnish

*Basil Syrup: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, and 1 cup basil leaves and bring to a low boil. Once boiling, turn down the heat and let simmer for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and let steep, covered, for 30 minutes. Using a strainer, strain the mixture into a resealable container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Method: In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 oz. of the basil syrup, egg white (if using), green tea, lemon juice, pineapple juice, and ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a coupe and garnish with a basil leaf.