7 Best Zero Proof Cocktails for Dry January and Beyond

The New Year is the time for resolutions, and many decide to take a break from alcohol during the month of January. Dry January is a time to take a break after the indulgence of the holiday season. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a well-crafted cocktail. Enter the world of zero proof cocktails, where creativity and flavor are at the forefront. Dry January is an opportunity to participate in social gatherings without sacrificing your wellness goals.

Busy bartenders have been creating a plethora of recipes for innovative concoctions that tantalize the taste buds and elevate any occasion. We dare say you might find these drinks to be even more tasty and interesting than the ones you are used to. Whether you prefer fruity, spicy, or herbaceous profiles, zero proof cocktails provide endless possibilities to enjoy the art of mixology while maintaining your commitment to a healthier lifestyle.

The challenges of zero proof

That’s not to say creating zero proof drinks aren’t challenging to make. "Alcohol plays a key role in the flavor profile of traditional beverages like wine, beer, or spirits. It adds bitterness, warmth, and depth, enhancing complexity and balancing the overall taste. Without alcohol, non-alcoholic options can sometimes feel flatter or less nuanced," admits Theo Rutherford, Director of Wine & Spirits Education at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, a certified sommelier.

Good news. Producers have also gone to extraordinary lengths to preserve flavor, texture, and complexity to make up for the missing alcohol. For example, Josh Cellars Non-Alcoholic Sparkling has a similar flavor to Josh Cellars Prosecco, without the alcohol content. In a zero proof cocktail such as the ones we have here, every sip can be a celebratory moment in time. Sparkling cocktails, while fantastic for kicking off the New Year, can also turn into an everyday indulgence since they are among the easiest to craft at home.

To make a good zero proof cocktail, you'll need to seek out substitute sprits and a few less standard ingredients. But trust us, it'll be worth the extra effort.

Lyre’s Penicillin

Lyre's is a go-to for alcohol substitutes that covers nearly every spirit on the back bar. This simple cocktail includes smoky tea to compensate for the missing tannins and mouthfeel of scotch.

2 oz Lyre's American Malt

0.5 oz honey and ginger syrup (recipe below)

0.34 oz lemon juice

1 oz strong smoky tea (Lapsang souchong or Russian Caravan tea)

Method: Shake briefly with ice, strain over large ice cube. Serve in Old fashioned glass and garnish with a Ginger cube on a skewer.

Honey and ginger syrup

¼ cup runny honey

½ cup boiling water

1 tsp jarred ginger

Method: Add boiling water to honey, stir to dissolve. Add ginger and stir thoroughly, pour into bottle. Refrigerate.

These cocktails can be enjoyed at home and similar offerings are increasingly found on restaurant menus. The holidays may have passed but the party is far from over. Make it a New Year's Resolution to get out more or just enjoy them at home to accompany a nice dinner. Either way, you'll get a beautiful cocktail, without the downsides associated with alcohol.

Italian Spritz

Bright, refreshing, and elegant, the Italian Spritz is the perfect drink for an afternoon cocktail party. We've chosen to include this recipe because it captures the essence of Italian aperitivo culture, bringing a taste of the Mediterranean to your Dry January. By substituting traditional ingredients with non-alcoholic alternatives, this zero-proof version allows you to enjoy a sophisticated sip without compromising your health goals.

3 oz. Josh Cellars Non-Alcoh olic Sparkling

2 oz. Lyre’s Italian Orange

1 oz Sparkling water or club soda

Ice for serving

Orange slice and mint leaves or rosemary sprig for garnish

Method: Fill a large wine glass ¾ full with ice. Add Josh Cellars Non-Alcoholic Sparkling and NA Italian Orange Liqueur and stir gently to combine. Top with the sparkling water. Garnish and serve.

Hugo Spritz

The Hugo Spritz gives off floral and herbal notes that create a refreshing and invigorating drink. This recipe is included to showcase how zero proof cocktails can be as vibrant and pleasing as their alcoholic counterparts. With the combination of elderflower syrup and mint, this drink provides a delightful escape to the Alpine regions where the original Hugo was born.

4 oz. Josh Cellars Non-Alcoholic Sparkling

.5 oz. Elderflower syrup

1 oz. Seltzer

3-4 mint sprigs

1 Lemon slice and a few cranberries for garnish

Method: Strip the leaves off one mint sprig. Lightly slap the leaves in the palm of your hand to release the oils, then add to a glass. Fill the glass with ice, then add in the Elderflower Syrup, chilled Josh Cellars, Non-Alcoholic Sparkling, and seltzer. Stir to combine. Garnish with lemon, cranberries and mint

Some of the best zero proof cocktails come from established mixologists like Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero, cofounders of the first-of-its-kind all-femme bartending competition Speed Rack.

Talk to Her

By Lynnette Marrero from the upcoming book, A Quick Drink: The Speed Rack Guide to Winning Cocktails for Any Mood (April 30, 2024, Abrams), written by Speed Rack co-founders Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix with Megan Krigbaum.

Named after a Pedro Almodóvar film featuring the Spanish actor Penelope Cruz, this sangria riff features red verjus, which is a brightly acidic pressed juice made from not-quite-ripe wine grapes. We've included it to demonstrate that zero proof cocktails can be as complex and narrative-driven as any traditional beverage.

2 oz red verjus

1.5 oz Seedlip Spice 94

.75 oz pineapple juice

.5 oz cinnamon syrup

Garnish: Pineapple leaf and red grapes

Method: Add all the ingredients to a rocks glass filled with ice. Give it a quick stir, garnish with some red grapes and a pineapple leaf in each, and serve.

Featherweight Smash

Also from A Quick Drink: The Speed Rack Guide to Winning Cocktails for Any Mood, this cocktail by Ivy Mix is an homage to the Prizefighter Smash created by Nick Jarrett, which was on the menu for years at Brooklyn’s Clover Club. It’s a favorite of Ivy’s for its richness that’s matched by bitterness, thanks to the tannins from the hemp plant. Read more about The Pathfinder.

We included this recipe to showcase how zero proof doesn't mean zero character. With its remarkable blend of lemon, mint, and The Pathfinder, this drink provides a robust and bitter-sweet experience not often found in non-alcoholic drinks.

Half lemon, quartered

.5 oz Simple syrup

5 to 7 fresh mint leaves

2 oz The Pathfinder Hemp and Root

Garnish: Lemon wheel and mint sprig

Method: Add the lemon and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker and muddle gently. Add the mint leaves and The Pathfinder and fill the shaker with ice. Shake until cold and fine strain into a double rocks glass over crushed ice. Garnish with the lemon wheel and mint sprig, and serve.

Betty Draper

By Lynnette Marrero

The wide variety of zero proof ingredients, not just booze alternatives but bitters, and daring ingredients such as hemp. This sophisticated martini-style cocktail channels the glamour and intrigue of 1960s lounge culture. Named after a Mad Men favorite, Betty Draper, who spent a season drinking Martinis, despite the fact that she was pregnant, the drink offers an alcohol-free indulgence reminiscent of the classic martini. Its inclusion demonstrates how premium ingredients and thoughtful preparation can evoke nostalgia while fitting seamlessly into modern wellness-centered lifestyles.

2 oz blend of Seedlip Garden and Amass Riverine Blend, washed in olive oil*

.5 oz Roots Divino non-alcoholic Aperitif Bianco

.5 oz Seasoned olive brine

Garnish: Lemon twist and an herb-brined olive skewered on a rosemary sprig

Method: Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir until cold and strain into a small martini glass or coupe. Express the lemon twist over the drink and discard. Garnish with the skewered olive and serve.

Vegan Yuzu Flip

From The I Love Trader Joe’s® Cocktail Book by Greg McBoat

Can you make a stunning non-alcoholic drink with ingredients from Trader Joe’s? Yes, you can. Flips, which have been around for more than three centuries, usually feature a foamy top made with eggs. This cocktail uses sparkling water and coconut cream to make a vegan version that highlights the unique East Asian citrus, yuzu (which tastes like a more fragrant lemon).

.5 oz simple syrup

.5 oz fresh lemon juice

1 oz Trader Joe’s Coconut Cream

2 oz Trader Joe’s Sparkling Coconut Water with Yuzu

Method: To a shaker, add the simple syrup, lemon juice, and coconut cream, and shake without ice for 10 to 15 seconds. Open the shaker and fill three-quarters full with ice. Shake a second time for 20 to 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass, and top with the sparkling coconut water.

These cocktails can be enjoyed at home and similar offerings are increasingly found on restaurant menus. The holidays may have passed but the party is far from over. Make it a New Year's Resolution to get out more or just enjoy them at home to accompany a nice dinner. Either way, you'll get a beautiful cocktail, without the downsides associated with alcohol.