I FINALLY PERFECTED MY MOCKTAILS—THESE ARE THE NA PRODUCTS I SWEAR BY

Take me to a bar and I'll ask for a Shirley Temple—hold the dirty part. I'm all for a kiddo-friendly mocktail, and I have no shame in it. It's one of those things you either fully commit to or you don't. Plus, summer is the perfect time to lean into the NA lifestyle—you can enjoy refreshing sips all day without worrying about dehydration, or worse, a hangover.

Luckily, buzz-free mocktail beverages are more common—and better—than ever, so it's never been easier to enjoy a mocktail that doesn't taste "mock" at all. As a certified mocktail girlie, I know all the best NA bottles to buy, and I'm not afraid to share them. And if you want something a little more sophisticated than a Shirley Temple, I transformed a few iconic cocktails into non-alcoholic sippers using my favorite brands.

Best For A Non-Alcoholic Aperol Spritz

The Aperol spritz is one of the most famous summery drinks. As an Italian gal, I can appreciate the love for one. It’s sweet and fizzy with a slight bite from the bitter Aperol. In order to make this aperitivo non-alcoholic without compromising its integrity, I turned to my friends at Mionetto, who make sparkling wine with either less than 1% alcohol or alcohol removed, and an NA Aperol that tastes just like cherry syrup. The combination reminds me of a refreshing orange cherry soda, which is EXACTLY what I’m looking for.

Best For A Non-Alcoholic Gimlet

We love simple cocktails, and mocktails can be just as easy to make. For example, a gimlet has three ingredients (simple syrup, lime juice, and gin) and you can easily make it NA. With the perfect balance of botanical, citrusy notes, Monday Zero Alcohol is a great gin-like option. On its own, it tastes like bitter lime peel, which makes it perfect in a gimlet mocktail. Mixed with simple syrup and lime, this shaken bevvy is reminiscent of limeade—perfect for a heatwave, if you ask me.

Best For A Non-Alcoholic Mint Julep

I'm going to be honest, I don't like bourbon. I don't drink bourbon cocktails, and I only recently made my first mint julep for a TV segment about the Kentucky Derby. But I figured I might like an NA version of the classic bourbon cocktail. Only problem is, Free Spirits non-alcoholic bourbon could have fooled me for alcoholic bourbon with its pronounced flavor profile. It's very robust, woodsy, and spicy, just as I'd expect a true bourbon to be. This spirit is a great addition to cocktails when properly balanced with other flavors. I mixed it up in a blackberry mint julep for a sweet, slightly spicy refresher that's perfect for sipping porchside.

2025-06-06T21:30:55Z