Zero-Proof and Low-ABV Holiday Drinks

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More guests than ever are drinking less, taking a break from alcohol or skipping it altogether, and the holidays are a perfect time to make them feel just as welcome as everyone else. A great zero-proof drink isn’t a glass of soda with a lime wedge. It’s balanced, festive and served with the same care as any cocktail. Low-ABV drinks sit in between: lighter cocktails built on wine, vermouth or other lower-strength ingredients, for guests who want something gentler.

Here’s how to build both, with easy recipes for holiday parties. Low-ABV drinks still contain alcohol, so serve them only to guests who are 21 or older.

Zero-proof, low-ABV and “non-alcoholic”: what the terms mean

• Zero-proof usually means a drink made with no alcohol at all.
• Low-ABV means a drink with less alcohol than a standard cocktail, often built on wine, vermouth, sherry or a bitter aperitif instead of a full measure of spirit.
• “Non-alcoholic” on a label doesn’t always mean zero. In the US, beer, wine and some other products labeled non-alcoholic can contain a small amount of alcohol, typically under 0.5% ABV. If a guest needs to avoid alcohol completely, for example during pregnancy, in recovery or for medical or religious reasons, check labels or stick to drinks you make from juices, teas and syrups.

One more thing to watch: aromatic bitters are usually high-proof, so leave them out of truly zero-proof drinks.

The formula for a great zero-proof drink

Without alcohol, a drink can taste thin or overly sweet. Fix that by building in these elements:

1. Sour: fresh lemon, lime or grapefruit juice
2. Sweet: simple syrup, honey syrup, a citrus syrup or oleo saccharum
3. Bitter or spice: tonic, ginger, black tea, grapefruit peel, cinnamon or a non-alcoholic bitter aperitif
4. Length and texture: soda water, ginger beer, non-alcoholic sparkling wine, or aquafaba for foam

Start with roughly 1 part sour, 3/4 part sweet and 3 to 4 parts length, then adjust.

Zero-proof holiday recipes

Cranberry rosemary spritz

3 oz cranberry juice, 1/2 oz lime juice and 1/2 oz rosemary syrup over ice, topped with soda water. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and a few cranberries.

Spiced apple mule

3 oz fresh apple cider and 1/2 oz lemon juice over ice, topped with ginger beer. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and an apple slice.

Citrus tea sour

2 oz cold strong black tea, 1 oz lemon juice, 3/4 oz oleo saccharum and 1/2 oz aquafaba. Shake without ice, then with ice, and strain into a coupe.

Faux 75

1/2 oz lemon juice and 1/2 oz simple syrup in a flute, topped with non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Add a long lemon twist.

Grapefruit tonic

2 oz fresh grapefruit juice and a small pinch of salt in a tall glass with ice, topped with tonic. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

Warm mulled cider

Simmer apple cider gently with cinnamon sticks, a few cloves, star anise and strips of orange peel for about 20 minutes. Serve in mugs.

Low-ABV holiday recipes

Americano

1 1/2 oz Campari and 1 1/2 oz sweet vermouth over ice, topped with soda water. Garnish with an orange slice.

Classic spritz

3 oz prosecco, 2 oz Aperol and 1 oz soda water over ice in a wine glass, with an orange slice.

Sherry cobbler

3 oz fino or amontillado sherry and 1/2 oz simple syrup, shaken with a few orange slices and poured over crushed ice.

Wine spritzer

Equal parts dry white or rosé wine and soda water over ice, with a citrus twist.

Stocking a zero-proof shelf

A few staples make it easy to put together a good alcohol-free drink at short notice:

• Bubbles: soda water, tonic, ginger beer and a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling wine
• Syrups: simple syrup, honey syrup and one flavored syrup, such as ginger, cinnamon or oleo saccharum
• Citrus: lemons, limes, a grapefruit and an orange for peels
• Tea: strong black tea and a herbal tea such as hibiscus, which brews into a deep red, tart base
• Garnishes: rosemary, mint, cranberries, cinnamon sticks and star anise

Keep syrups and opened mixers in the fridge, and taste as you go.

Batching for a party

Most of these drinks batch well. Mix the juice and syrup ahead in a pitcher and keep it cold, then top each glass with the bubbly ingredient just before serving so it stays lively. For mulled cider, a slow cooker on the warm setting keeps it ready all evening. Our guide to holiday party bartending covers setting up a self-serve station.

Hosting tips for every guest

• Put the zero-proof option first on your drink menu, not as an afterthought.
• Use the same glassware for every drink, so nobody feels singled out. See our bar glassware guide.
• Label drinks clearly, including which contain alcohol.
• Don’t ask why. If a guest chooses not to drink, simply offer them something good.
• Keep water and food out all evening.
• Bring a zero-proof host gift if you’re the guest: a bottle of quality syrup or a recipe book. See our bartender gift guide.

Our picks

For a book with real zero-proof recipes

Cocktails Illustrated from America’s Test Kitchen has more than 400 kitchen-tested recipes, from spirit-forward classics to non-alcoholic drinks, with technique notes and photos.

For bright, complex citrus flavor

C&S Oleo Saccharum is an alcohol-free citrus syrup with lemon and orange oils, lemongrass, cardamom and ginger. It gives zero-proof sours and spritzes the depth they can otherwise lack.

For measuring by eye

The Cocktail Measuring Rocks Glass has etched ounce and metric lines, so you can build drinks right in the glass and keep low-ABV pours light.

FAQ

What’s the difference between a mocktail and a zero-proof drink?

They mean much the same thing. “Zero-proof” is often used for drinks made with the same care and technique as cocktails.

Are low-ABV drinks alcohol-free?

No. They contain less alcohol than a standard cocktail, but they still contain alcohol.

Can I turn a classic cocktail into a zero-proof drink?

Often, yes. Our classic cocktails guide includes a zero-proof swap for each of its 12 drinks.