You don't need a cocktail bar to pull off great alcohol-free cocktail recipes at home. You don't even need much kit. What you do need is a couple of decent AF spirits, some fresh citrus, and a willingness to shake things properly. The results will genuinely surprise you.
The AF spirits market has reached the point where you can make a Negroni, an Espresso Martini, or a Whisky Sour at home that tastes like the real thing. Not "quite nice for something without alcohol." Actually good. Here are ten alcohol-free cocktail recipes to prove it — and if you'd rather skip the shaker entirely, there are plenty of alcohol-free RTD cocktails worth the spend too.
Kit and Cupboard Essentials for Alcohol-Free Cocktail Recipes
You need a cocktail shaker (a basic Boston shaker is fine, around a tenner), a strainer, a jigger or measuring cup, and a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon. That's it. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
For your store cupboard, stock up on: simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, heated until dissolved, cooled), Angostura bitters (they contain alcohol but the dash you use is negligible), decent tonic water (Fever-Tree or similar), soda water, and fresh limes and lemons. Always fresh. Bottled juice is the enemy of good cocktails.
Ice deserves a mention. Standard freezer ice cubes work for shaking, but for stirred drinks like a Negroni or Old Fashioned, get yourself a silicone mould for large cubes. They melt slower, so your drink stays cold without getting watered down. A couple of quid from most kitchen shops.
For the spirits themselves, the best alcohol-free spirits guide covers the full range worth knowing — you can get started with two or three bottles and build out from there.
AF Negroni
The Negroni is bitter, boozy, and dangerously drinkable. The AF version keeps the bitter complexity and swaps the booze for botanical depth. It's a proper grown-up drink for when you want something that feels like an event. This is the archetypal alcohol-free Negroni — and one of the non-alcoholic cocktail recipes most likely to convert a sceptic.
Ingredients
- 25ml Lyre's Italian Orange
- 25ml Lyre's Aperitif Rosso
- 25ml Seedlip Spice 94 or Lyre's Dry London
- Orange peel, to garnish
Method
- Add all three spirits to a mixing glass or short tumbler filled with ice (one large cube is ideal).
- Stir slowly for 20-30 seconds. You want to chill and slightly dilute, not water it down.
- If using small ice, strain into a fresh glass over a single large cube.
- Express an orange peel over the surface, twist it, and drop it in.
Tip: Keep your AF spirits in the fridge. They're better cold, and it means less dilution from the ice.
AF G&T
The classic, done properly. Half the AF G&Ts people make at home fail because the ratio is wrong or the tonic is flat. Get these two things right and it's one of the simplest, most satisfying drinks going. If you want the full lowdown on which bottles actually work, our best alcohol-free gin pick-list has the tested ones.
Ingredients
- 50ml Gordon's 0.0% Alcohol-Free Spirit or Tanqueray 0.0%
- 150ml premium tonic water (Fever-Tree Indian or Mediterranean)
- Ice
- Garnish: lime wedge for Gordon's, or a slice of orange and a sprig of rosemary for Tanqueray
Method
- Fill a large copa glass or tumbler with ice right to the top.
- Pour in the AF gin spirit.
- Tilt the glass and pour the tonic slowly down the side to keep the fizz.
- Give it one gentle stir and add your garnish.
Tip: The ratio matters. 1:3 spirit to tonic is the sweet spot, mirroring the official Seedlip serve (50ml spirit, 150ml tonic). Too much tonic and you're drinking flavoured water.
AF Espresso Martini
This one gets people every time. The combination of cold brew coffee, a touch of sweetness and a proper shake gives you that frothy, velvety top and the same pick-me-up hit. Without the headache the next morning.
Ingredients
- 30ml Lyre's Coffee Originale
- 30ml cold brew coffee concentrate (not diluted cold brew)
- 15ml simple syrup
- 3 coffee beans, to garnish
Method
- Add the Coffee Originale, cold brew concentrate and simple syrup to a shaker with plenty of ice.
- Shake hard for a full 15 seconds. You want it really cold and properly frothy.
- Double strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
- Float three coffee beans on the foam.
Tip: If you don't have cold brew concentrate, use a double shot of espresso cooled down. The strength of the coffee is what makes or breaks this drink.
AF Mojito
Lime, mint, sugar, fizz. The mojito works beautifully without alcohol because the flavour was never really about the rum. It was always about that combination of fresh mint and sharp lime hitting the back of your throat. An AF rum adds warmth and depth, but this is good even without one.
Ingredients
- 50ml CleanCo Clean R or Lyre's White Cane
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- Half a lime, cut into wedges
- 15ml simple syrup
- Soda water
- Crushed ice
Method
- Drop the mint leaves and lime wedges into a tall glass. Muddle gently to release the oils and juice. Don't pulverise the mint, you want the flavour, not the bitterness.
- Add the AF rum and simple syrup.
- Fill the glass with crushed ice and give it a good stir.
- Top with soda water and stir once more.
Tip: Slap the mint between your palms before adding it to the glass. It wakes up the oils without bruising the leaves.
AF Aperol Spritz
The drink of every European summer, and one of the easiest mocktail recipes with AF spirits to pull off at home. Lyre's Italian Spritz was built specifically for this. Bittersweet, orange-forward, and absolutely perfect with a bowl of crisps in the sun.
Ingredients
- 60ml Lyre's Italian Spritz
- 90ml Lyre's Classico Sparkling or any dry AF sparkling wine
- Splash of soda water
- Orange slice, to garnish
Method
- Fill a large wine glass with ice.
- Pour in the Italian Spritz, then the sparkling wine.
- Add a splash of soda water.
- Garnish with a half-moon of orange.
Tip: If you can't find AF sparkling wine, use half soda water and half premium tonic. Not identical, but still good.
AF Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is all about the spirit, so this one lives or dies on your choice of AF whisky. CleanCo Clean W is a solid budget option; Lyre's American Malt gives you more oak and vanilla if you want to spend a bit more. Either way, the bitters and sugar do a lot of the heavy lifting here.
Ingredients
- 60ml CleanCo Clean W or Lyre's American Malt
- 10ml simple syrup (or 1 brown sugar cube)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel, to garnish
- 1 large ice cube
Method
- If using a sugar cube, place it in a rocks glass with the bitters and a tiny splash of water. Muddle until dissolved. If using simple syrup, just combine with the bitters.
- Add the AF whisky and stir.
- Add one large ice cube and stir gently for another 10-15 seconds.
- Express the orange peel over the glass and rest it on the rim.
Tip: Use a big ice cube. Seriously. It's the difference between a proper Old Fashioned and a watery disappointment.
AF Paloma
Mexico's favourite cocktail, and honestly better than a Margarita in most situations. The grapefruit does all the work here — sharp, bitter and refreshing. An AF tequila alternative adds body, but even without one this is a cracking drink.
Ingredients
- 50ml Lyre's Agave Blanco or CleanCo Clean T
- 100ml fresh pink grapefruit juice (or a quality grapefruit soda like San Pellegrino Pompelmo)
- 15ml fresh lime juice
- 10ml simple syrup (optional, depends how sweet your grapefruit is)
- Pinch of salt
- Soda water
- Grapefruit wedge, to garnish
Method
- If you want a salt rim, run a grapefruit wedge around the top of a tall glass and dip in flaky salt.
- Fill the glass with ice. Add the AF tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and syrup.
- Stir well, then top with a splash of soda water.
- Garnish with a wedge of grapefruit.
Tip: San Pellegrino Pompelmo works brilliantly here if you can't find good fresh grapefruit. Skip the soda water if you use it.
AF Whisky Sour
Smooth, citrusy, with that gorgeous silky foam on top. The egg white (or aquafaba if you'd rather skip the egg) is what transforms this from a sharp lemon drink into something properly luxurious.
Ingredients
- 50ml Lyre's American Malt or CleanCo Clean W
- 25ml fresh lemon juice
- 15ml simple syrup
- 1 egg white or 30ml aquafaba (chickpea water from a tin)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Lemon twist, to garnish
Method
- Add the AF whisky, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white (or aquafaba) to a shaker. Dry shake (no ice) for 10 seconds to emulsify.
- Add a handful of ice and shake hard for another 15 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, or into a coupe if you're feeling fancy.
- Dash the bitters on top of the foam and drag a cocktail stick through for the classic pattern.
Tip: Aquafaba — the starchy liquid from a tin of chickpeas — is a proper substitute, not a compromise. It behaves like egg white because it shares the same functional properties as a foaming agent and emulsifier. About 30ml does the job.
AF Daiquiri
Forget the frozen strawberry slush from holiday resorts. A proper daiquiri is three ingredients, shaken cold and served straight up. Clean, sharp and refreshing. One of the best drinks ever invented, and it translates brilliantly to AF.
Ingredients
- 50ml Lyre's White Cane or CleanCo Clean R
- 25ml fresh lime juice
- 15ml simple syrup
- Lime wheel, to garnish
Method
- Add the AF rum, lime juice and simple syrup to a shaker with plenty of ice.
- Shake hard for 15 seconds until the shaker frosts over.
- Double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a thin lime wheel on the rim.
Tip: Taste the mix before you shake. If your limes are very sharp, add a touch more syrup. If they're mild, cut the syrup back. Balance is everything.
Homemade Shrub Spritz
This one needs zero AF spirits. A shrub is an old-fashioned fruit and vinegar syrup — historically a way to preserve fruit well past its fresh shelf life, with the name tracing back to the Arabic sharab, "to drink". Mixed with soda water it makes one of the most refreshing drinks you'll ever have. Sharp, fruity, complex, and dirt cheap to make.
Ingredients
- 30ml homemade fruit shrub (see below)
- Soda water or sparkling water
- Ice
- Fresh fruit or herbs to garnish
For the shrub (makes about 500ml):
- 250g fruit (strawberries, raspberries, peaches, or rhubarb all work brilliantly)
- 250g caster sugar
- 250ml apple cider vinegar
Method
- Make the shrub (2 days ahead): Chop the fruit and toss with the sugar in a jar. Cover and refrigerate for 24-48 hours, stirring occasionally. The sugar will draw out all the juice. Strain out the solids, stir in the vinegar, and bottle. Keeps for months in the fridge.
- Pour 30ml of shrub into a tall glass filled with ice.
- Top with soda water and stir gently.
- Garnish with a sprig of mint, a slice of the fruit you used, or a twist of lemon.
Tip: Strawberry and black pepper shrub is phenomenal. Add a few cracked peppercorns to the fruit and sugar mixture. Rhubarb and ginger is another winner.
Building Your Home AF Bar
Don't try to buy everything at once. Start with two or three bottles that cover the drinks you actually want to make, and build from there. You can browse the full AF range on our alcohol-free spirits page if you want to see what's available by style.
If you like gin drinks: Gordon's 0.0% or Tanqueray 0.0% (both widely stocked in major supermarkets) will handle G&Ts and most gin-based cocktails. Add Seedlip Spice 94 for something more complex.
If you like bitter/Italian drinks: Lyre's Italian Orange and Aperitif Rosso cover Negronis, spritzes and bitter sodas. Martini Vibrante is a good supermarket-tier alternative for spritzes.
If you like whisky/rum drinks: CleanCo Clean W and Clean R are the best value entry point. Lyre's American Malt and Dark Cane are worth the upgrade if you get serious.
If you want to keep it simple: Make a batch of shrub, buy some good tonic and soda water, keep limes and lemons in the fridge. You can make half the drinks on this list without spending a penny on AF spirits.
Most AF spirits are built to sit at roughly a 1:3 ratio with a mixer — Seedlip's official serve, for instance, is 50ml spirit to 150ml tonic, which gives you around 14 drinks from a 70cl bottle. Work out your per-serve cost from whatever you paid for the bottle; at most supermarket-tier prices it still comes in at well under £2 a drink. Cheaper than just about anything you'd order out.