Everything you need to live your best no-alcohol / low-alcohol lifestyle.
One of the first things I did when I changed my relationship with alcohol was get serious about building my alcohol-free drinks cabinet. Over time, my simple cupboard with lime cordial and bitters became chockas full of delicious ingredients for creating hundreds of alcohol-free cocktails. From zero alcohol spirits and mixers to garnishes and cordials, having the right basics on hand makes it much easier to create something special whenever the mood strikes. Here are the ten essentials I cannot live without.
A good alcohol-free drinks cabinet does not need to contain dozens of bottles. Start with versatile ingredients that can be used across different cocktails, then expand your collection as you discover the flavours and drinks you enjoy most.
1. Bitters – It’s the kicker ingredient that gives that zing to a lemon and lime (or grapefruit and even pineapple juice). But did you know that there are at least 20 different exotic cocktails (think: Trinidad, Hawaii, Spain!) you can make using bitters?
2. Lime cordial – No brainer right?! With over 65 different cocktails featuring lime, this one’s a must!
3. Zero alcohol gin – Who doesn’t love a classic G&T? And with more than 65 gin cocktails to explore, AF gin is right up there with lime cordial as one of the most versatile alcohol-free spirits to keep on hand.
4. Ginger cordial – No need to stock cans of ginger beer or ginger ale when you have a bottle of ginger cordial on hand. The great thing about the cordial is that you can use a mixer of your choice to either sweeten it up, ease off on the fizz or give it an extra aromatic kick.
5. AF Italian Aperitif – Spritz style drinks have taken front and centre in the drinks scene, and an AF Italian aperitif gives you plenty of options for creating sophisticated NoLo serves at home. Whether you are mixing a spritz or experimenting with your own alcohol-free cocktail recipes, this is a versatile bottle to have in your cabinet. For any of these drinks and more, you’ll want a good AF Italian Aperitif on hand.
6. Zero alcohol tequila – I know we associate tequila with too many shots and nasty hangovers, but it’s the base of over 25 great cocktails, so a bottle in the cupboard will come in handy, especially in summer time when a tequila sunrise, margarita or paloma are such a refreshing addition to your tropical fruit platter.
7. Raspberry cordial – Speaking of tequila sunrises, the essential ingredient for that gorgeous sunset colour range is raspberry cordial. It’s also a really sneaky way to make the great mocktails for tweens parties to make them feel uber spesh and sophisticated.
8. AF sparkling wine – Whether it is a mimosa, spritz or sparkling cocktail, there are plenty of drinks you can make feel more festive with a splash of AF sparkling wine. And as long as you have plenty of ice on hand, you don’t necessarily have to keep it in the fridge until after it’s opened.
9. Mixers – Make sure you have a range on hand to give your guests a choice. My go-to is tonic, but so many of my friends much prefer soda, and I keep some lemonade for sweet-tooth guests and mineral water for those who prefer a spritz style finish. Don’t forget to have some juices on hand too for the fruitier cocktails – I find a simple tropical juice in a tetra pack keeps well in the cupboard for occasions like these.
10. Garnishes – We all know that often the way a drink looks packs more punch than the way it tastes, so wow your guests with cool garnishes. Have a couple of limes handy and if it’s summer and you’re doing a fruit platter, cut chunks of pineapple, watermelon, strawberries or orange to slot onto the glass. If you have nothing fresh on hand, go for a dried option, and check out some of the yummy fizz you can get at SmugAF to coat your martini glasses with.
Tips for Stocking Your Alcohol-Free Drinks Cabinet
You do not need to buy everything at once. Start with a few versatile favourites, such as an alcohol-free gin, lime cordial, tonic water and some simple garnishes. From there, add ingredients based on the cocktails you actually enjoy making.
It is also worth keeping a mix of sweet, bitter, citrus and aromatic flavours available. This gives you more flexibility when friends come over and makes it easier to cater for different tastes.
Most importantly, treat your alcohol-free drinks cabinet the same way you would any home bar. Keep it stocked with ingredients you genuinely enjoy rather than buying products simply because they are popular.
With these essentials on hand, your alcohol-free drinks cabinet will be ready for almost any occasion. Whether you are entertaining friends or simply making something special for yourself, having a good mix of spirits, cordials, mixers and garnishes makes alcohol-free drinking much more interesting.
And who says you need guests? Try something different, experiment with flavours and enjoy creating your own favourite NoLo combinations at home.
