10 Zero-Proof Cocktails for Dry January

January and the new year generally have a way of activating a part of your brain that seeks a reset, whether it be from grub, libations, or any other vices (I once even quit my Dunkin’ Donuts addiction in January). Blame it on excess around the holiday season, or general resolution-ness, it’s a time of the year many look to prove out that saying: Everything in moderation, even moderation. Whether you decide you’re ready to reset with a dry January—which consists of not intaking any spirits for the whole month—or are looking to cut calories as part of a New Year’s diet, or you just don’t drink to begin with, these zero-proof cocktails are here to get you through it.

Known as “mocktails,” these adult-like recipes will keep you in the craft cocktail scene even sans alcohol:

Kama’s Arrow

“Taking inspiration from traditional lassi, this rich, decadent drink is layered with mango, coconut, and pistachio,” says Tyson Buhler of Death & Co., Denver.

Death & Co.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce mango puree
• 1 ounce vanilla syrup
• ½ ounce cream of coconut (like Coco Lopez)
• ½ ounce lemon juice
• 1 dash cardamom bitters (optional; see note below)
• seltzer
• crushed pistachio, for garnish

Instructions:

• Shake/strain into a fizz glass and garnish with crushed pistachio.

Scrappy's Bitters Exotic Bitters Mini Set, 4 for $19.99 on Amazon

Flavored bitters keep things interesting, and this set comes with lavender, chocolate, cardamom, and grapefruit varieties. But beware: these are based on alcohol, so if you use even just a couple drops, you're not technically teetotaling.

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Rosemary Blackberry Mocktail

You won’t have to feel any peer pressure at your Sunday night poker game if you sip on this lovely little alcohol-free cocktail by Claudia Sidoti, Head of Recipe Development at Hello Fresh.

Hello Fresh

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup frozen blackberries (plus more for garnish)
• 1/4 cup frozen blueberries (plus more for garnish)
• 4 teaspoons sugar syrup
• 2 ounces lemon juice
• 1 sprig rosemary
• sparkling water
• blackberries, for garnish
• ice

Instructions:

• Place glasses in freezer to chill.
• Add frozen blackberries, blueberries, and sugar syrup in a pot with a splash of water. Simmer about 15 minutes.
• Add mixture to a blender and blend until smooth. Strain with a sieve and set aside to let cool.
• Meanwhile, rinse blender, then add lemon juice and rosemary sprig. Blend, then strain.
• Remove glasses from freezer and fill halfway with crushed ice. Pour in lemon mixture, then sparkling water. Pour blackberry mixture on top, and garnish with berries.

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Cold Brew & Tonic

A refreshing way to get a caffeine buzz instead of a buzz buzz.

Fever Tree

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ ounces cold brew
• tonic water

Instructions:

• Pour cold brew over fresh cubed ice and top with tonic.

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BFF Zero Proof Cocktail

Simple, healthy, and delicious. Born at Hedge Row, one of Mass Ave.’s best restaurants in Indianapolis, Elon Musk’s brother Kimbal Musk and his team serve up this mocktail on the bar menu.

Hedge Row

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces water
• 1 ½ ounces grapefruit juice
• ¾ ounce rosemary-lime simple syrup
• 1 ounce lime cordial

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients in mixing tin.
• Cover mixing tin with shaking tin and shake until thoroughly chilled.
• Strain into rocks glass with ice cubes.
• Garnish with rosemary sprig.

BG Reynolds Lime Cordial, $12.45 on Amazon

Handcrafted in Portland, Ore., this all-natural syrup adds tropical flair to all sorts of drinks and dishes.

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Cocktail Shaker Set with Jigger and Bar Spoon, $18.95 on Amazon

Cocktail shakers come in handy even if you're not using booze.

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Norisan Mocktail

Served at Zuma in Las Vegas, this zero proofer is named after the beautiful space’s interior designer, and features fresh, tropical flavors of passion fruit and pineapple.

Zuma

Ingredients:

• 8 mint leaves
• 20 mL fresh passion fruit pulp with seeds
• 40 mL pineapple puree
• 30 mL orange juice
• 10 mL simple syrup

Instructions:

• Muddle mint, then add all other ingredients into cocktail shaker with ice.
• Shake, strain, and pour into highball glass with ice.
• Garnish with half passion fruit and mint sprig.

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Mea Huna

This tiki-inspired mocktail by Brian Miller of NYC’s The Polynesian will mentally transport you to a luau.

The Polynesian

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 2 ounces pineapple juice
• ½ teaspoon lilikoi puree
• ½ ounce Don’s Spices #4 (1 part cinnamon syrup to 2 parts grapefruit juice)
• 1 ounce coconut cream
• 1 ounce club soda

Instructions:

• Flash blend all ingredients except club soda for 5 seconds with ice.
• Add club soda, strain into a mug, and top with crushed ice.
• Garnish with a half orange wheel, grated cinnamon, and a parasol.

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Here’s to You

“A grapefruit and cinnamon combo lends refreshing yet complex flavors to this booze-free take on a Champagne cocktail,” says Daniel Zacharczuk of Bibo Ergo Sum in Los Angeles.

Bibo Ergo Sum

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce Seedlip Spice
• ¾ ounces clarified lime juice
• ¾ ounces cinnamon syrup
• 1 teaspoon ginger syrup
• 4 ounces seltzer

Instructions:

• Shake/strain ingredients.
• Pour into flute glass and garnish with a grapefruit twist.

Seedlip Non-Alcoholic Spirits Spice 94, $37.50 on Amazon

This innovative non-alcoholic spirit has notes of allspice, cardamom, grapefruit, and lemon, and is meant for mixing with other flavors to form sophisticated concoctions that won't intoxicate.

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The Cardi Tea

We bet Sen Sakana’s Beverage Director, Zachary Gross, thought up this zero-proof cocktail when this year’s biggest music act, Cardi B, was pregnant with her first child.

Sen Sakana

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ ounces steeped green tea
• ½ ounce agave
• ½ ounce bergamot orange juice
• ½ ounce lime juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• egg white

Instructions:

• Dry shake all ingredients, then shake with ice.
• Double strain into a coupe.
• Garnish with a seasoned lemon slice.

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Salted Cucumber Lemonade

The definition of easy drinking right here, folks!

Sunkist

Ingredients:

• 2 cups warm water
• 2 cups sugar
• ½ English cucumber with skin on, cut in large chunks (about 1 cup)
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 cups cold water
• 1 ½ cups freshly squeezed lime juice

Instructions:

• Place warm water and sugar into a large pitcher. Stir with a spoon until sugar is dissolved.
• Place the cucumber, salt and cold water into a blender. Puree in blender, and then strain cucumber mixture into the pitcher.
• Add lime juice, stir.
• Serve over ice. Store refrigerated for up to 5 days.

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Cheery Sour

Jonathan Fong

Developed by H. Joseph Ehrmann of Elixir in San Francisco, this frothy mocktail will instantly put you in good spirits.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces lemon juice
• 2 ounces honey syrup (1:1 honey and water)
• ¾ ounce egg white
• ½ ounce Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters
• 3 maraschino cherries on a pick

Instructions:

• Add all ingredients to a mixing tin and fill with ice.
• Shake well and strain up into a cocktail glass.
• Garnish with the cherry pick resting on the rim.

Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters, $11.31 on Amazon

While these bitters are often touted as non-alcoholic, they do contain a tiny amount of alcohol (a lot less than vanilla extract, for comparison), so you may choose to leave them out for a truly virgin drink.

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Luxardo Gourmet Maraschino Cherries, 2 jars for $34.57 on Amazon

Skip the neon-red maraschinos you'd fish from a well drink and upgrade to these dark, lush Italian imports that actually taste good.

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Related Video: 6 Surprising Non-Alcoholic Drinks That Pair Beautifully with Cheese

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How to Host a Spa Lunch to Kick Off a Healthy New Year

The holidays are a time of indulgence but they can also be a time of reflection and self-care where intentions are set to lay the foundation for a vibrant and dynamic new year. After too many weeks of rich food, imbibing, and late nights, there’s nothing better than dialing back the debauchery in order to keep that promise you made to yourself to make the year ahead an epic one.

Whether you’ve decided to party into the wee hours as the clock ticks down to 2019 or plan to duck out early for a good night’s sleep, marking the new year with a healthy lunch is a way to restore balance following an indulgent month, reminding your mind, spirit, and body that it actually likes healthy eating, calm moments, and libations that don’t include alcohol.

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Here’s a plan to help you execute a spa lunch that’s as restorative as it is healthful.

1. Encourage your guests to wear comfy clothes that encourage relaxation and are easy to move around in.
2. Keep your color palette light and energizing.
3. Prepare a music playlist that includes songs that are easy to listen to but also lively enough to keep the energy level up.
4. Clean and prepare your service ware and linens the evening before the event. If you’re using cloth napkins, roll them up and tie them with a decorative ribbon along with a flower, eucalyptus sprig, or tiny pine bough.
5. Arrange flowers in vases throughout the space or opt for pots of fresh herbs.
6. Select candles that have invigorating aromas, light them just before your guests arrive.
7. Serve non-alcoholic drinks to align with the spa theme. Omitting alcohol from a beverage does not mean it can’t still be interesting. Spritzers that combine sparkling water and freshly squeezed juices garnished with edible flowers or herbs are both colorful and refreshing. Keep your juice selection interesting by swapping the usual orange or pineapple juices for pomegranate, hibiscus, or blackberry.
8. Serve ice water that has been infused for at least 12 hours with herbs such as basil or lemongrass or citrus such as kumquats or limes. Keep the botanicals in the water during service for a pop of color.
9. Set up a tea station offering herbal teas.
10. Fill small, decorative bowls with a variety of nuts, seeds, and berries. Arrange them throughout your serving table.
11. Skip greasy, heavy, or bready items and opt for light and healthy soups sans cream, smoked salmon, fresh vegetable pickles, salads packed with flavor and nutrition, lettuce wraps, and fresh fruit for dessert.  
12. If you have a fireplace, be sure to light a fire before your guests arrive. Top your logs with eucalyptus branches to fill the room with a restorative aroma.
13. Send your guests home with a gift to remind them of their commitment to filling the year ahead with mindful action. Ideas include a box of energy balls, an invigorating tincture, or a pretty journal where they can document their intentions for the year ahead.

Oatmeal Protein Energy Balls

The Healthy Maven

This easy no-bake energy ball recipe is as tasty as it is healthy. Prepare them to serve in a bowl at your spa lunch or pack them up to send home with your guests as a parting gift. For an extra dose of nutrition, add a tablespoon of flax seeds or finely chopped pumpkin seeds. Get the Oatmeal Protein Energy Balls recipe. 

Quick Pickled Vegetables

Feasting at Home

Quick pickled vegetables are fantastic for a spa lunch for myriad reasons: They’re colorful, invigorating, and can be prepared ahead of time. Serve them right in the jars arranged throughout your spa spread for splashes of color; make extra jars to send home with your guests if you’re so inclined. Get the Quick Pickled Vegetables recipe. 

Chilled Cucumber, Avocado, and Mint Soup

The Feed Feed

There are so many things to love about this soup recipe. Let’s start with the way the avocado and yogurt makes it creamy without the cream. The cucumber’s detoxing power aligns so well with a spa lunch and the mint infuses the soup with an energizing flavor. Get the Chilled Cucumber, Avocado, and Mint Soup recipe. 

Thai Chicken Peanut Lettuce Wraps

Skinny Taste

These lettuce wraps feel filling and substantial without weighing you down. The ginger is excellent for detoxing and the Sriracha adds a hint of heat. Swap the chicken for firm tofu for a vegetarian option and feel free to substitute the peanut butter for your nut butter of choice. Don’t forget to serve with a bowl of limes alongside. Get the Thai Chicken Peanut Lettuce Wraps recipe. 

Classic Green Juice

With Food and Love

This juice recipe is loaded with healthful ingredients that are as detoxing as they are invigorating. Blend the juice right before your guests arrive so it’s at its freshest and most flavorful and vibrant. Get the Classic Green Juice recipe. 

Three-Ingredient Honey Berry Sorbet

Sweet and Savory By Shinee

You can’t go wrong with a colorful dessert that includes only three ingredients but tastes so much more substantial and satisfying. The honey sweetens the berries and the lemon adds an lively zing. The sorbet is made ahead of time so requires nothing but serving on the day of your spa lunch. Get the Three-Ingredient Honey Berry Sorbet recipe.

Related Video: How to Make a Citrus Sunrise Smoothie

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