Photography & story by Kendal J. Bush

Kate Boyle and her husband, Jim, share a few moments of downtime in their Portsmouth store.

As we step into the New Year, full of hope and resolutions, we often view our health and well-being as a top priority whether it is to lose weight, feel better or just make positive changes to improve our lives. Whether you are seeking peace of mind or a trimmer waistline in 2024, mocktails can be a satisfying and flavorful companion. Offering the allure of a sophisticated drink without the calories, carbs and negative health effects of alcohol, the rising popularity of nonalcoholic offerings means that you don’t have to get stuck at the kids table sipping a Shirley Temple through a straw.

Although alcohol seems to be ingrained in our culture as a way to celebrate life, seek comfort and connect with others, the popularity of challenges such as Dry January, Dry July or Sober October tends to increase each year. The benefits of taking a break from your favorite alcoholic beverage are plentiful, ranging from weight loss to mental clarity, improved sleep and enhanced overall well-being. But the move to mocktails doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing scenario.

You can start by making nonalcoholic versions of your favorite cocktails (shaken or stirred), but the discovery of the perfect mocktail is a journey that provides creative opportunities to experiment with new flavors, products, textures and ingredients.

Unlike a mixed drink having only two ingredients — typically a spirit and a mixer — a cocktail, or mocktail in this case, has more than two ingredients and requires time to craft into a memorable beverage.

“Nonalcoholic spirits” come from distillation or compound processes, or a combination of both. Compounds tend to have a water base blended with juices, sweeteners, extracts and flavor additives. Distillation involves boiling and evaporation, occasionally using alcohol, which is then removed in a secondary distillation process, ensuring that the final product is alcohol-free while retaining the complex flavors associated with the spirit.

A sampling of nonalcoholic products, which are perfect for creating a rewarding mocktail.

“Functional beverages” contain ingredients associated with wellness, such as nootropics, adaptogens and cannabidiol (CBD). Nootropics, somewhat controversial, include ingredients claimed to boost brain function, creativity, attention, focus and memory — like caffeine. Although most nootropics are considered safe, consider consulting a health care professional if you have concerns before incorporating functional beverages into your mocktail repertoire.

“Proxies,” designed to emulate the experience of wine, are unique beverages. Rather than mimicking specific wine blends, proxies offer distinct flavors intended for pairing with meals, as traditional wines are.

A quick internet search on nonalcoholic spirits alone will yield a multitude of overwhelming possibilities. But what if you’re hesitant to commit to an entire bottle without a taste test? After all, NA spirits are not necessarily cheaper than their alcoholic counterparts. One option is to explore local restaurants participating in Dry January with no-booze menu options and to ask questions about the mocktails and ingredients that speak to you. Another option is to visit a specialty NA store, like Dry Cellar in Portsmouth Oowner Kate Boyle notes that nonalcoholic cocktails and the stores that sell them are gaining popularity. Boyle sees the opportunity to take a break from booze as a chance to learn about new flavors and about oneself.

“If you are mindful about the experience, it can be really eye-opening and a positive catalyst for your life,” she says.

With over two decades in the food and beverage industry, Boyle enjoys helping people find drinks they enjoy and new ways to make them. “That’s the most intimidating part for people just getting into this, as they may not be accustomed to doing anything beyond pouring a glass of wine, opening a beer or making a standard mixed drink.”

Kate Boyle, aka the Empress of Elixirs, offers information, tastings and tantalizing recipes for a wide array of NA products. First-time shopper Margaret Gay, an expectant mother from Candia, popped into Dry Cellar to seek out NA options for upcoming celebrations and gatherings. “It’s fun to have other drink options when everyone else is having cocktails. It’s nice to have something special to feel included,” she says.

Whether a journey into mocktailing is a temporary change, a month-long challenge or a lifetime goal, America is witnessing a generational shift, with millennials and Gen-Z leading the demand for nonalcoholic alternatives. A thoughtfully crafted mocktail can be a new ritual at the end of the day, offering a chance to redefine alcohol-centric culture with an invitation to be creative, mindful and inclusive about beverage choices without the social stigma.

Functional Friends on the Rocks

Place a large clear ice sphere in a rocks glass.

Add a splash of club soda along with a splash of pressed orange juice or a tablespoon of cooled hibiscus tea.
Add 2 ounces of your favorite functional. (Such as DRØMME Awake)

Source: suggestions from Kate Boyle, aka the Empress of Elixirs

Tropical Storm

2 ounces of NA spiced rum (Such as Caleño Dark & Spicy)
3 – 4 ounces equal parts spicy ginger beer and pineapple juice (Alternatively, you can use an Avec mixer which offers ginger beer sweetened with pineapple juice for a lower calorie and carb version.)
A twist of orange peel

Source: suggestions from Kate Boyle

Prosecco and Pear Love Potion

Your favorite NA sparking wine or NA Prosecco (Such as Prima Pave)
NA Bitters or a combination of bitters, 5-10 drops to taste (I used Guapo’s Love Potion Bitters blend)
Add a twisted, dried slice of pear and pour over ice in an elegant glass.

Source: self experimentation, with suggestions from Kate Boyle

Snow Dragon Mojito Mocktail

Cut, peel, dice and mash ¼ cup of Snow Dragon Fruit
Muddle fresh mint (10 leaves or so) and combine with fruit
Juice from 1 pressed lime
1 tablespoon of honey
4 ounces of club soda or spicy ginger beer, or a combination of both
(We muddled about 2 dozen fresh pomegranate seeds, using the juice to give the drink a pink tint.)

Serve over ice

This works well as a batch drink, too!

And yes, the “Snow” does make this a winter mocktail!

Smoked Grapefruit NAgarita

2 ounces of NA Mezcal (Such as Cut Above Zero Proof Mezcal)
1½ ounces of fresh pressed grapefruit juice
1/4 ounce of lime juice, plus lime wedge for rim
Black sea salt for rim
A sprig of rosemary as a garnish
¼ – ½ ounce of Agave, sweeten to taste

Shaken, not stirred

Pour into a glass with 1 large ice cube or sphere

Wood chip cocktail smoker: Optional to smoke the mixed ingredients.

Source: a remix of an old favorite with self experimentation using NA mezcal and a cocktail smoker.