The golden ratio
works with every mocktail
Shake the acid, sweetness, and juice with plenty of ice for 12 seconds—shaking is especially important in a mocktail because it adds texture.
Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice cubes.
Top up with chilled tonic or sparkling water and stir gently once.
Add the bitters or a pinch of salt and garnish generously. Taste and adjust with a splash of acid if it’s too sweet.
Why mocktails often fail
Alcohol does much more in a cocktail than simply make it alcoholic. It carries aromas, adds a lightly burning texture that balances the sweetness, and provides the “length” that makes you sip a cocktail slowly. Remove it without replacing what it contributes, and all you have left is lemonade—and that’s exactly why many people find mocktails too sweet. The solution lies in three things: more acidity than you’re used to, some bitterness (tonic, chilled tea, grapefruit, or a few drops of bitters), and texture from shaking or a creamy ingredient. Do that, and you have a drink that holds its own at the table.
The right glass
With mocktails, the glass matters more than with any other cocktail—and that’s not a matter of aesthetics. People who don’t drink don’t want to sit among the cocktails with a cola glass; using the same glass as the rest of the table makes the difference between joining in and watching from the sidelines. So choose your regular 33–47 cl highball glasses, and garnish at least as generously as you would the alcoholic versions. Serving something more like a short drink? Use a coupe or martini glass, exactly as you would with alcohol in it.
Onis Icon Highball Glass 47 Cl (6 pieces)
Duralex Picardie Highball Glass 36 Cl (6 pieces)
Together € 51,90, so shipping is free.
All mocktail recipes
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a mocktail and a cocktail?
Only the alcohol — in concept, technique, and presentation, they are identical. A good mocktail is shaken, strained, and garnished just like a cocktail.
Which glass do you use for a mocktail?
The same glass as the cocktail it resembles. Check out our highball glasses for most mocktails, or the cocktail glasses for short drinks.
Why does my mocktail taste too sweet?
Almost always because there is too little acidity. Add fresh lemon or lime juice, not more syrup. A pinch of salt or a few drops of bitters also reduce the sweetness.
Can you make every cocktail alcohol-free?
Almost. Cocktails that rely on acidity and fruit — mojito, daiquiri, spritz — work excellently. Cocktails in which the drink itself takes center stage, such as a Negroni or Old Fashioned, remain more challenging, even with 0.0 alternatives.
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