Like many people, my relationship with alcohol has petered out over the last few years. I’m a distance runner with four young kids and a full-time job, which means that I need to be up early and on my A game every day to show up for my family and myself.
My husband is sober, too. While he’s fine with having alcohol around, I was never so committed to drinking that I would go out of my way to keep a stocked bar at home.
So, while I wouldn’t say that I’ll never have alcohol again, I don’t go out of my way to have it. I just don’t feel like it’s serving me these days. And while I don’t feel like I’m missing out by not having alcohol, I sometimes crave kicking back with a drink that feels special in a different way. My liquids are pretty much limited to water, coffee, and matcha these days—and they just don’t bring the same experience as a specialty cocktail.
In recent years, I’ve bought a bunch of zero-proof spirits to keep at home, but I’ve never really used them. These usually don’t taste exactly the same as their alcoholic counterparts, which means you may be sorely disappointed if you try to make, say, a non-alcoholic margarita with zero-proof tequila.
Given that I have negative time in my day (see: four kids), I’d given up on trying to figure out how to make craft mocktails—until I was handed The Mocktail Playbook.
Written by the editors of Women’s Health, this book serves up a huge collection of mocktail recipes (50 to be exact!) from bartenders and mixologists across the country. And the cool thing is that these drinks were specifically crafted to be mocktails—so, no random juice blends or simply swapping in NA spirits for a classic alcoholic recipe.
Instead, these drinks are designed to feel like something special, while leaving the booze behind.
There are so many things to love about this recipe book.
I dig that the book sets the stage for mocktails you can experience. The recipes provide opportunities for drinks across a wide range of efforts, from stuff you can toss together in minutes to those you’ll spend a little more time pulling together.
My husband is a chef, and we both like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. The idea of creating a craft mocktail is definitely appealing to us both.
There are a lot of recipes to wade through, but the book has a handy index to help you narrow the field based on ingredients you have or a vibe you’re after (I’m coming for you, “Vacation, Tastes Like.”)
I already have a few favorites that fit into surprising areas of my day and my life.
I’ve gotten so out of the routine of having a special drink for myself that it took some effort to get back into it. But I quickly found some new favorites that neatly slotted into different areas of my life.
I pulled together a pitcher of the Star Spangled Spritzer when a mom friend was coming over. This drink—which is gorgeous and packed with fresh fruit, by the way—was perfect for us to sip on while we caught up and watched the kids play. I also like how little ones can enjoy this, too. Plus, there’s fruit you can munch on once you get to the bottom of the glass.
Daytime mule? Don’t mind if I do.
The Blackberry Mule quickly won me over with its moody look and peppy ingredients. I made it while catching up with a friend on a rainy day, and tried it again the next day in the late afternoon when I would usually have a second coffee. The ginger beer was the spicy wake-me-up I needed to power through the rest of my day.
The Positano is a unique NA twist on the Aperol spritz. I sipped on that a few times while making dinner and loved that it felt like I was taking a moment for myself during all the post-work, pre-meal chaos.
I’m also a big fan of The Strawsky Smash. The combination of zero-proof whiskey, strawberries, and mint delivers an earthy-yet-sweet cocktail that’s fun to savor while kicking back with a good book. (It’s also from a bartender at the Sports Bra, the first women’s sports bar in the U.S.!)
The Espresso Notini from the Mocktail Playbook quickly became a caffeinated favorite.
And, for those times when I couldn’t choose between having a coffee or mocktail, I went with the Espresso Notini. This blend of zero-proof tequila, espresso, and agave feels like an espresso martini without the hangover, and offers something a little more than “just” espresso.
Bottom Line: I love knowing that I have the option to create a special drink for myself and my friends, with clear guidance on how to pull it all together. I have big plans to put this recipe book to use while hosting friends this summer, or just stealing a moment for myself.
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
