An old-fashioned? Without booze? In this economy? Aw, yeah. And it is more than doable. You can stir your way to a Don Draper evening with nonalcoholic bourbon, or you can look to black tea to get that Mad Men feeling. Don't count out old-fashioned riffs, either. The old-fashioned mocktail world is bigger than you think.
Virgin Old-Fashioned
Chilled black tea, or even Earl Grey, creates a tasty old-fashioned mocktail flavor without the buzz of bourbon or the kick one of these gives on an empty stomach. If you're sensitive to caffeine like, ahem, some of us, use a decaf black or Earl Grey tea.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces chilled black tea
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 2-4 dashes orange bitters
- 1-3 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, black tea, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an orange slice.
Zero-Proof Old-Fashioned Mocktail
You know that bottle of nonalcoholic bourbon, or even whiskey, that you've glanced at out of the corner of your eye while you browse the liquor store? Or even the one your social media feed seem to be suggesting relentlessly? Buy it. And then, make an old-fashioned that'll make you feel like a 1970s exec on a Wednesday afternoon. Without all the trouble.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces nonalcoholic bourbon or whiskey
- ¾ ounces simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes orange bitters
- 1-2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Orange twist for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, nonalcoholic bourbon, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
I've made cocktails with the Lyre's zero-proof American malt, and it's delicious in an old-fashioned. For advice on working with nonalcoholic liquors in cocktails, check out my helpful tips for making drinks using zero-proof spirits.
Nonalcoholic Wisconsin Brandy Old-Fashioned Mocktail
Brandy is what sets the Wisconsin old-fashioned apart from other old-fashioneds, so all you need for this is, you guessed it, nonalcoholic brandy.
Ingredients
- 1 sugar cube, white or brown
- 3-4 dashes aromatic bitters
- 2 orange slices
- 2 cherries
- 2 ounces nonalcoholic brandy
- Splash of club soda
- Ice
- Orange slice and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, muddle sugar cube, bitters, orange slice, and cherries together.
- Add ice and brandy.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with a splash of club soda.
- Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.
Nonalcoholic Maple Old-Fashioned Mocktail
A splash of maple syrup turns your old-fashioned mocktail into a must-drink-every-day-during-the-fall mocktail. Doesn't sound like much of a problem, though.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces nonalcoholic bourbon OR chilled black tea
- ¾ ounce maple syrup
- 2-3 dashes cinnamon bitters
- 1-2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, nonalcoholic bourbon, maple syrup, cinnamon bitters, and aromatic bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an orange peel.
Virgin Autumn Apple Old-Fashioned
Yes, this recipe does call for the gold known as apple butter, but it yields a mocktail that'll be more than worth the sacrifice. And isn't life about sacrifices? Too much of a sacrifice? Understandable. Add an ounce of apple cider instead.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces chilled black tea OR nonalcoholic bourbon
- ½-1 tablespoon apple butter
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 3-4 dashes orange bitters
- 1-3 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Apple slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, black tea, apple butter, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Shake until apple butter is well mixed.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an apple slice pierced with a cocktail skewer.
Spiced Old-Fashioned Mocktail
Cinnamon simple syrup lifts this old-fashioned mocktail riff to something you can easily see yourself sipping around the holidays, in Janaury when you want to give your liver a break, or on a summer afternoon. There's no bad time, is what I'm saying.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces chilled black tea OR nonalcoholic bourbon
- ¾ ounce cinnamon simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes cherry bitters
- 1-2 dashes orange bitters
- Ice
- Orange twist for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, chilled black tea, cinnamon simple syrup, cherry bitters, and orange bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
A Modern Mocktail Miracle: The Virgin Old-Fashioned
Just when you think there's nothing new left to explore in the cocktial world, the old-fashioned mocktail comes along to sweep you off your feet. Giving a boozy drink a friendly makeover turns it into a mocktail you enjoy several of, and all without a nap required afterwards.
