Our Favourite Grab-and-Go Booze-Free Drinks for Holiday Celebrations and Beyond

Alcohol-Free Wine

Fun fact: In 1869, Thomas Bramwell Welch pasteurized unfermented Concord grape juice as a non-intoxicating communion “wine” for his Methodist church—and launched the processed fruit juice industry. These days, vintners produce sophisticated wines stripped of alcohol, and proxies that emulate your favourite pinots and chardonnays.

• Edenvale The Expedition Series Sparkling Cuvee, $28, sansorium.com
• Oddbird Domaine de la Prade Chardonnay, $24, soberlicious.ca
• Proxies Club variety 6-pack, $178, drinkproxies.com
• Benjamin Bridge Piquette Zero Cans, 12-pack, $36, benjaminbridge.com
• Thomson & Scott Noughty Organic Sparkling Rosé, $24.50, soberlicious.ca

(Learn more about Acid League—the Canadian company making alcohol-free wines even wine geeks love.)

Citrus Mocktails

These citrusy sparklers bring bright sunshine flavour to short, wintry days. Editor Pick: This paloma imposter by Edna’s Cocktails is made with zero-proof tequila extract, grapefruit and lime for a drink that packs a strong punch.

• Bee’s Knees 4-pack, $22, drinkwildfolk.com
• Barbet Love Bite Sparkling Water, $3, well.ca
• Geez Louise Grapefruit Basil 12-pack, $40, drinkgeezlouise.com
• Edna’s Cocktails Paloma 4-pack, $17, ednascocktails.com

(Looking for others? Here are 10 more canned mocktails for alcohol-free socializing this season.)

Non-Alcoholic Beer

Whether you prefer a crisp lager or a hoppy IPA, Canadian craft beer (and cider!) companies take equal care with their non-alcoholic offerings, right down to the artfully designed cans.

• BSA Non-Alcoholic Beer Blonde Pilsner, $4, well.ca
• Sober Carpenter Craft Cider, $3, well.ca
• Partake Red, 12-Pack, $30, drinkpartake.com
• Bellwoods Brewery Non-Alcoholic Jelly King Dry Hopped Sour, $4.40, bellwoodsbrewery.com

(For more, here are other non-alcoholic beers you’ll love.)

Herbal Mocktails

These herbaceous and fizzy beverages go beyond basil, with botanical notes like nettle, rosemary, elderberries and spruce tips. Editor Pick: Quebec-made HealTea Nettle Rosemary soda is a slightly sweetened iced tea that has a refreshingly complex herbal flavour.

• Boreal Botanical Reishi Tonic, $4.30, well.ca
• HealTea Nettle Rosemary Sparkling Beverage, $4, well.ca
• Champ Libre Sparkling Water Thyme & Elderflower, $3, well.ca

Photography: Suech and Beck | Styling: Franny Alder

(Mock) Gin & Tonic

Many bartenders will say that a proper G&T comes down to the tonic water. If you’re after something pleasingly sharp, bitter and sweet, these gin-free cans are for you. Editor Pick: HP’s mock G&T has notes of rose, violet and cucumber for a drink that’s fresh, floral and just the right side of bitter.

• HP Floral Gin & Tonic 12-pack, $45, clearsips.ca
•  Clever Mocktails G & Tonic Premium Mocktail, $3, well.ca

Spicy Mocktails

Craving a bit of a kick? These drinks make ginger and spices the star. And if clam juice is your thing, then an extra spicy Caesar with ancho, habanero, cayenne, tabasco, and fire-roasted jalapeño seriously brings the heat.

• Cawston Press Ginger Beer, $3.50, well.ca
• Walter Caesar Extra Spicy Craft Caesar Mix, $9.50, well.ca
• Clever Mocktails Moscow Mule Premium Mocktail, $3, well.ca
• Harvey and Vern’s Olde Fashioned Ginger Beer, $3, well.ca
• Barbet Wild Card Sparkling Water, $3.30, well.ca

(We included flavoured sparkling waters because we say they’re just as delicious as mocktails, and they’re actually good for you.)

Espresso Martini

Like everything Y2K, espresso martinis are enjoying a return to the spotlight, and we love this brewed-in-Canada, crack-and-go version by Two Bears. To serve, mix half a can with ice (each can makes two drinks), strain into a martini glass and top with a coffee bean or shaved chocolate.

• Two Bears Espresso Martini 4-pack, $16, clearsips.ca

Next: Why I’m Trading Dry January for “Damp” 2023