A martini mocktail? You may as well have asked if pigs can fly. Only in this universe, the pigs can fly, and you can enjoy a virgin martini, be it a riff on a traditional gin martini or something as modern as a cosmo. Whatever way you want a chilled 'tini, there's a nonalcoholic way to make it happen. Let's get to it!
Nonalcoholic Vodka Martini
You'll use nonalcoholic vodka and nonalcoholic vermouth to stir your way to a martini that'll leave you starry-eyed. If you really want to mimic the vodka martinis of yesteryear, add two to three drops of orange bitters. Another alternative is to infuse water with potatoes, but while this doesn't entirely yield a vodka flavor, you can enjoy a nonalcoholic potato vodka martini.
Ingredients
- 2½ ounces nonalcoholic vodka
- ¾ ounce nonalcoholic dry vermouth
- Ice
- Three olives for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini or coupe glass.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, nonalcoholic vodka, and nonalcoholic dry vermouth.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with olives.
Nonalcoholic Gin Martini
There's a decent amount of nonalcoholic gin on the market these days. A word of caution, these carry bolder juniper and pine notes than traditional alcoholic gin. If you find this to be the case, add a splash or two of water to balance those flavors.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces nonalcoholic gin
- ¾ ounce nonalcoholic dry vermouth
- Ice
- Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, nonalcoholic gin, and nonalcoholic vermouth.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
Gin Martini Mocktail
With some fresh rosemary, you're on your way to a rosemary infusion that'll closely mimic gin flavors. A martini could only dream of being this hydrating.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rosemary-infused water (omit the citrus)
- 1-2 dashes orange bitters
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, rosemary water, and orange bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lemon ribbon.
What About Nonalcoholic Dirty Martinis or Gibson Martinis?
The same rule applies to those classic drinks. Simply add up to a half ounce of olive brine for a dirty martini mocktail or swap in some cocktail onions as garnish to make a savory Gibson.
Appletini Mocktail
Yes, yes, this appletini requires a little more work than a traditional appletini, but here's the thing: these ingredients mean you have complete control over the final result. Win-win? Absolutely.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce apple juice
- 1 ounce green apple simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Green apple slices for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add apple juice, green apple simple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with pierced green apple slices, fanned out.
Nonalcoholic Chocolate Martini Mocktail
Chocolate milk, dairy or dairy-free, the choice is yours. A hearty spray of whipped cream and a few other ingredients will make you a virgin chocolate martini you won't regret.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces chocolate milk
- ½ cup whipped cream
- Ice
- Chocolate syrup for drizzle
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In the chilled glass, drizzle chocolate syrup.
- In a cocktail shaker, add chocolate milk and whipped cream.
- Shake until whipped cream dissolves.
- Add ice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the prepared glass.
Nonalcoholic French Martini Mocktail
With or without a nonalcoholic vodka, the virgin French martini has all the bubbles (because isn't that the best version) but none of the booze. There are a few ways to build this, so think of it as a choose-your-own-adventure, with none of the combinations leading to a sad ending.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces nonalcoholic vodka, optional
- 1½ ounces pineapple juice
- ½ ounce raspberry syrup OR raspberry simple syrup
- Ice
- Top off with club soda OR nonalcoholic sparkling white wine
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, pineapple juice, and raspberry syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
Virgin Lemon Drop Martini
With or without a nonalcoholic vodka, your lemon drop martini mocktail will rival even the best of the traditional. Why? Because lemon is a star on its own, it takes the crown when made into a lemony mocktail. As it should. Not enough lemon for you? Use lemon simple syrup instead! Boom.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and sugar for rim
- 1½ ounces nonalcoholic vodka, optional
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- ¾ ounce nonalcoholic orange liqueur, optional
- Ice
- Lemon club soda to top off
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the prepared glass.
- Top off with lemon club soda.
- Garnish with a lemon ribbon.
Cosmo Mocktail
Grab your laptop, prepare your doc, and settle in to write with a faux cosmo cocktail in hand. Even if that writing is actually scrolling social media. Reading, writing, social redia - it's all the same.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces nonalcoholic vodka, optional
- ¾ ounces cranberry juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice OR nonalcoholic orange liqueur
- Ice
- Lemon-lime soda to top off
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cranberry juice, lime juice, and orange juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Top off with lemon-lime soda.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Nonalcoholic Espresso Martini Mocktail
This time, you will get a little buzz from a mocktail martini - a coffee buzz, that is. Whether you include nonalcoholic vodka or nonalcoholic bourbon in this espresso martini is up to you.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces nonalcoholic vodka or bourbon, optional
- ¾ ounce freshly brewed espresso
- ½ ounce milk or creamer
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes chocolate bitters
- Ice
- Three whole coffee beans for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, espresso, milk, simple syrup, and chocolate bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with three whole coffee beans.
Meet the Modern Mocktail Martini
Do the martini tango without the ibuprofen and canceled plans. Whether you take the zero-proof spirits route or work magic with your kitchen ingredients, there's no wrong way to take a dip with a thoroughly modern martini: the nonalcoholic martini.
