Checklist · 10 picks · 5 categories
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Mocktail lovers want drinks that feel like a real night out, minus the alcohol. Ritual's tequila alternative is highly recommended by America's Test Kitchen, where it did the best job of replacing its alcoholic counterpart, and Wilfred's is a slightly sweet aperitif with orange and clove notes.
Lyre's Italian Spritz is Taste of Home's best spritz: next to an Aperol Spritz, it was very hard to tell apart. For no-mixing nights, St. Agrestis Phony Negroni and Curious Elixirs No. 2 are both highly recommended by ATK. Fresh lime makes the biggest difference, so the Chef'n juicer and ATK's best muddler are easy add-ons, and the Tovolo is its easiest shaker for a beginner. The SodaStream Terra is ATK's best soda maker for most people, and the splurge, the Breville InFizz Fusion, can carbonate more than water. Every pick is on my mocktail bar list with its source.
Who this is not for. Skip this if they do drink; the gifts for cocktail lovers page has shakers, strainers and a barspoon.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative | budget | $25-50 | zero-proof margaritas and palomas | 2 outlets agree |
| Wilfred's Non-Alcoholic Aperitif | budget | $25-50 | a bittersweet spritz with tonic | 1 outlet |
| Lyre's Italian Spritz | mid | $25-50 | an Aperol-style spritz with zero proof | 1 outlet |
Best zero-proof spiritbudget pick · Bottle
Best for zero-proof margaritas and palomas
Highly recommended by America's Test Kitchen, where it did the best job of replacing its alcoholic counterpart, and Taste of Home's best tequila alternative.
2 outlets agree. America's Test Kitchen highly Recommended tequila alternative. Taste of Home best Tequila (nonalcoholic).
$25-50
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budget pick · Bottle
Best for a bittersweet spritz with tonic
Highly recommended by America's Test Kitchen and one of its top picks: slightly sweet and slightly medicinal, with orange and clove notes.
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen highly Recommended nonalcoholic aperitif.
$25-50
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mid pick · Bottle
Best for an Aperol-style spritz with zero proof
Taste of Home's best spritz: tasted side by side with an Aperol Spritz, it was very hard to tell apart.
1 outlet. Taste of Home best Spritz (nonalcoholic).
$25-50
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Best canned mocktailbudget pick · Ready to drink
Best for a grown-up negroni vibe with no mixing
Highly recommended by America's Test Kitchen and one of its top picks: it got the balance of syrupy sweetness, bracing bitterness and a citrusy finish just right.
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen highly Recommended ready-to-drink cocktail.
$25-50
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mid pick · Ready to drink
Best for something fruity and gingery, no mixing
Highly recommended by America's Test Kitchen: tasters praised its sweet and spice balance and called it complex.
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen highly Recommended ready-to-drink cocktail.
$25-50
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chef'n FreshForce Citrus Juicer | budget | $15-25 | mocktails with fresh lime | 1 outlet |
| Fletcher's Mill Maple Muddler | budget | under $15 | virgin mojitos and smashed berries | 1 outlet |
| Tovolo Stainless Steel 4-in-1 Cocktail Shaker | mid | $25-50 | a first shaker for a beginner | 1 outlet |
Top pickbudget pick · Drawer
Best for mocktails with fresh lime
Fresh lime and lemon juice makes the biggest difference in cocktails. America's Test Kitchen's winning handheld press works fast with little effort.
Heads up. Sized for lemons and limes, not oranges
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning citrus juicer.
$15-25
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budget pick · Drawer
Best for virgin mojitos and smashed berries
America's Test Kitchen's best muddler: an 11-inch maple muddler with a good weight and an easy grip.
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best muddler.
under $15
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mid pick · Compact
Best for a first shaker for a beginner
America's Test Kitchen's easiest shaker for a beginner bartender.
Heads up. Not the best-looking, and the silicone top faded a little after 10 washes
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen easiest-to-use cocktail shaker.
$25-50
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Best soda makermid pick · Countertop
Best for endless sparkling water for spritzers
America's Test Kitchen's best soda maker for most people: easy to use, just press the large button.
Heads up. Carbonates water only, not other liquids
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best for Most People soda maker.
$50-100
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Best soda makersplurge pick · Countertop
Best for fizzing more than plain water
America's Test Kitchen's upgrade pick soda maker: handsome, durable and easy to use, and it can carbonate liquids besides water.
Heads up. Its plastic bottle has to be hand-washed, per America's Test Kitchen
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen upgrade Pick soda maker.
$200-300
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
A zero-proof spirit or a ready-to-drink mocktail. Ritual's tequila alternative is highly recommended by America's Test Kitchen and is Taste of Home's best tequila alternative, and the St. Agrestis Phony Negroni balances sweet, bitter and citrus with no mixing.
Yes, for spritzers on demand. The SodaStream Terra is America's Test Kitchen's best soda maker for most people, with one-button use and no outlet needed, but it carbonates water only. The Breville InFizz Fusion, ATK's upgrade pick, can fizz other liquids too.
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