The holidays are here, and it’s time to cheer! Craft alcohol-free recipes are having a moment, and we are here for it. We’ve spent too many years sipping on lemon water or coffee at holiday gatherings. Hello! We’re sober, but we are far from boring. Please enjoy our curated list of zero-proof recipe books and spirits from some of our favorites.
TRIGGER WARNING: People in early sobriety may want to proceed with caution. Please hydrate responsibly … because drunk never looks good.
Sober Curator Fun Fact: This post was originally published in November 2020 and has been updated to reflect items previously included that are no longer available.
Gift Idea #1: Zero, an alcohol-free recipe book
It’s not uncommon for some guests to refrain – for any number of reasons – from consuming alcohol. Because the creators of Zero want these guests to enjoy the same high-level experience and enjoy careful consideration as anyone else who may visit their locations, they offer thoughtfully created non-alcoholic options at each of their restaurants. Rather than relying on obvious offerings like sodas, juices, or water, they work to create beverage options that are more complex and surprising.
Sober Curator Pro Tip: Our CEO and Founder, Alysse B., cozied up to her fireplace with the Reserve Edition of Zero a few weeks ago. Yes, the book is absolutely stunning. The photography is truly a work of art, as we imagine are most of the recipes in this book. If you are a newbie to creating craft alcohol-free recipes, this may not be the book for you. The recipes are complex, and you’ll want to make sure you have all of the right barware accessories and ingredients.
Gift Idea #2: Curious Elixirs, Shaken Not Slurred
0% Alcohol. 100% Delicious. Curious Elixirs are booze-free craft cocktails for everyone. Handcrafted in the Hudson River Valley, they use only the best ingredients and nothing artificial. Their cocktails combine ONLY organic juices, spices, herbs, roots, bark, and botanicals.
Plus, let’s be honest. They had us at their tagline, “Shaken Not Slurred.” These alcohol-free cocktails are crafted for complexity. They are brewed without booze for maximum flavor and lightly carbonated to make your mouth dance. Each flavor is a collaboration between their team of world-class bartenders, herbalists, and food scientists.
Gift Idea #3: Ginger Beer Making Kit with Copper Mule Mugs
As seen on Uncommon Goods (one of our favorite gift-giving sites), this fun Bootleg Botanical Ginger mule-making kit! Spice up your alcohol-free Moscow Mule by making one of its essential ingredients—ginger beer—from scratch. With this kit, you can ferment one gallon of piquant ginger beer from all-organic ingredients in about a week’s time. It comes packaged in an embroidered mesh bag for easy brewing, and the standard soda is non-alcoholic.
Trigger Warning: You can also make a spiked version, so gift this one responsibly. The brew’s final ABV ranges from 0 -10%, depending on your desired flavor profile. Once your mixer is ready, whip up a round of mocktails (the kit makes enough for 32) and pour them into the antique-finished copper mugs with brass handles. The natural interiors will age with each use, giving the mugs a unique vintage quality with time. The kit is also available straight up—without the mugs.
Gift Idea #4: TOST Beverages, be part of the moment!
Be part of the moment! With TOST Beverages, you will enjoy a non-alcoholic, dry, sparkling refresher perfect for every occasion. TOST is the ideal gift to take with you to any celebration you may be attending. It’s also the perfect bottle to enjoy for a quiet night at home when you are in the mood to feel a little fancy.
Sober Curator Pro Tip: Warning! This baby will blow when you open it, so make sure to open it over your sink or outside unless you want the celebration to soak up the front of your shirt.
TOST #ADDTOCART
Gift Idea #5: Good Drinks: Alcohol-Free Recipes for When You’re Not Drinking for Whatever Reason
Good Drinks is a serious and stylish book about sophisticated nonalcoholic beverages by Julia Bainbridge, a former Bon Appétit editor and James Beard Award nominee.
Gift Idea #6: Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirits, Opt Out Without Being Left Out
Many years in the making, Lyre’s exquisite range of lovingly crafted non-alcoholic spirits was borne from a quest to make the impossible possible – giving the freedom to drink your drink your way. Not just provide an alternative to those who don’t wish to imbibe alcohol but ensure everyone can enjoy the joy and merriment of a soiree or shindig.
Are you ready to drool over these holiday recipes?
Gift Idea #7: Alcohol-Free Cocktails – by Catherine Salway & Andrea Waters
Alcohol-free drinks have never been more glamorous thanks to this stunning new book by Catherine Salway and Andrea Waters, the brains behind Redemption, one of London’s healthiest bar restaurant brands.
Redemption Bar will introduce you to a refreshing new take on alcohol-free drinks and innovative, healthy bar snacks. Learn how to make delicious, guilt-free cocktails and tasty canapés that dazzle your guests and delight your taste buds.
Packed with nutritious recipes, this alcohol-free cocktail recipe book has something for everyone, with various vegan, low-sugar, and gluten-free recipes available. And the best part? You can get it at Walmart.
Gift Idea #8: Kolibri, tailored by you
We learned a while ago that the UK knows what’s up regarding the alcohol-free beverage movement. Who are we kidding? They probably started it. Kolibri is a new brand from the UK, and we discovered we could get it here in the States thanks to Amazon.
Kolibri Drinks are lightly sparkling botanical infusions that are entirely sugar-free until you enhance the flavors by adding the delicious blend of golden agave from the cap. Not only are the bottles beautifully designed, but the combination of flavors will keep your taste buds entertained.
Gift Idea #9: Edible Glitter
Yes, you read that correctly. We want you to drink glitter. Make any moment memorable with all-natural vegan glitter for mocktails and zero-proof recipes. This fun and easy trick will surely surprise and delight all ages at your festival holiday gatherings.
Gift Idea #10: Dry Secco and Bubbly Rose by Gruvi
There’s a reason the Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Dry Secco keeps selling out. Sip on the stars with their bubbly, non-alcoholic prosecco (now called Dry Secco). First, they start with handpicked and blended wine grapes to create their fantastic version of champagne. Their wine is semi-dry, with floral and tart endnotes. Each serving is 0.0% alcohol, 10 ounces, and boasts only 50 calories. Did we mention it’s completely free of gluten and sulfates? Cheers to that! Sober Curator Pro Tip: If it’s sold out when you go to their site, check back frequently; they are pretty good at replenishing their inventory.
Meet the newest addition to their core lineup, Grüvi Bubbly Rosé. Their rose is fruity on the nose and pours a light pink hue. (Maybe this is an excellent place to add that edible glitter we told you about from Uncommon Goods!) Tiny, effervescent bubbles compliment notes of tart green apple alongside fresh strawberry. This refreshing wine is gluten-free, alcohol-free, and only 60 calories per bottle. If you like a bit of sweet and tart, this drink is for you!
And that’s not all! Gruvi has a full line-up for NA Beers. How Gruvi is that?
Gift Idea #11: Glass Straws – We’re OBSESSED
Save the turtles and throw out those plastic straws! We don’t really care for paper or aluminum straws, either. Sipping sober will still be fun when you use these beautiful glass reusable straws.
Gift Idea #12: Soda Can + Bottle Opener
This is the perfect gift for the person on your list who loves ready-to-drink beverages. These days, the designs on cans can be so pleasing to the eye, why not pop the top, add a glass straw, and garnish for your party on the go!
ICYMI – so far, we’ve published three themed gift guide options in our 12 sober days of gift-giving, and you can check them out below.
- Advent Calendars: 12 Advent Calendars curated for those unique and quirky people in your life.
- Recovery Gifts: 12 Runway-worthy recovery gifts curated for people in recovery from alcohol or drug misuse.
- Give Art Therapy: 12 artsy gift items for the sober people in your life who love to keep their hands busy creating fun projects.
- Selfie Care: 12 selfie care gift items for sober people who need to slow their roll and have some good selfie care downtime.
- Alcohol-Free Barware: 12 barware gift items for the sober people in your life who love to have fun making and mixing mocktails.
- Give Entertainment: 12 entertaining gift items for that sober person in your life who still likes to have fun.
- Ice Ice Baby: 12 ice molds for sober people who want to have fun with zero-proof beverages.
- Keep it Glassy: 12 glassware items for that sober mocktail-maker in your life!
- Give Books: 12 curated recovery books to gift this year to that sober reader (it’s ok if that’s you).
A Disco Ball is Hundreds of Pieces of Broken Glass, Put Together to Make a Magical Ball of Light. You are NOT Broken, Friend. You are a DISCO BALL!
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
