This lineup of alcohol-free drinks\u2014okay, fine,\u00a0mocktail<\/em>\u00a0recipes\u2014offers a vibrant, inventive way to craft festive zero-proof beverages. The dull old standards like cranberry and apple juice, iced tea (though, to be fair,\u00a0agua de jamaica<\/a>\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0worth ordering a pound of dried hibiscus for), and even\u00a0bitters and soda<\/a>\u00a0are out; these next-level nonalcoholic drink recipes are in.<\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s talk about nomenclature for a moment. Bartender Julia Momos\u00e9 advocates removing the word \u201cmocktail\u201d from our lexicon, arguing that \u201cspiritfree<\/a>\u201d is \u201cmore befitting the care and skill that goes into creating these beverages.\u201d<\/p>\n Since then, there have been many hot takes and think pieces on the topic, as well as awkward attempts at coming up with something new. (Writer Camper English\u00a0has been cataloging them<\/a>.) Then, earlier this year, cocktail book author John deBary suggested\u00a0calling off the whole \u201cmocktail\u201d cancellation<\/a>\u00a0and moving on. So that\u2019s what we\u2019re going to do\u2014but we agree that \u201cvirgin\u201d is, as deBary so eloquently put it, \u201cweird.\u201d Maybe you\u2019ve seen recipes for\u00a0virgin pi\u00f1a coladas<\/a>\u00a0(or margaritas or mojitos or sangrias) trending elsewhere, but you won\u2019t find any here. And that\u2019s that on that.<\/p>\n On to the drinks themselves, because our best mocktail recipes are delicious, thoroughly adult, and a serious upgrade from what you\u2019re used to thinking of as a nonalcoholic alternative<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n While bitterness can be hard to find in mixed drinks absent of spirits or liqueurs, this mocktail recipe achieves balanced flavor through grapefruit juice and salty preserved lemon pur\u00e9e (made from\u00a0whole preserved lemons<\/a>, rind, flesh, and all). The salt also keeps things from tilting into soda territory.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n This version of aam panna, a classic Indian summer drink, swaps green mangoes for a pantry staple: jarred applesauce<\/a>. You must drink it to believe it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
![\"recipes](\"https:\/\/assets.bonappetit.com\/photos\/62d1e267d73eb6e2973f6747\/master\/w_1024%2Cc_limit\/0715-salty-grapefruit-refresher-recipe-lede.jpg\" "\\"recipes\\"")
<\/picture><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>Recipes Salty Grapefruit Refresher<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"recipes](\"https:\/\/assets.bonappetit.com\/photos\/6282c1e361d6db07d2b1a6d3\/master\/w_1024%2Cc_limit\/Almost-Aam-Panna-Recipe.png\" "\\"recipes\\"")
<\/picture><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>Recipes Almost Aam Panna<\/span><\/h2>\n