18 Drinks That Don’t Taste Like Alcohol (2023 Edition)
Last Updated on November 5, 2023 by Lydia Martin
Not everyone likes the taste of alcohol, so preparing fruity and refreshing mixed drinks can do the trick.
If you plan to throw a house party or some friends will come over, we tried a list of drinks that don’t taste like alcohol but are packed with a punch.
To see if this is true, we decided to craft them to check if these drinks can fool our taste buds into thinking we’re not drinking alcohol at all.
Top 18 Drinks That Don’t Taste Like Straight Alcohol
1. Spritzer
Ingredients: White wine, club soda, fresh mint, and fresh blackberries
We recreated a Spritzer cocktail recipe, and it has received the most votes because it doesn’t taste like alcohol, even if there is white wine.
In German, Spritz means to splash, which makes this refreshing drink befitting its name. The soda water and lemon juice make this drink that doesn’t taste like alcohol.
“Fizz and flavor, that’s what a Spritzer is all about.”
-Liquor Laboratory
With 8% alcohol content, this is one of the most refreshing alcoholic beverages. It has the crispiness and bubbliness of wine and the tang of soda.
2. Cosmopolitan
Ingredients: Lemon vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and juice (lime)
Cosmopolitan is one of the most sophisticated drinks ever created. Neal Murray, a bartender, claimed to have discovered this classic cocktail in 1975.
He said this was a version of Kamikaze, but he added cranberry juice to the usual ingredients. The taste of lime juice provides the tang, yet this refreshing concoction is perfectly balanced.
It is as refreshing as Moscow Mule with mint leaves, and we can enjoy the drink without tasting alcohol.
3. Screwdriver
Ingredients: Vodka and orange juice
Screwdriver is one of the most straightforward alcoholic drinks created. Screwdriver ingredients are very simple – juice (orange) and vodka.
It is one of the cocktails [1] believed to have originated in China and Turkey during the Second World War.
It is sweet, refreshing, citrusy, and practically has all the flavors you will enjoy, especially since it does not taste boozy at all.
4. Fuzzy Navel
Ingredients: Peach schnapps and orange juice
Fuzzy Navel contains fruit juice and peach schnapps so it is refreshing and covers up the traces of the liquor.
This yellow-colored beverage is both appealing to the eyes and the palate. This subtle cocktail only contains around 6% ABV, making this citrusy and peachy cocktail easy to drink on hot summer days.
Here are some non-alcoholic drinks to order at a bar.
5. Mimosa
Ingredients: Champagne and orange juice
Mimosas are famous as brunch cocktails because of their refreshing taste. Some tales say this originated in the Ritz Hotel in Paris in 1925.
This drink tastes heavenly with the crisp and bubbly champagne and the fresh savor of citrus.
First-time drinkers will appreciate this beverage as it is more like a fruit punch than a cocktail. It is one of the first drinks we recommend for beginners because they will not have difficulty drinking it.
But how many Mimosas will get you drunk?
6. Caipirinha
Ingredients: Cachaça, lime, and brown sugar
Caipirinha is a refreshing alcoholic beverage that started in Piracicaba, a place in São Paulo, in the 1975 century. These drinks are served during ‘high standard’ get-togethers.
This festive drink is high in vitamin C [2] and has a sweet lime taste with an earthy aftertaste. So, how do you drink alcohol without tasting it?
7. Vodka Cranberry
Ingredients: Vodka and cranberry juice
It is one of the alcoholic drinks that originated in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where cranberries are grown.
It appears like red wine but has a fresh cranberry smell. Like Moscow Mule, it is a refreshing summer cocktail without too much liquor so that you can enjoy it anywhere.
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8. Pink Gin Fizz
Ingredients: Grapefruit, soda water, ice, lemon juice, and grenadine
Pink Gins are made with other methods, such as rose petals, rhubarb, berries, or grape skins. It is far from Ramos Gin Fizz as no eggs are used in this concoction.
Also, Ramos Gin Fizz has more alcohol than the 8.67% ABV of Pink Gin Fizz.
The blend of pineapple, lemon, and other tropical fruits will greet your nose when this drink is handed to you.
The balanced sweetness and tartness will make you enjoy this, even under the blazing sun.
9. Pina Colada
Ingredients: Pineapple juice, coconut cream, white rum
Pina Colada is an all-time favorite, and even the pirates loved it.
According to stories, the first mixes of this cocktail were served by a Puerto Rican pirate named Roberto Cofresí.
He served his men with alcoholic drinks known as pina colada ingredients – pineapple, coconut, and white rum.
Fast forward to this modern-day, it is still a full-fledged cocktail with a creamier version.
Others put ginger ale to add flavor to these alcoholic drinks before topping them with pineapple slices.
10. Malibu Rum With Pineapple Juice
Ingredients: Malibu Rum and pineapple juice
Malibu Rum with pineapple juice is a variation of Pina Colada. The fruit rum was initially made for bartenders to make their mixes easier.
Adding ginger beer, orgeat syrup, a drop of vanilla extract [3], and topping with fresh cream makes it extra special.
“Everyone enjoys sweet floral scents in the summer and complex unique herb flavors for the fall.”
– Greg Fournier, Beverage Director of the Harbor View Hotel
You won’t be experiencing the bitter smack of alcohol with its sweet, fruity flavors.
11. Sex On The Beach
Ingredients: Peach schnapps, cranberry juice, vodka, cherries
Sex On The Beach has a lot of stories of origin, but the one that sticks the most is Ted Pizio’s, a bartender in Florida during the 80s.
Pizio concocted a drink that aimed to highlight peach schnapps.
The Sex On The Beach ingredients include vodka, juice (orange), cranberry, and peach schnapps.
This classic party drink is a good choice as the first alcoholic drink for inexperienced drinkers.
12. Lemonade Vodka Gin
Ingredients: Gin, lemon, fresh lemonade
The refreshing flavors of lemonade-vodka gin make it appealing to drinkers. The sweet and the sour taste is fascinating, masquerading the taste of vodka and gin.
The color is also very vibrant, making it perfect for pool parties or beach vacations.
These alcoholic drinks may have high ABV, but the summery notes make them enjoyable.
13. Kamikaze
Ingredients: Vodka, triple sec, juice (lime)
Kamikaze, believed to have originated in Tokyo, Japan, has tangy undertones that hide the alcoholic taste – thanks to lime juice.
It usually has 25% ABV or less, depending on how much lime juice and other ingredients are added to the mix. Its powerful acidic zing makes it interesting.
14. Mai Tai
Ingredients: Orange, mint, white rum, dark rum, lime juice
Mai Tai has complex flavors in one glass. It mainly has a citrusy taste but is balanced with orgeat syrup and dark rum.
Adding triple sec, simple syrup, or sugarcane extract can easily hide the musky tonic taste of alcohol in Mai Tai.
15. Strawberry Margaritas
Ingredients: Triple sec, tequila, fresh strawberries, and lime juice
Strawberry Margarita is a crowd favorite, with the first recipe released on Esquire in 1953.
The taste of tequila is hidden in this classic cocktail’s sweet, sour, and floral flavors.
It only needs just a few ingredients like triple sec, half a lime, strawberry puree, and an ounce of tequila. This drink is more of an adult lemonade.
When added with strawberry slices, it becomes perfect during warm summer nights.
16. Tequila Sunrise
Ingredients: Orange juice, cherry, orange slice, grenadine
Tequila Sunrise is our go-to cocktail order at the bar and tastes better than it looks.
The mixture of orange juice, grenadine, tequila, and orange slice can bring out your wild side without you noticing it, so be careful.
We also have non-alcoholic tequilas here if you want to avoid a nasty hangover.
17. Mojito
Ingredients: Club soda, simple syrup, ice, white rum, lime juice
Mojito is a refreshing cocktail that can trick your tastebuds because of its gentle and delectable tasting notes.
The lime juice, soda water, mint, and sugar did a great job of masking the strong flavor of white rum.
The lemon and mint flavors dominate the cocktail taste, so it can be a great option to drink alcohol without tasting it.
18. Apple Juice Cocktail
Ingredients: Apple schnapps, juice (cranberry), and whiskey
The Apple Juice cocktail can be a great choice if you want a sneaky drink that will give you a nice buzz.
The cocktail is easy to make because all you need to do is combine apple schnapps, cranberry juice, and whiskey; the result is mild and fruity.
The whiskey will give a nice kick to the drink, but the juice and schnapps balance out the drink’s flavor profile.
FAQs
What is a good drink for someone who doesn’t drink alcohol?
The Spritzer is a good drink for someone who doesn’t drink alcohol.
The alcoholic drink has a citrusy taste that masks the taste of alcoholic drinks very well.
Should beginners start with drinks that don’t taste like alcohol?
Yes, beginners should start with drinks that don’t taste like alcohol to acquaint themselves with the strong flavors of alcohol.
What can you mix with alcohol to not taste it?
You can mix alcohol with fruit juice like orange, pineapple, and lemon to mask the bitterness.
Also, it can make your alcoholic drink refreshing, sweet, and fruity.
Drink & Enjoy Without The Taste of Alcohol
Consuming drinks that don’t taste like alcohol is an excellent way to enjoy the night out without the bitter flavor of wine or the harshness of a distilled spirit [4].
Liquor served straight can be too challenging to drink, especially for beginners. Spritzer is a drink that hides the liquor but bursts with refreshing flavors.
Also, Mimosa, Fuzzy Navel, Screwdriver, and Cosmopolitan are fruity and refreshing cocktails that you can enjoy without struggling with the taste of alcohol.
References:
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https://www.businessinsider.com/the-origin-story-of-the-screwdriver-cocktail-2015-3
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https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-benefits-of-vitamin-
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https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vanilla-extract-vs-essence
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https://www.britannica.com/topic/distilled-spirit
