We're a liquor store, so this is a short shelf, and we'd rather say that plainly than pretend otherwise. What's here is the non-alcoholic side of what we sell: an aperitif built to stand in for a drink, and the mixers that do the heavy lifting in a margarita, a whiskey sour or an Old Fashioned. Used well, they make a drink that feels like a drink, which is most of what people miss when they stop drinking for a night or a month. Everything here is under $25.
Non-Alcoholic, Alcohol-Free and 0.0%
The labels sound interchangeable and they aren't. In the US, "non-alcoholic" generally means less than 0.5% alcohol by volume, a trace amount comparable to what some fruit juices naturally contain. "Alcohol-free" or "0.0%" means none at all.
For most people cutting back, the difference doesn't matter. If you need to avoid alcohol completely, whether for health, pregnancy or any other reason, look for 0.0% or alcohol-free on the label and skip anything that only says non-alcoholic. The same goes for cocktail bitters, which are made at high proof. A few dashes adds only a trace, but it's not zero.
Dry January
Dry January started as a public health campaign in the UK in 2013 and has turned into one of the most widely observed resolutions in the US. A month off is long enough to notice the difference in sleep and in your weekly spending, and short enough to actually finish. The hard part usually isn't the alcohol. It's the habit around it: the drink after work, something in your hand at dinner, a glass to raise when everyone else does.
That's the part worth planning for. A few practical things make the month easier.
Keep the ritual. Use the same glass you'd use for a cocktail, fill it with proper ice, and add a garnish. A drink built with care in a heavy rocks glass feels like the evening drink you're replacing. A can of soda doesn't.
Have something bitter. Most soft drinks are sweet, and sweetness gets tiresome fast. An aperitif like De Soi Golden Hour brings the bitter, herbal edge that makes a drink feel adult. Pour it over ice and top it with soda water and an orange slice.
Use the mixers on their own. Cocktail mixers are built to be combined with spirit, so they're sweet and concentrated straight from the bottle. Lengthen them instead. Stirrings Simple Margarita over ice with sparkling water, fresh lime and a salted rim gets close to the real thing. Stirrings Sour Mix with soda and a cherry makes a decent alcohol-free sour.
Stock up before January starts. The first weekend is when most people give up, and it's much easier to hold out with something good already in the fridge. A couple of bottles of mixer and a bag of limes costs less than one round at a bar.
What We Carry
De Soi Golden Hour. A non-alcoholic aperitif with citrus and bitter herbal notes, made to be drunk on its own over ice or as the base of a spritz. The closest thing on this page to a drink rather than an ingredient.
Stirrings Simple mixers. The Margarita, Old Fashioned and Sour Mix are all in stock. They're designed to save you squeezing fruit and making syrup, and they work in either direction: with a spirit for a quick cocktail, or lengthened with soda when you're not drinking.
Mr & Mrs T Whiskey Sour. The classic bar-rail sour mix in a large bottle, for anyone mixing for a crowd where some people are drinking and some aren't.
For more mixers, syrups and bitters, see our mixers collection.
Non-Alcoholic FAQ
What does non-alcoholic mean on a label?
In the US, non-alcoholic generally means less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. Alcohol-free or 0.0% means it contains no alcohol at all.
What can I drink during Dry January?
Non-alcoholic aperitifs over ice with soda, cocktail mixers lengthened with sparkling water, or sparkling water with bitters and citrus. Keeping the glass, ice and garnish helps it feel like a real drink.
Can you make a non-alcoholic margarita?
Yes. Pour a margarita mix over ice, top with sparkling water and fresh lime, and add a salted rim. Mixers are concentrated, so lengthening them keeps the drink from being too sweet.
Are cocktail mixers non-alcoholic?
Most are. They're made to be combined with spirits but contain no alcohol themselves. Bitters are the exception, since they're made at high proof, even though a few dashes adds very little.
When did Dry January start?
It began as a UK public health campaign in 2013 and has since spread widely in the US. The idea is a full month without alcohol after the holidays.
Do non-alcoholic orders need a signature?
Orders that include any alcohol need someone 21 or older to sign at delivery. Shipping availability for your address is confirmed at checkout.