Try Mixing Up A Zero-Proof Wine Cocktail To Toast The Holiday Season

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​Holiday parties typically feature a variety of alcoholic beverages, including home-crafted cocktails. For people who abstain from alcohol, finding a refreshing mocktail can spare them from the mediocrity of soft drinks and other pedestrian potables. It's also possible to convert a traditional cocktail into something non-alcoholic, but just as delicious. To this end, Mashed spoke with Molly Horn, Chief Mixologist and Spirits Educator at Total Wine & More, to get her exclusive insights into the matter.

​Horn proclaims the French 75, which is typically made with gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sweetener, as her favorite cocktail. "One of the reasons I love it so much is how easy it is to modify," states the seasoned mixologist. She explains that the drink can be easily tweaked to create a booze-free, but just as satisfying, version. Horn says, "You can even make one with non-alcoholic prosecco and non-alcoholic gin, and it is still really good!"

Prosecco and other types of wine come in zero-proof versions, which means they have an ABV of 0.5% or lower. They are made using conventional methods. However, alcohol is removed via vacuum distillation, which entails being heated at a very low temperature to allow the alcohol to evaporate. As for non-alcoholic gins, they may be subjected to multiple distillations to remove alcohol, or they can be created by soaking botanical ingredients in a liquid.

How to upgrade your booze-free French 75 even further

While fresh lemon juice is traditionally used in French 75 cocktails, master mixologist Molly Horn offers a way to enhance the drink while still keeping it non-alcoholic. The spirits educator says, "Add [zero-proof] Limoncello to give it a delicious twist," referring to the lemon-forward Italian liqueur that features a healthy portion of lemon zest. Along with its tart flavor, Limoncello also has a pleasant sweetness that makes it a fine addition to cocktails. We believe that home bar menus should include gin and Limoncello, so it's nice to know that there are non-alcoholic alternatives of both beverages for non-drinkers.

You can find brands of non-alcoholic Limoncello for sale at certain retailers, but you can also try making a booze-less Limoncello recipe at home. In this case, just swap out the real vodka for a non-alcoholic variety when whipping up a batch to enhance your French 75 mocktail. Horn's tips and guidance ensure that everyone can enjoy a delicious mixed drink over the holidays, in keeping with the generous spirit of the season.

​Source: Mashed