The Common Mixing Mistake That Ruins Non-Alcoholic Cocktails

Non-alcoholic cocktails are an excellent way to enjoy the moment sans booze — that is, unless you make the common mixing mistake that absolutely ruins such drinks. One of the most notable mocktail faux pas is agitating the drink too vigorously. Though "shaken or stirred" is typical bartender lingo for cocktails made with spirits, when it comes to mocktails and other alcohol-free drinks, you should go easy on both. 

Shaking drinks serves to mix together the components. But another key purpose of drink agitation is to reduce the temperature of the beverage via contact with ice. But, shaking also inevitably causes some of the ice to melt and dilute the drink. While dilution can be welcome to cut through some of the strength of the liquor in traditional cocktails, without alcohol, it just creates an even more watered-down solution. 

Whether it's a refreshingly tart no-ABV amaretto sour or a rhubarb blueberry basil mocktail, it's best to stir or shake non-alcoholic drinks gently, as not to over dilute the flavor. Since you don't have the obvious nuance that alcohol adds to the mix, you can better preserve a mocktail's integrity by shaking it lightly with ice before straining it into a glass. Alternatively, you can softly mix the it with a tall bar spoon.

Mixing a non-alcoholic cocktail like a pro requires selecting quality, flavorful juices, mixes, and essence. It's importance to balance sweet juices like watermelon or passionfruit with tart acidic twists. Floral or spiced extracts and aromatics like bitters can add complexity and depth, along with hot spices for the necessary piquancy. Since you don't have the strong, rugged base of an alcohol spirit, you want to choose the drinks' flavor elements even more wisely. 

It may not seem like it at first, but crafting a cocktail without the alcohol is just as much a feat of alchemy as its booze-containing counterparts. When mixing up a plum and ginger cordial mocktail for a 0 ABV Thanksgiving and holiday, for instance, you shouldn't mess with the fine balance of flavors and hints by watering the drink down with tons of small, shaken ice pieces. Instead, mix the non-alcoholic drink lightly with ice and strain the drink into a glass. 

To further reduce dilution, you can also try chilling your cocktail glass in the freezer before filling it, or pour the cocktail over a big ice cube which will melt more slowly. Paired with a gentle stirring or shaking technique, you'll better preserve all of those intricate flavors.