Designated Driver Drinks: For the Responsible One

Sophisticated alcohol-free drinks for the person doing the responsible thing. Because “I’ll just have a water” is a tragedy.

About these mocktails

Being the designated driver should not mean being stuck with a glass of water while everyone else is having a proper drink. This collection emphasises mocktails that feel adult, complex, and interesting: bitter aperitifs made alcohol-free, savoury mocktails, grown-up flavors that stand up to a cocktail menu.

When you hand the DD one of these, they do not feel like they are missing out; they feel like they are being looked after. Perfect for restaurants, bars, and dinner parties where the DD deserves equal footing.

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Designated Driver Drinks with photos

Our best designated driver drinks with hero photography. Refresh for a random selection.

Virgin Cosmopolitan

Cranberry, lime, triple-sec alternative, in a martini glass. Sex and the City without the vodka but…

Virgin Paloma

Mexico's actual national drink, minus the tequila. Bitter grapefruit, lime, salt rim, and enough bubbles to…

Moscow Mule (Virgin) with Turmeric

Ginger beer, turmeric, lime, black pepper. An anti-inflammatory mocktail that also happens to be delicious. Copper…

Arnold Palmer (Classic)

The original half-iced-tea, half-lemonade. Named for the golfer who ordered it so often that bartenders started…

Sunrise Mocktail

Try the Sunrise Mocktail, a delightful mix of orange juice and alcohol-free sparkling wine with a…

Roy Rogers (Classic)

Cola, grenadine, a cherry. The cowboy counterpart to the Shirley Temple. Identical ritual, different fizz.

Chocolate Martini (Virgin)

Chocolate milk, espresso, vanilla, cocoa rim. The dessert mocktail. Best served in a chilled coupe with…

Virgin Mojito Recipe

Enjoy this easy Virgin Mojito Mocktail, a refreshing blend of lime, mint, and sparkling water. Perfect…

Virgin Mary (Classic Bloody Mary Mocktail)

Tomato juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire (check the label for anchovy if you're vegetarian), celery, salt. The Bloody…

Virgin Cosmopolitan Mocktail

Enjoy this easy Virgin Mojito Mocktail, a refreshing blend of lime, mint, and sparkling water. Perfect…

Virgin Espresso Martini

Cold brew, coffee syrup, vanilla, ice. The coffee hit without the booze, exactly as it should…

Frozen Virgin Margarita Mocktail

Cherry Temple Mocktail

Enjoy the Cherry Temple Mocktail, a refreshing mix of ginger ale, grenadine, and fresh lime juice.…

Virgin Limoncello Spritz

Fresh lemon juice, honey, sparkling water, basil. The Amalfi Coast mocktail. Summer on a dinner table.

Shirley Temple (Classic)

The original Shirley Temple. Ginger ale, grenadine, a splash of lemon-lime, a cherry on a stick.…

Thyme Lemon Drop

Fresh thyme, lemon, honey, sparkling. The herb-garden mocktail. Dinner-party clever.

Virgin Moscow Mule

Ginger beer, fresh lime, a copper mug. The Moscow Mule without the vodka, which, honestly, was…

Virgin Sea Breeze

Cranberry and grapefruit. The colour of a summer sunset on a beach bar tab. No vodka…

Maradona

Enjoy the Maradona Mocktail, a creamy blend of milk and tropical passion fruit. Perfect for a…

Virgin Negroni

A bitter, grown-up mocktail that tastes like an actual Negroni instead of sweet fruit juice in…

Virgin Margarita Mocktail

Enjoy this Virgin Margarita Mocktail, a refreshing blend of citrus juices and sparkling water. Perfect for…

Virgin Bloody Mary Mocktail

Enjoy this Virgin Bloody Mary Mocktail, a tangy mix of tomato juice, fresh lime, Worcestershire, and…

Frozen Mango Margarita (Virgin)

Frozen mango, lime, orange juice, Tajin rim. The virgin frozen margarita with mango, which is how…

Virgin Mojito

Mint, lime, sugar, soda. The Mojito without the rum, but every bit as refreshing.

Complete Designated Driver Drinks list

Every designated driver drinks mocktail on Drink Lab. Photos above, text list below for drinks that have not been photographed yet.

Also in this category (text list)

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Designated Driver Drinks: For the Responsible One

About these mocktails