Mocktails, these non-alcoholic cocktails, have long been considered as drinks for underage consumers. However, in line with the development of non-alcoholic beers and wines, in recent years there have been strong innovations in spirits with the development of "non-alcoholic spirits" similar in characteristics to their alcoholic counterparts. They have played a key role in the renaissance of the mocktail.
From Diageo with Seedlip to Pernod-Ricard with Ceder's and the French Djins, innovations in alcohol-free products are a hot topic. These alternatives were initially mainly appreciated by barmen, allowing them to revisit traditional cocktails for customers seeking to limit their alcohol consumption. Some bars have even decided to develop this concept by opening establishments serving only non-alcoholic drinks. Among the most notable examples are the Listen Bar in New York, the Virgin Mary in Dublin but also the Gueule de Joie bar in Nantes or Drinks&Co in Paris.
Then these "non-alcoholic spirits" found their audience among all consumers and are becoming increasingly popular. In France, the market for non-alcoholic drinks has jumped by 30% in 2018. In England, sales of non-alcoholic spirits are expected to increase by 80% in 2022.
In the same way, mocktails have become much more democratic and recipes for non-alcoholic cocktails are flourishing on the web for everyone. Traditional cocktails such as Gin Tonic, Spritz, Mojito, are all being reinterpreted without alcohol and are becoming increasingly popular, especially among health-conscious consumers who want to reduce their sugar intake. In fact, they can be up to 4 times less sweet than their alcoholic versions.
Thanks to such developments in non-alcoholic spirits, the future of the mocktail is assured: to drink without moderation.