Alcohol is an acquired taste. But sometimes, acquiring that taste doesn't come easily. And that's more than okay. So what do you mix for yourself or enjoy at a bar when you want a drink but don't want to taste the booze? Why, you enjoy a drink that has all the buzz but none of the burn! These drinks that don't taste like alcohol are just the trick.
Enjoy Coconut Rum With Pineapple Juice
Sweet pineapple juice and the sunshine in a bottle that is coconut rum makes for a quick and easy cocktail that doesn't taste like booze. But it does taste like a vacation at an all-inclusive resort.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces coconut rum
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 4 ounces pineapple juice
- Ice
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, coconut rum, lime juice, and pineapple juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a cherry.
Sip a Bailey's Creamy Piña Colada
Irish cream adds an extra kick to an already easy-to-sip piña colada. Whenever I have a piña colada in hand, it always seems to disappear without warning. And this creamy version? There's definitely a hole in the bottom of my glass.
Try an Easy-to-Drink Sex on the Beach
Don't let the ingredient list (or the threat of sand everywhere) scare you away from a sex on the beach. The juicy flavors in the liqueur and the actual juices make this a dangerously easy-to-drink cocktail that tastes nothing like booze.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vodka
- ½ ounce raspberry liqueur
- ½ ounce peach liqueur
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 1½ ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, raspberry liqueur, peach liqueur, cranberry juice, and orange juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an orange slice.
Quick Tip
Give the classic sex on the beach an upgrade with a flavored vodka, such as citron or strawberry, or use pineapple juice along with cranberry juice and orange juice.
Try a Wine Spritzer
Whether you like a nice, juicy, berry-forward red wine or an oaky and citrusy white wine, a wine spritzer is the perfect way to introduce someone else to the world of wine the easy way. A splash of juice or turning a sangria into a spritzer is another great way to make wine even more accessible.
Have a Moscow Mule
Spiced ginger beer is definitely the star in the classic Moscow Mule — far more than the vodka that's mixed in. But the flavored vodka in this slightly changed-up version makes it even easier to drink.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces pear vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Mint sprig and lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or copper mug, add ice, pear vodka, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Stir briefly to mix.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and mint sprig.
Drink Vodka Soda With a Splash of Juice
Nothing beats a classic vodka soda, except when you add a splash of juice. Cranberry juice, pineapple juice, orange juice — so long as it's a fruit juice you like, it's the perfect addition to a vodka soda for a drink that doesn't taste like alcohol.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vodka
- 1 ounce fruit juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Fresh fruit for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, vodka, and juice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with fresh fruit.
Helpful Hack
Opt for a flavored vodka to give this fruity cocktail even more flavor.
Amaretto Sour
Amaretto is the perfect liqueur for drinks when you want a cocktail, but you're not a fan of the burn or flavors of booze. An amaretto sour is a balanced, savory, and sweet cocktail that'll win you over in the first sip.
Tips for Smooth and Easy Drinking Cocktails
When looking for a drink with alcohol that doesn't taste like alcohol, sweet drinks are a great place to start, as well as island-flavored cocktails or tropical drinks thanks to flavorful rums that don't have a boozy bite. Although tiki-inspired drinks are big and booze forward, they're sneaky with smooth flavors. Drinks that are fruity and fizzy are also great for a tasty cocktail that doesn't just taste like alcohol. So if you want the fun without the burn, you've got plenty of options.
Easy Drinking Cocktails
It's not magic, although these drinks can seem like it. Knowing how to mix a drink that's tasty without alcohol stealing the spotlight isn't as difficult as it might seem. These cloaked cocktails are the perfect addition to happy hour (or any hour) and without the burn.
