A Mexican table has never needed alcohol to make a good drink. Agua fresca, tamarindo and jamaica have been doing that job for a long time. A mocktail book builds on the same idea, balancing sour, sweet and bitter so that a glass feels like an occasion.
The difference between these books is how serious they want to be. Some are written by people from the bar world, and others are built around party drinks or wellness ideas. This guide gives seven books from named authors and established publishers, and says which rest on a named review and which on the publisher’s details.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for in a drinks book, the Amazon listing, publisher and author information and published reviews, which we name where we use them.
Quick verdict: the best mocktail book to start with
For most readers, start with Julia Bainbridge’s Good Drinks, built from a road trip through American bars and restaurants, per its publisher. For recipes from well-known bars, choose Elva Ramirez’s Zero Proof. For the technique behind the drinks, choose Derek Brown’s Mindful Mixology.
The other four cover a large general collection, party drinks and two books with a wellness angle. We pass along what those publishers say without vouching for it.
Five mocktail books side by side
Five of the seven, one for each kind of reader. All seven are described in full below.
| Book | Best for | Recipes | Length | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Good Drinks, Julia BainbridgeBest overall
|
Most readers | Not stated | 176 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Zero Proof, Elva RamirezBest for bar recipes
|
Cocktail fans | 90 | 256 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Mindful Mixology, Derek BrownBest for technique
|
Home bartenders | 60 | 224 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Mocktails, Caroline HwangBest for variety
|
Entertaining at home | More than 80 | 192 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Mocktail Party, Diana Licalzi and Kerry BensonBest for parties
|
Hosts | 75 | 176 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Cover images from Amazon. Page counts and formats are from the Amazon listings for the editions linked. Recipe counts are from the publisher’s copy.
Our picks for the best mocktail book, book by book
All seven were in stock and new when we checked. Six were sold by Amazon, and we flag the one that was not. We have not made these drinks; where we describe a strength, we say whose view it is.
1. Good Drinks, Julia Bainbridge – Alcohol-Free Drinks Taken Seriously
Bainbridge is a James Beard Award-nominated writer and a former editor at Bon Appétit, according to her publisher. She drove across the United States visiting bars and restaurants to see whether an alcohol-free drink can be outstanding, and this book is the result.
It has a pantry section, sourcing tips and recipes from bartenders around the country, arranged from brunch drinks through afternoon refreshers to evening digestifs. Named drinks include a verjus spritz, a chicha morada agua fresca and a salted rosemary paloma, which is a familiar shape for anyone who likes palomas.
The publisher says several outlets, including Bon Appétit and the Los Angeles Times, named it among the year’s best cookbooks, and it quotes Jim Meehan on resetting what a drink can mean. We read those through the publisher. We found no Publishers Weekly review at this ISBN.
Why we like it
- Recipes from bartenders nationwide
- A pantry section and sourcing tips
- Drinks arranged by time of day
- Beard-nominated author
Key specifications
| Author | Julia Bainbridge |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Ten Speed Press |
| Year | 2020 |
| Pages | 176 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | Not stated |
| Focus | Bar and restaurant drinks |
| Best for | Most readers |
Why we recommend it
This is the book to give someone who is tired of sweet juice in a fancy glass, whether they drink alcohol or not.
Skip it if you want very quick drinks. A bartender’s recipe may ask for ingredients you will have to make or track down.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Serious approach
- Wide range of occasions
- Respected author
Cons
- Copy gives no recipe count
- No review at this ISBN that we could read
2. Zero Proof, Elva Ramirez – Recipes from Well-Known Bars
Ramirez is a food media journalist who started at the Wall Street Journal, per her publisher. She interviewed people across cocktail culture and gathered 90 alcohol-free recipes from bars in Paris, London and New York, naming Death & Co, Employees Only and Broken Shaker among them.
Publishers Weekly reviewed it, called it a “fantastic debut” and said it “offers a (non)spirited case for imbibing without alcohol.” That is the one review on this page that we read ourselves.
A bar’s recipe is often a project, so read through a few before you plan a party around them. The publisher’s copy also speaks of people drinking less for their health. That is its framing, and we make no claim of our own.
Why we like it
- 90 recipes, per the publisher
- Named bars in three cities
- Author interviewed people in the trade
- Reviewed by Publishers Weekly
Key specifications
| Author | Elva Ramirez |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Harvest |
| Year | 2021 |
| Pages | 256 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 90 |
| Focus | Recipes from leading bars |
| Best for | Cocktail fans |
Why we recommend it
A good fit for someone who already loves cocktail bars and wants the same craft without the alcohol.
Skip it if you want drinks with three ingredients from the corner store. Recipes that come from bars tend to ask for more.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Named review we could read
- Recipes from respected bars
- Good reading as well as recipes
Cons
- Likely to need some special ingredients
- Not aimed at beginners
3. Mindful Mixology, Derek Brown – Technique for No- and Low-Proof Drinks
Brown is known for the Columbia Room in Washington, D.C., which won a Spirited Award in 2017 as best American cocktail bar, per his publisher. After cutting back himself, he applied bartending technique to no- and low-proof drinks and treats them as their own category, balancing taste, texture, body and bite.
The publisher lists 60 recipes, historical research, lower-proof versions of classics and a guide to ingredients and equipment. Wirecutter is quoted on the history, and District Fray on the mix of recipe book and bar guide. We read those lines through the publisher.
Two things to know. Low-proof drinks still contain alcohol, so this book is for adult readers, and anyone avoiding alcohol completely should choose recipes with care. The publisher also says Brown has worked as an advisor to a non-alcoholic spirits brand, Spiritless. We found no Publishers Weekly review at this ISBN.
Why we like it
- 60 recipes, per the publisher
- Explains how to build body and bite
- Lower-proof versions of classics
- A working bar professional as author
Key specifications
| Author | Derek Brown |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Rizzoli |
| Year | 2022 |
| Pages | 224 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 60 |
| Focus | No- and low-proof technique |
| Best for | Home bartenders |
Why we recommend it
If you like to understand why a drink works and then make your own, this is the most technical book here.
Skip it if you want no alcohol at all. Some recipes are low-proof, and you would have to pick around them. The lead offer was from a third-party seller when we checked.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Teaches method as well as recipes
- History included
- Award-winning bar behind it
Cons
- Includes low-proof drinks with alcohol
- Third-party seller at our last check
4. Mocktails, Caroline Hwang – A Large, General Collection
This is the plain-spoken choice. The publisher describes more than 80 non-alcoholic drinks built on fresh fruits, herbs, spices and syrups, running from chilled coolers and spritzes to warm punches, toddies and teas.
It explains basic bar tools, how to make your own syrups, shrubs and salts, and how to put a drink together, with color photography throughout. Named drinks include a lychee-tini, a Thai daiquiri and a persimmon nog.
The copy we read has no author biography and no outside praise, and we found no Publishers Weekly review at this ISBN, so this pick rests on the publisher’s description.
Why we like it
- More than 80 drinks, per the publisher
- Warm drinks as well as cold
- Teaches syrups, shrubs and salts
- Color photography throughout
Key specifications
| Author | Caroline Hwang |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Weldon Owen |
| Year | 2018 |
| Pages | 192 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | More than 80 |
| Focus | Fruit, herbs and syrups |
| Best for | Entertaining at home |
Why we recommend it
A good all-round book for anyone who hosts and wants something for every season. Warm drinks are also useful when it is cold out.
Skip it if you want the bartender’s point of view. The author’s background is not in the copy we read.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Broad range
- Basic techniques included
- Cold and warm drinks
Cons
- No author background in the copy we read
- No review at this ISBN that we could read
5. Mocktail Party, Diana Licalzi and Kerry Benson – Party Drinks from Two Dietitians
The authors are registered dietitians with Tufts graduate degrees, according to their publisher. The book offers 75 plant-based, non-alcoholic drinks, covering classic-style mocktails, brunch and party drinks, and frozen and dessert drinks.
It also gives tips on alcohol-free drinking, including how to order a mocktail at a restaurant or bar. That is a useful thing to have in print for a designated driver or anyone going out without drinking.
The publisher describes simple ingredients with little added sugar. That is its description, and we make no health claim about these drinks. We found no Publishers Weekly review at this ISBN.
Why we like it
- 75 recipes, per the publisher
- Frozen and dessert drinks included
- Tips on ordering when you go out
- Plant-based throughout
Key specifications
| Author | Diana Licalzi and Kerry Benson |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Blue Star Press |
| Year | 2021 |
| Pages | 176 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 75 |
| Focus | Plant-based party drinks |
| Best for | Hosts |
Why we recommend it
If you need something for a shower, a brunch or a crowd with mixed drinkers, this is the most party-minded book on the page.
Skip it if you want complex, bitter, bar-style drinks. The focus here is on simple ingredients, and the books above go further on craft.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Written for occasions
- Simple ingredients, per the publisher
- Includes frozen drinks
Cons
- Less bartender craft
- No review at this ISBN that we could read
6. The Mindful Mocktail, Natalie Battaglia – Classic Drinks, Reimagined
Battaglia develops recipes for the blog The Mindful Mocktail, and her work has appeared in BuzzFeed and Business Insider, per her publisher. The book reworks familiar drinks, naming a frozen strawberry daiquiri, a sparkling cosmo and a chocolate peppermint martini.
The publisher lists more than 60 recipes and says they use little refined sugar. It pitches the book as healthful and nutritionist-approved. Those are its claims, not ours, and we have no way to check them.
Praise from Leah Itsines and Catherine Gray appears in the publisher’s copy, and we read it only there. We found no Publishers Weekly review at this ISBN.
Why we like it
- More than 60 recipes, per the publisher
- Familiar drinks in new versions
- A recent book
- Named drinks suit a party
Key specifications
| Author | Natalie Battaglia |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Page Street Publishing |
| Year | 2024 |
| Pages | 160 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | More than 60 |
| Focus | Reworked classic cocktails |
| Best for | Fans of classic drinks |
Why we recommend it
Good for someone who misses a specific drink and would like a version of it without alcohol.
Skip it if you are looking for a bar professional’s method. The author’s background, as the publisher gives it, is in blogging and recipe development.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Approachable idea
- Well-known drink styles
- Shorter book
Cons
- Health framing is the publisher’s and is unchecked
- No review at this ISBN that we could read
7. Everyday Elixirs, Blair Horton – Drinks Through the Seasons
Horton created Holistic Rendezvous, an online community on food and mindful living, and has training in applied nutrition, per her publisher. The book presents 80 seasonal mocktails and other drinks, starting with basic herbal, spiced and floral syrups and moving through the year, from a holiday punch to a bedtime nightcap.
The publisher says the ingredients are meant to support things like immunity and digestion. We repeat that only so you know what kind of book this is. It is not advice, and we make no such claim for it. If health is your reason for buying, ask a doctor.
Elva Ramirez, the author of Zero Proof above, is quoted by the publisher calling the recipes “Refreshing, memorable, accessible.” We read that line there only. We found no Publishers Weekly review at this ISBN.
Why we like it
- 80 recipes, per the publisher
- Starts with reusable syrups
- Organized by season
- Praise from another author on this page, per the publisher
Key specifications
| Author | Blair Horton |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Harvest |
| Year | 2025 |
| Pages | 240 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 80 |
| Focus | Seasonal mocktails and syrups |
| Best for | Tea and tonic drinkers |
Why we recommend it
A good pick if your drink of choice is closer to a herbal tea than a cocktail and you like cooking with the seasons. Our tea book guide is a good companion.
Skip it if you dislike wellness language. It runs through the publisher’s description and may run through the book.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Syrups are the starting point
- Seasonal structure
- Long book with plenty to try
Cons
- Health framing is the publisher’s and is unchecked
- No review at this ISBN that we could read
How to choose a mocktail book for your bar
Four questions will narrow this list quickly.
- No alcohol or just less? Most of these are alcohol-free, but Mindful Mixology also covers low-proof drinks. If you avoid alcohol altogether, check each recipe. For full-strength drinks, which are for adults of legal drinking age, see our cocktail book guide instead.
- Craft or convenience? Ramirez and Bainbridge draw on bartenders, so expect some special ingredients. Hwang and the Mocktail Party authors point more toward home hosting.
- Do you need batches? For a crowd, think about syrups you can make ahead. Horton starts there, and Hwang teaches syrups and shrubs too.
- What equipment do you have? A shaker and a strainer go a long way. A good cocktail shaker works just as well with no spirit in it.
How we chose these mocktail books
We searched Amazon’s book listings first and kept print editions from named authors at established publishers, plain in stock with a new lead offer. We checked every other book page on this site so nothing repeats. Author, year, format and page count come from the Amazon listing. Recipe counts and descriptions come from the publisher’s copy, as carried by booksellers.
Here is what stands behind each pick. Zero Proof has a Publishers Weekly review that we read ourselves. The other six rest on the publisher’s and the author’s details, and any praise for them is quoted only as the publisher carries it. We found no PW review at their ISBNs, which does not mean no other review exists.
We have not made these drinks, and we make no health claims for them. Where a publisher does, we say so and leave it with the publisher. We also left out Clare Liardet’s Dry, because the listing we found in stock was a Kindle edition and we kept to print.
Non alcoholic drinks book questions, answered
What is the best non alcoholic drinks book for a beginner?
Mocktails by Caroline Hwang is the easiest general starting point, with its guide to tools and syrups. Good Drinks is the book to read for the ideas behind the drinks.
What is the difference between zero proof and low proof?
Zero proof means no spirit is used, and low proof means a small amount of alcohol is still there. Mindful Mixology covers both, so it is for adult readers.
Can I make these drinks for kids?
Many use only fruit, herbs and syrups, but recipes vary and we have not gone through them all. Check the ingredients, because bitters and some other bar items can contain alcohol.
Are mocktails healthier than cocktails?
We can’t say, and this page makes no such claim. Some publishers here describe their books in health terms, and that is their description. A doctor is the right person to ask.
Do I need special equipment?
Not much. Hwang’s publisher mentions an explanation of basic bar tools, and Brown’s mentions a guide to ingredients and equipment.
Which mocktail book should you buy first?
Buy Good Drinks if you want one book. Choose Zero Proof for bar recipes and Mindful Mixology for technique. To go on from here, our best cocktail book page covers the full-strength side of the bar for adult readers, and our margarita mix guide looks at what goes in the glass.
And if you would rather let someone else make the drinks tonight, see our drinks or call to order.