Zero Proof: 90 Non-Alcoholic Recipes for Mindful Drinking

by Elva Ramirez

90 spirit-free cocktail recipes from leading and lauded mixologists across the country

More than 100 years after Prohibition was enacted, bartenders are actually excited about people not drinking again. From Dry January and alcohol-free bars opening around the country to people interested in abstaining from drinking for better health, the no-proof movement is one of today's fastest-growing lifestyle choices, as consumers become more mindful and re-examine their relationship to alcohol. The no-proof drinker could be anyone, and even traditional bars have taken note with no-alcohol offerings. What do the world's most talented bartenders concoct when they can't use booze? This book answers that question with 90 lush and sophisticated recipes that take the craft to new heights. Veteran reporter Elva Ramirez interviewed the biggest names in cocktails and collected recipes for vibrant no-proof drinks from the world's top bars in Paris, London, and New York. This is the start of a new era in no-proof drinking.

Find recipes from renowned bars all over the world, including Death & Co in Denver and NYC, Employees Only, The Aviary NYC, Broken Shaker in LA, Everleaf Drinks in London, Little Red Door in Paris, and many more. 

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food and Drink

256 pages, Hardcover

Published April 13, 2021

Reviews

[Elise]

I want to own this book. Each recipe sounded incredible and the photographer of this book deserves an award...

My husband recently made the switch to being permanently sober, and I've been drinking less and less over the years outside of social events. I saw this at the library and made a few of the cocktails and wow.

My only caveat is that this book is best for people who really enjoy being in the kitchen. What I mean is, if you love to cook and if a complex recipe excites you, you're going to love this book. Some of the recipes are quick, but most require fresh fruit juice, hard-to-find ingredients, or syrups you have to find or make yourself. But if you're into that, this book is for you!

[Trista · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you regularly pay $22 for a cocktail then this is the book for you. The recipes are complex and the ingredients obscure (I'm not about to make jackfruit puree for a drink). The book is beautiful and I'm sure both professional and home bartenders will find something exciting to craft, but for those of us who don't want to spend a lot of money or time on crafting drinks it's best to look elsewhere.

[Jm Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit preachy and breathless, but solid in the areas where it counts (ie: recipes). For example: "More than 100 years after Prohibition was enacted, Americans are actually excited about people not drinking again." I'd disagree with that statement....

However, I would agree that not everyone wants to drink all the time, and having some go-to alternatives might make that more enjoyable. Skip the intro, and go straight to the recipes.

Sure, some real rely on non-alcoholic "liqueurs" and "liquors" to work. Not all do, and the flavor combinations are solid. Photography is well done, and most of the recipes will be doable for the relatively unexpected home bartender.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The photographs in this book are gorgeous. The drinks sound interesting, but the recipes are not very simple or accessible. I get where the book is coming from, in that you should think like a bartender/mixologist and take pride in making your own high quality ingredients. However, I don’t see myself steeping teas, making cordials, or using a juicer or sous vide to make ingredients for cocktails. It does make me appreciate the love and thought that go into cocktails. I’ll be paying closer attention when I order cocktails in the future.

[Echo3180]

I didn't need the history of temperance, mocktails, and the impacts of alochol from a sociological perspective - just the recipes, thanks.

Unless you live in a major city (and even then) some of these ingredients are obscure. And I say this as someone who is a big fan of Seedlip. I like trying new things, and enjoyed some of the drinks in the book (and won't be trying quite a few due to not being able to obtain ingredients) but the book didn't blow my mind.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

You learn something new everyday. Like, that there are alchohol free whiskey and gin? I mean...how are they getting the desired "flavor" without its main ingredient? I have so many questions about this. And things like birch extract?? Like vanilla extract...but it's birch? So weird. I picked this up because I've never drank in my life and the pictures were pretty. I think because I have never sought out the "drinking lifestyle" in any form a lot of these recipes were too strange for my liking. I've gleaned about 5 recipes from this and while I commend the zero proof lifestyle, I simply can't wrap my head around these recipes.

[Ekaterina Hazard · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book when I was pregnant hoping to experiment. What an utter disappointment! My husband and I have been making and creating cocktails at home for 10+ years. Even with that, I could only make maybe 5 recipes out of this book. The rest required extraordinary long lists of complex ingredients and sometimes equipment. I selected a handful of easier ones and gave them a try and was underwhelmed by the results. I'd say only buy this book if you are seriously culinary/bar adjacent and can kill an evening making a single cocktail.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history of drinking (& not drinking) in America was kinda boring. The recipes were frou-frou and/or didn't sound great to me, and generally required specialty ingredients like non-alcoholic spirits. Not what I was looking for. The only thing that kinda sounded interesting was the method of using sous vide for various of the flavored syrups, though the author didn't really say why we should go to the trouble of using that method.

[Brittney Derderian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this would have had easier non-alcoholic recipes. There's a ton of special ingredients that have to be ordered and pre made for most of these. Would be a great book for an actual bartender though learning to make non alcoholic cocktails. I enjoyed reading the history at the beginning of the book about the cultural shifts from drinking to not drinking and the history of heavy alcohol use engrained in our country related to undrinkable water.

[Ali Guerin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun recipe book, and very giftable - just add a bottle of your favorite NA spirit! Several of the recipes were simple enough to keep ingredients on-hand or make modifications to. If you are feeling adventurous and want to try something more complicated, there are several detailed recipes with rare ingredients and methods. Overall I found a few favorites and more confidence in making a delicious cocktail, sans alcohol.

[Jaime Lyerly · Rating 2 out of 5]

These drinks look beautiful and yummy, for the ones who have pictures, but these are not accessible for the average person. The section on prohibition was strange. I wish there was more about how to build drinks from what you have rather than creating a bunch of speciality items that I don't have. I would totally drink almost everything here, but I don't have the time, resources, nor patience to make these recipes. I'll stick to bubble water and juice on my own.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an informative book however, I really wished each drink recipie showed a picture and that they included the glass type to use. As a beginner, I would of been stumped to know which style. Because I could see creating these drinks for mini gatherings, it would of been nice to have them categorized by colour profile to match party themes..however that just may be my ocd speaking!

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recipes all sound great! But several ingredients they use are very niche and impractical, both in terms of cost and usefulness across multiple recipes. Probably better suited for someone who is already into making cocktails and is looking for some nonalcoholic alternatives.

I also appreciate how it was organized by flavor profile.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of recipes for non-alcoholic cocktails, some with slightly exotic, slightly difficult to source ingredients. Multi-part recipes, with instructions for DIY syrups + more. Great for the person who wants their non-alcoholic menu to be as (or more) substantial as their local bar.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

These drinks sound amazing and I started to write down the recipes for the ones I might make. Then I realized that the ingredients were too special & specific--even beyond the Seedlip spirits that I already have. Amazing, but beyond the effort I want to put into them.

[Katie Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Includes a very brief but interesting history of alcohol in the US.
I wish I had the time to make all of these drinks !

[Emily Bragg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid recipes, but leans a tad heavily on specific distilled options as the base for a lot of drinks.

[Patuyxz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nuce

[Daniella · Rating 1 out of 5]

I learned "mocktails" are low brow while "zero proof cocktails" are elevated. None of these drinks are accessible to a novice like me, so I'll stick to fruit punch and club soda like an amateur.

[Callie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I skimmed the history and then most of the recipes. The collection is interesting, but more complicated and speciality (and I assume expensive) than I’m likely to bother with.