Our top 10 alcohol-free festive drink recommendations

At Alcohol Change UK, we know our stuff when it comes to low and no-alcohol alternatives - so we’ve compiled a list of all our festive favourites that will certainly be making a feature in our celebrations and activities this December.

Find your festive drink of choice below - perfect for any alcohol-free occasion or as a non-alcoholic gift for a loved one. These drinks are listed in no particular order. Scroll down to find your perfect non-alcoholic drink for this winter.

#1 Lyre’s Dark Cane Spirit

Strength: 0.5% ABV

Lyre’s Dark Cane Spirit is packaged in a handsome-looking bottle, promising “fruits, molasses, oranges, nutmeg and salted caramel”. It delivers on the molasses immediately as the drink is very sweet on the nose and is a rich brown when poured. At first sip, both the nutmeg and orange come through, leaving a slight tingling on the tongue. The vanilla sweetness is pleasant and there is a warming aftertaste. Perfect to pair with cola, with ginger beer, or included in an alcohol-free Cuba Libre cocktail this Christmas period. Also comes ready-mixed as a Lyre’s ‘Dark N Spicy’ Cocktail Can which you can buy here.

Buy Lyre's Dark Cane Spirit

#2 Nozeco’s Buck’s Fizz

Strength: 0% ABV

It’s hard to find fault with this drink. A delightful combination of fizz, bitterness and citrus sharpness – this drink is a great alcohol-free alternative for Christmas day, a festive party, or simply to enjoy mixed with orange juice. It’s got the fizz, the Champagne bitterness and the citrus sharpness. If you find it a little too sharp, you could always add a splash of grenadine, but we thought it was spot-on. 

Purchase here

#3 M&S Alcohol-free Red Mulled Wine

Strength: 0.5% ABV

With its striking red and silver design and detailing, this keeps with the character of the M&S mulled wine range while being a unique offering for the alcohol-free market. The rich dark colour and spiced aroma is enticing, and the taste is rich and smooth, which brings back memories of the festive season while enjoying this winter favourite around a log fire. It’s a wonderful flavour and, much like the labelling, it retains all you want from a mulled wine while being alcohol free.

Buy M&S alcohol-free red mulled wine here

#4 Brothers Toffee Apple Cider

Strength: 0% ABV

We have to confess that we were a bit suspicious of this Toffee Apple Cider when it turned up. We were expecting something sickly sweet and a bit artificial. How wrong we were! Yes, it is a sweet drink, and it’s a long way from a traditional cider, but it’s hard not to like it. Cider purists will dismiss it, but it tastes of fresh toffee and fresh apples. It does exactly what it says on the tin and we love it! It’s the perfect sweet festive beverage.

N.B - this drink is so good it’s sold out at the moment, but visit the Brothers website here to purchase when it’s back in stock. Be cautious when ordering as there is also a version that contains alcohol.

#5 Fortnum and Mason’s alcohol-free Sparkling Tea

Strength: 0% ABV

This sparkling tea has such a delicate flavour, brewed from Darjeeling tea with hints of mint and jasmine. Because it is sparkling it can feel extra special, served chilled in a fluted glass or champagne goblet. It also makes for a wonderful Christmas gift for a loved one, or to bring along to a festive party to share with those you love most. Do be careful when purchasing as there is a version that contains alcohol.

Buy your alcohol-free sparkling tea here

#6 Counter Culture’s ‘TXT in a bottle’ Spiced Blackcurrant Kombucha

Strength: 0% ABV

All the flavours work together to bring you a drink that’s elegant, refreshing and flavourful, all at once. The piquant tart tangs of the kombucha are in the car, but they are not at the wheel. They’re sat in the back while the Vimto-esque fruit tones drive, and the spicey Christmasy cinnamon flavours hold the map. There’s a lot going on in that little can, but nothing is stark or working against the other elements. It’s a bit like a mulled cider, and we can see it working well when you might normally have a hot drink.

Buy Counter Culture kombucha here

#7 Clean V Spiced-Apple Spirit Alternative

Strength: 0% ABV

Clean V comes in a smart hexagonal bottle, in this case with a nice cloudy matt finish. It’s got a lovely cinnamon and apple aroma and flavour, with notes of orange and pimento. Mixed with tonic it’s a delicious Christmassy warming drink. It would also work well in an alcohol-free cosmopolitan as a festive cocktail. It's currently so good it's out of stock online, but shop other Clean Co Spirit alternatives below.

Buy Clean Co Spirit alternatives here

#8 Lucky Saint Hazy IPA

Strength: 0.5% ABV

This is Lucky Saint’s first pale ale and it’s a welcome addition to their range. It comes in a smart orange can in a nice subtle shade of orange, with the company’s cute ladybird logo on it. It’s a lively drink with plenty of head. It’s got some body to it, and a bit of bitterness but not too much. All in all, it’s a perfect drink if you’re craving a pale ale this holiday period.

Grab some Lucky Saint here

#9 Lyre’s Orange Sec Spirit Alternative

Strength: 0% ABV

This is a rounded, comforting and sweet non-alcoholic drink which would pair well with a range of mixers but is just as good on its own. The drink is clear with a slight tinge of orange, which is also promised as a flavour alongside spices and other essences. Our taste-testers were surprised at the depth of flavour given how gentle the scent is. It delivers a rounded, comforting and sweet taste which would pair well with a range of mixers, or do equally well alone, maybe with ice. A good all-rounder for mixing in complimentary flavours to create your own tasty festive drink.

Buy your orange sec here

#10 DASH Flavoured Sparkling Water

Strength: 0% ABV

Give any beverage a festive upgrade with DASH Water. These sparkling flavoured waters come in a can, and are good for you as well as good for the planet. Serve as a mixer to your chosen non-alcoholic spirit in your favourite glassware and add a festive garnish. Or - enjoy on their own - they are light, refreshing, and the sparkling bubbles makes them feel like a real treat without the need for any additions.

Shop DASH Water