Complex, zesty and aromatic, but no alcohol? Yep, we’ve nailed it.
About the cocktail
Welcome to the non-alcoholic revolution. These days, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to alcohol-free wine, beer and premixed drinks, and the gap in flavour and quality between the alcs and non-alcs is rapidly closing. Still, in our opinion, sometimes the non-alc options with the deepest flavours and silkiest textures are the ones you make yourself. And that’s exactly why we love this zippy, sweet and foamy Non-Alcoholic Sour. Sour cocktails are simple classics, blending a spirit with sugar, citrus and – optionally, but usually – a frothy finish, thanks to egg white (although if that’s not your thing, you have options, as you’ll see in our tips below). This format works a treat with everything from gin and bourbon to amaretto, but that versatility also means it’s simple to sub the spirits for something alcohol-free. In this case, we’ve gone with Lyre’s Italian Spritz, a bittersweet aperitif along the lines of Aperol and Campari. It adds a little bittersweet edge that works a treat here. The beauty of a non-alcoholic recipe like this one is that it ticks all the boxes of a full-flavoured cocktail (except for the alcohol, of course). It’s complex and fresh, thanks to fresh lemon juice and an aromatic garnish, and it has that textbook silky-smooth texture. This cocktail – and no, we’re not calling it a mocktail – demands to be taken seriously, served in a classy coupe and topped with thyme. It’s no step down from the alcoholic version, that’s for sure.
Ingredients
60mL non-alc spirit 30mL fresh lemon juice 15mL sugar syrup 1 egg white Glass: coupe Garnish: fresh thyme sprig
Method
Add all ingredients to a cocktail tin Seal the tin and shake without ice – dry shake – to first incorporate the egg white Pop open the tin, fill with ice, seal it and shake until the outside is frosty Fine strain the cocktail into the glass and finish with a sprig of thyme on top
Dan’s top tips
Like its alcoholic sibling, the beauty of the Non-alcoholic Sour is that it’s simply a basic format – just about everything can be subbed to your own taste. We used Lyre’s Italian Spritz because it’s a flavoursome, complex spirit alternative, but there are plenty of others out there that deliver gin-like herbal notes, or if you prefer, a bourbon-ish sweetness or the nutty flavours of amaretto. You can also switch up lemon juice for lime or grapefruit or even yuzu, change sugar syrup for agave syrup, or garnish it with a slice of fresh orange or some aromatic mint leaves. What we’re saying is you can make this however you want. Speaking of substitutions, you can also switch out the egg white for a vegan alternative if you prefer. Aquafaba – the liquid in a can of chickpeas – works as a 1:1 substitute for egg white, giving your cocktail a foamy top but keeping things strictly vegan. An egg usually contains about 30mL of egg white, so shoot for that measurement if using aquafaba instead.
What is the best non-alcoholic alternative to use in this zero% Sour?
We’re using Lyre’s Italian Spritz in our Non-Alcoholic Sour, which has a complex, bittersweet flavour profile, but you can use any non-alcoholic spirit or liqueur replacement here.
Does the Non-Alcoholic Sour taste like a traditional Sour cocktail?
Yes! Thanks to fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup and egg white, this Non-Alcoholic Sour is the same as a classic Sour – just without the alcohol.
- What if I don't want to use egg white in this cocktail?
Sours don’t have to have egg white, so feel free to leave it out if you’d rather not include it. If you still want the froth but not the egg white, use aquafaba from a can of chickpeas instead.
