ABSTINENCE Non-Alcoholic Spirits can be used to make delicious drinks that are low in sugar, calories or alcohol. Here are 6 mocktails to try.
The art of mixology has a long history, dating back to the 1800s
While combining different alcohol and spirits was not new, this was when the term
‘cocktail’ came into being. And with this new and exciting concept came some of the
classic drinks we know and love today. These include the Old Fashioned, Daiquiris
and Martinis, among others.

Over the years, the range of cocktail offerings has expanded and they are well and
truly cemented in drinking and regional culture. From sipping caipirinhas on a
Brazilian beach to enjoying negronis under the Mediterranean sun, mixed drinks are
a way to taste the flavours of the world without having to leave your local, or your
living room!
No alcohol, no problem!
In recent years, people have started to take more of an interest in their health and
wellbeing. This has lead to many making lifestyle changes that help them to live and
consume more consciously.
According to the 2020 Cocktail Trends Report there was a 42% increase in internet searches for the term ‘mocktail’.
Drinks with lower alcohol content were also trending on search engine, Google, last
year. This shows that mindful drinking & is becoming more popular, with some even make a permanent switch to non-alcoholic beverages.
Lowering or limiting your alcohol intake can come with an array of health benefits.
These include more mental clarity, better quality sleep, improved immunity and more balanced weight. But it’s not just the alcohol content that can make conventional cocktails and mocktails a health hazard. It’s also the abundance of sugar.
So much sugar.
When it comes to options, cocktails and mocktails don’t stop at the classics. More
and more drinks have continued to be created over the years, using a wide range of
spirits, mixers and ingredients. From fruit juices to coffee and even confectionaries,
today there are few limits to what expert mixologists can create.
But with the addition of new flavours and more variety came *plenty* of sugar. Many
drinks today are mixed with sweet fruit juices and syrups which contain high
quantities of sugar. And we now know the dangers associated with
the overconsumption of this sweetening substance. Sadly, many of the drinks we
know and love would be considered an overindulgence, with the average piña colada
– a summertime favourite – containing around 314 calories and 13.5 grams of sugar .
This doesn’t mean, however, that people in the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle have to
forego sundowners. ABSTINENCE Spirits allow you to craft low-ABV, low-calorie
and low-sugar cocktails and mocktails that contain the distinctive notes of the Cape
Floral Kingdom.
Want to start sipping smarter without compromising on taste? Here’s how to make
low-alcohol, low-calorie and low-sugar drinks and mocktails using ABSTINENCE
Spirits and Aperitifs. All ABSTINENCE Mocktails designed by Chantelle Horn (@chantelle.horn @belladonna.drink.agency).
LOW-ALCOHOL COCKTAILS
Cape Citrus Cosmo

INGREDIENTS
50ml ABSTINENCE Cape Citrus
15ml Cointreau (orange liqueur)
30ml cranberry juice
15ml lime juice (freshly squeezed)
Orange peel
METHOD
Add the ABSTINENCE Cape Citrus, Cointreau, lime juice and cranberry juice to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Express the oil from the orange peel over the glass and then drop it in to garnish.
Cape Spice Manhattan

INGREDIENTS
50ml ABSTINENCE Cape Spice
25ml ABSTINENCE Epilogue X
25ml Martini Rosso (Sweet Vermouth)
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Orange peel twist
METHOD
Add ABSTINENCE Cape Spice, ABSTINENCE, Epilogue X, Vermouth, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with an orange peel twist.
Blood Orange Negroni

INGREDIENTS
30ml ABSTINENCE Cape Citrus
30ml ABSTINENCE Blood Orange Aperitif
30ml Martini Rosso (Sweet Vermouth)
Orange Peel
METHOD
1. Add the ABSTINENCE Cape Citrus, ABSTINENCE Blood Orange Aperitif and Vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir until well chilled.
Strain into a glass filled with large ice cubes and garnish with an orange peel.
LOW SUGAR + LOW CALORIE MOCKTAILS
Fynbos Cooler

INGREDIENTS
25ml ABSTINENCE Cape Fynbos
25ml ABSTINENCE Lemon Aperitif
200ml soda
Lemon peel twist
METHOD
Combine ABSTINENCE Cape Fynbos and ABSTINENCE Lemon Aperitif in a tall collins glass.
Add ice and top with soda. Garnish with a lemon peel twist and serve.
Citrus Cooler

INGREDIENTS
25ml ABSTINENCE Cape Citrus
25ml ABSTINENCE Blood Orange Aperitif
200ml soda
Orange peel twist
METHOD
Combine ABSTINENCE Cape Citrus and ABSTINENCE Blood Orange Aperitif in a tall collins glass. Add ice and top with soda.
Garnish with an orange peel twist and serve.
Epilogue X & Soda

INGREDIENTS
50ml ABSTINENCE Epilogue X
200ml soda
Lime slice
METHOD
Pour Epilogue X over ice in a tall glass and top with soda.
Add a slice of lime to garnish and serve.
ABSTINENCE has crafted a collection of award-winning non-alcoholic spirits and aperitifs that take inspiration from the biodiversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom. Click here to shop the range and make some mocktail magic.