9 Zero-Proof Cocktails to Try Now
by Sarah Fielding Health Writer
Whether you currently have hepatitis C or are in remission, alcohol is a no go if you want to keep your liver’s health under control. Continued alcohol use can lead to destruction and scarring of the liver and even cancer. But just because you can’t have alcohol doesn’t mean that you should miss out on trying amazing cocktails. “You shouldn’t be robbed of flavor just because you’re not imbibing with alcohol,” says Meredith Barry, beverage director at A.R.T at the Angad Arts Hotel in St. Louis. Even better, zero-proof cocktails can easily be created with good-for-you ingredients. We've got nine you can toast to!

The Tonality
Add to cocktail shaker: 2 Tbsp. Seedlip Spice 94 Mixer (available at Williams Sonoma); 3 Tbsp. grapefruit juice; 1 Tbsp. lemon juice; 1½ Tbsp. honey; 1 sprig rosemary. Shake vigorously. Double strain through mesh strainer into a highball glass over large ice cubes and top with sparkling mineral water. Garnish with another rosemary sprig and, if you’d like, a slice of dehydrated grapefruit. You can raise your glass to Barry for this concoction.

Grapefruit & Rosemary Fizz
Blend ½ cup grapefruit juice, 2 Tbsp. lime juice, 2 Tbsp. fresh ginger (peeled and chopped), and a dash of salt. Divide the mixture between two glasses (because, why drink alone?) filled with ice. Top with seltzer and stir. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, swirling in the glass to infuse flavor. Cheers to Diana Licalzi Maldonado, R.D.N., L.D.N., author of Drinking for Two: Nutritious Mocktails for the Mom-to-Be, for the recipe.

Kombucha Lime Spritzer
This drink is your go-to when you want something quick. Add the following to a pitcher and giving it a good stir: 6 Tbsp. kombucha (try any flavor with ginger in it); 1 Tbsp. simple syrup (find it prepared in the coffee aisle); 1 Tbsp. lime juice; soda water or ginger beer. Thanks to drink-creator Suzannah Gerber, executive chef of Haven Vegan Consulting and consultant at the Beatty Liver and Obesity Research Center, both in Massachusetts.

Pumpkin Juice
Another simple drink concocted by Gerber that involves dumping the ingredients into a pitcher and stirring well. You'll need: 2½ Tbsp. apple cider; 2½ Tbsp. pumpkin juice or pumpkin puree (mixed with equal parts water); 1 Tbsp. lemon juice; ginger beer. Pour over ice. Double (or quadruple!) this for a crowd.

The Snow Bunny
First, mix 6 Tbsp. carrot juice and 4 Tbsp. orange juice together in a cup. Then add a pinch each of cinnamon and turmeric powder. Top it off with sparkling cider, reserving a little bit to whisk or shake and form a foam that can be poured on last. So fancy! So easy! Salud to Gerber again.

H2Overload
Add 4 Tbsp. coconut water to a cocktail shaker. Then add 3 Tbsp. pear nectar; 2 Tbsp. wheatgrass; and 1½ Tbsp. lime juice. You can also add a little sugar if you want it sweeter. Then add 3 to 4 slices cucumber and shake hard before straining over fresh ice. To make the garnish, Melanie Carugan, drink creator and bar manager at Saku Hoboken in Hoboken, NJ, peels three long strips of cucumber, rolls them up, and skewers them together with a toothpick.

Not Toddy
Start by mixing 3 Tbsp. ground turmeric and 3 Tbsp. simple syrup together in a mug. Then add some juice (whatever you like) and a pinch of fresh ginger with a little hot water. Finish by adding 1 Tbsp. lemon juice and filling the remaining bit of the glass with more hot water, says Carugan. This is basically relaxation in a cup. That's a good thing since destressing can tamp down on inflammation, say researchers at Carnegie Mellon University.

Classic Old Fashioned
Thanks to its vibrant oak, caramel, and vanilla flavors, this classic drink features zero-proof whiskey as a substitution for regular whiskey. Gerber, who concocted this sipper, says to start with 4 Tbsp. zero-proof whiskey (like Ritual) in a glass. Add 5 drops cinnamon extract; 1 Tbsp. maple syrup; and a cherry. Give it all a stir, add an orange slice, and enjoy.

Sangria
Load a pitcher with 1 cup grapes and thin slices of 1 apple and 1 orange. Prepare the tea: Steep 6 hibiscus tea bags in 1½ cups boiling water. Then pour in the prepared tea, 1 cup orange juice, ¼ cup honey, and juice and zest of half a lemon. Finally, add 1½ cups ice and 2 Tbsp. orange bitters, says drink maker Marissa Stevens, author of the food blog Pinch and Swirl. Cheers!