In the winter of 1946, no one would have used the word mocktail. If a drink didn’t contain alcohol, it was simply juice, soda, or something poured for children. But that doesn’t mean the rituals themselves were absent.
In the world of Even the Faithful, January is quiet by necessity. The holidays have passed. Snow narrows the streets. Evenings stretch long and spare. People gather at kitchen tables or sit with the radio low, holding a glass not for indulgence, but for comfort and for the sense that the day has been properly marked.
Modern readers are often more intentional about what they drink, especially at the start of the year. Whether you’re observing Dry January or simply easing into winter at a gentler pace, these vintage-inspired mocktails borrow the structure of midcentury drinks—the balance, the restraint, the familiar flavors—without the alcohol. They’re meant for quiet nights in, thoughtful hosting, and moments that don’t need spectacle to feel complete.
Citrus & Bitters Tonic
Bitters-and-soda was once a common sight at American bars and homes alike, often taken medicinally or simply because it tasted grown-up. This version keeps that grown-up taste, minus the alcohol.
Ingredients:
4 oz tonic water or club soda
2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
½ oz simple syrup (optional, to taste)
2–3 dashes non-alcoholic bitters
Instructions:
Build over ice in a rocks glass and stir gently. Garnish with a twist of grapefruit peel.
Bracing, modest, and slightly austere, something you might sip while the radio plays softly in the background.
Spiced Apple Fizz
Apple cider was ubiquitous in the Midwest, especially in winter. This mocktail takes familiar pantry flavors and treats them with a little ceremony.
Ingredients:
3 oz apple cider
2 oz ginger beer or ginger ale
1 oz fresh lemon juice
Pinch of cinnamon or grated nutmeg
Instructions:
Shake the cider and lemon juice with ice. Strain into a glass and top with ginger beer. Finish with spice.
Optional variation: add a cinnamon stick and let it rest for a minute before drinking.
Raspberry Lemon Spritz
Fruit syrups were common long before cocktails became elaborate. This one is light, gently sweet, and well-suited to an early night.
Ingredients:
1 oz raspberry syrup
1 oz fresh lemon juice
4 oz sparkling water
Instructions:
Stir gently over ice in a coupe or small wine glass. Garnish with a lemon peel or frozen raspberry.
Celebratory without being demanding, something to drink slowly while reading or writing.
Mocktails may be a modern invention, but the desire behind them isn’t new. People have always looked for ways to make an ordinary evening feel intentional—to pause, to reflect, to hold something warm or bright in the dark months.
Photo by Jacek Dylag on Unsplash