There are many reasons to skip booze [1] during a night out, and sometimes it's fine to sip on juice, soda, or plain water while everyone else is drinking. But it can also be an utter drag. That's why mocktails are great — and why we wish they were a little less of a sugar bomb than most of them are. Some Shirley Temples, for example, can have around 59 grams of sugar [2] in one drink, according to the Nutritionix database.
If you're looking for a booze-free cocktail with more nutritional value, plus a more complex taste, Curious Elixirs might be the brand to try. They come in three varieties so far and stand out for their all-organic ingredients and interesting, low-cal blends of juices, herbs, adaptogens, [3] root extracts, and (in one of the cocktails) even CBD [4]. If you're looking for some fizzle, they're carbonated as well. And each flavor features zero grams of added sugar, meaning that the only sugar comes from the natural ingredients. Even then, one flavor only has three grams.
Each flavor comes in a classy bottle, and its website describes the taste and best serving combinations for each to maximize your alcohol-free drinking experience. You can order them online [5] in a case of 12 bottles ($89) or a box of four ($35), and its website says that each bottle splits into two cocktail servings. Read on for different flavors and nutrition facts for each swanky, booze-free drink.
Curious Elixir No. 1
On its website, the Curious Elixir No. 1 is an alcohol-free mix between a Negroni [7] and an Old Fashioned. [8] It's worth noting that Curious No. 1 has the most sugar, but that it's all sourced from the blend of juices and extracts. Curious Elixirs recommends drinking it neat or on the rocks with an orange twist.
All-organic ingredients include:
- Pomegranate and orange juice concentrates.
- Lemon peel, bitter orange, and genitian root extracts.
- Goldenroot (aka rhodiola) extract, known for decreasing stress and fatigue. [9]
Nutrition facts:
- Calories: 45
- Carbs: 19 grams
- Sugars: 18 g
See the website for full nutrition facts. [10]
Curious Elixir No. 2
Curious Elixir No. 2 is described as a blend of pineapple margarita [11] and Dark and Stormy [12] (dark rum and ginger beer). On its website, the brand recommends drinking it over ice with a slice of lime and an optional sprinkle of salt on the rim.
All-organic ingredients include:
- Pineapple, orange, and lime juice extract.
- Ginger, jalapeno, and red chili extract.
- Damiana extract, an ancient herb traditionally used as an aphrodisiac [13] and to soothe bladder pain. (Research hasn't yet confirmed its effectiveness, though.)
Nutrition facts:
- Calories: 44
- Carbs: 11 g
- Sugar: 9 g
See the website for full nutrition facts. [14]
Curious Elixir No. 3
Curious Elixir No. 3, which the brand says is limited edition, has a more floral taste, similar to the Bee's Knees [15] (a cocktail with gin, lemon juice, and honey) and the Cucumber Collins [16] (cucumber slices, lemon juice, and gin), according to the website. Curious No. 3 includes CBD, a non-intoxicating marijuana extract with anxiety, pain-relief, and sleep benefits [17]. A non-CBD version is available as well.
All-organic ingredients include:
- Cucumber, white grape, and lemon juice concentrate.
- Lemon peel and juniper berry extract.
- Ashwagandha extract, [18] an herb and adaptogen with proven stress relief and cortisol reduction properties, [19] as well as other possible immune system-, energy-, and mood-boosting properties.
Nutrition facts:
- Calories: 10
- Carbs: 4 g
- Sugar: 3 g
See the website for full nutrition facts. [20]
Curious Elixirs are available to buy at curiouselixirs.com [21] as a box of 4 bottles ($35) or a case of 12 bottles ($89). You can also join the Curious Cocktail Club [22] for discounts on monthly variety packs.
