Several years ago, before a trip with friends to the Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania, Laura Taylor decided to experiment with creating her own mocktails. After giving up alcohol, she found traditional options like sparkling water and diet soda unsatisfactory, especially in social settings, as they didn’t appeal to adult drinkers. Taylor took her daughter to Whole Foods, where they filled their grocery cart with ingredients such as lavender essence, various juices, citrus fruits, and herbs. Upon returning home, Taylor crafted three unique drinks. She packed her favorite mixture into a one-liter bottle and brought it along on the trip, feeling pleased with the outcome.
“When I returned from that trip, I didn’t even greet my family; I went straight to my laptop to explore what was happening in the adult non-alcoholic market,” Taylor recalled. “At that time, it didn’t even have a name.” In 2017, she launched Mingle Mocktails, aimed at consumers who wanted to avoid alcohol, either enjoying them on their own or mixing them into cocktails. Since then, the brand has become a prominent player in the growing nonalcoholic cocktail space, as more consumers seek out alcohol-free alternatives to their favorite drinks.
Mingle Mocktails offers seven different varieties, including Key Lime Margarita, Blood Orange Elderflower Mimosa, Cranberry Cosmo, Moscow Mule, Blackberry Hibiscus Bellini, and Cucumber Melon Mojito. Last month, the brand introduced a new flavor, Sparkling Raspberry Rosé, which boasts 35% less sugar than a typical 4-ounce rosé. Mingle Mocktails are available in ready-to-drink cans and 750-milliliter bottles meant for sharing, similar to champagne.
The brand is particularly targeting consumers who are reducing their alcohol intake, especially millennials and Gen Z. However, the flavor profiles of the drinks are not designed to replicate alcoholic beverages directly. Due to past issues with alcohol abuse, Taylor decided to avoid creating triggers for consumers trying to stay away from alcohol. Instead, the focus is on flavor essences, such as salt and lime in the margarita-flavored mocktail. “I began to view it as a more inclusive beverage that someone like me, who doesn’t drink, can enjoy, while my husband can add some vodka,” Taylor explained. “This creates a more exciting social connection.”
Rather than continually launching new flavors, Mingle Mocktails concentrates on expanding the reach of its existing products as interest in zero-proof cocktails grows. In March, Mingle Mocktails formed a distribution partnership with Republic National Distributing Company, one of the largest alcohol wholesalers in the U.S. According to Nielsen IQ data, Mingle Mocktails is recognized as the fastest-growing brand in the nonalcoholic spirits category. The nonalcoholic drinks market is projected to reach $30 billion by 2025, according to Global Market Insights.
After entering the sector seven years ago, Taylor has observed how perceptions of nonalcoholic beverages have shifted as people become more familiar with the category. She cited a buyer from a well-known national chain who initially struggled to understand the need for these offerings until he spoke with friends who don’t drink but expressed interest in trying them.
Taylor views nonalcoholic beverages as more than a fleeting trend, as the demand for alcohol-free options continues to rise, leading to new product launches that may include functional ingredients like calcium citrate malate, which can support overall health. “This category will keep evolving, with non-alcoholic beer, wine, spirits, and ready-to-drink options emerging. Some brands will succeed while others may not,” Taylor noted. “There will be greater clarity in this category, similar to how grocery stores and liquor stores now consistently display kombucha or plant-based foods.”
Taylor credits zero-proof IPA producer Athletic Brewing for paving the way for emerging brands in the nonalcoholic sector aiming for mainstream acceptance.