The Gimlet dates to the 19th century, when British sailors were issued daily lime rations to prevent scurvy. To preserve the juice on long voyages, it was mixed with neutral spirits—until ship provisioner Lachlan Rose developed a way to fortify lime juice with sugar instead of alcohol. His invention, Rose’s Lime Juice Cordial, made lime juice shelf-stable and eventually helped define the gimlet cocktail. Today, most bartenders skip the cordial in favor of fresh lime juice and sugar for a brighter, cleaner drink.
Our non-alcoholic gimlet keeps that classic structure—gin, lime, and sugar—but adds ginger for a spicy, refreshing bite that really stands out. Our favorite gin alternative from Monday brings classic botanical notes while a half-ounce of Kavahol adds ginger heat, a mild kava tingle, and just enough buzz to make it feel genuinely adult. A couple dashes of our Aromatic bitters add spice and depth, resulting in a sharp, botanical profile that drinks like a true zero-proof cocktail, not a sugary mocktail. It’s a modern kava drink that honors the classic while offering something entirely its own.
This recipe was perfected using Monday Gin, but you’re welcome to use your favorite non-alcoholic gin instead. Because alcohol and kava should not be combined, please avoid adding full-strength spirits to this recipe.
Classic gimlet energy with a ginger twist and mild kava buzz, completely alchohol-free.
Ingredients
1 ½ oz Monday Gin
½ oz Kavahol
¾ oz lime juice
½ oz simple syrup
2 dashes ATB Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters
Directions
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
Garnish with a lime twist.
Recipe Note
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS The Gimlet is one of the simplest—and most reliable—templates for non-alcoholic cocktails. Fresh lime juice and sugar provide the texture and balance that spirit-free drinks often miss, while a good zero-proof gin lays down the botanical backbone. A splash of Kavahol adds gentle ginger heat, a mild tongue-tingling effect, and just enough kava buzz to give this drink real presence. Aromatic bitters fill in the gaps, supplying warm spice and depth so the cocktail finishes long and clean rather than flat.
WHAT DOES KAVA FEEL LIKE? Think of it like the feeling you get after your first drink—that warm, slightly tingly “ooh, I had a drink” moment. It’s uplifting and makes you feel relaxed and social without crossing into inebriation. There’s no drunk texting, no stumbling around—just a light, happy buzz that stays in a good place.
KAVA SAFETY: NOBLE ROOT ONLY Concerns about kava and liver toxicity come from early studies (that have since been refuted) using non-noble varieties of kava that contained stems, leaves, and other low-quality material. Kavahol is made exclusively from noble kava root, the traditionally consumed and widely regarded safe form used for centuries in the South Pacific. Even so, kava is not recommended during pregnancy and may interact with certain medications—so consult your doctor if you’re unsure.
USING BITTERS IN NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS Cocktail bitters provide depth and balance, rounding out sweet and sour flavors while adding bite. Since All The Bitter is completely 0% ABV (unlike traditional bitters, which are around 45% alcohol), you can use as much as you like to dial in flavor and complexity without affecting the ABV of your drink.
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