Kava Haven and tonic is already a great two-ingredient drink, but this version transforms that simple highball into a truly elevated non-alcoholic cocktail. Yuzu juice brings sharp, floral acidity, while Meyer lemon syrup adds soft citrus richness that keeps the drink lively rather than sweet. Tonic water contributes bite and texture—two elements that help zero-proof cocktails feel complete—but it’s the bitters that really make this sing. Our Old Fashioned Aromatic and Orange Cardamom bitters add spice, depth, and structure, turning a basic highball into a bright, punchy, cocktail-bar-level drink with a mellow kava buzz.
You can absolutely make this with standard lemon juice instead of yuzu, or simple syrup in place of Meyer lemon syrup—but this is our favorite version.
*Kava is not recommended during pregnancy or with certain medications.
Punchy, citrus-forward kava and tonic with bright yuzu, Meyer lemon, and layered spice.
Ingredients
1 oz Kava Haven
½ oz yuzu juice
½ oz Meyer lemon syrup
5 dashes ATB Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters
3 dashes ATB Orange Cardamom Bitters
4 oz tonic water
Directions
Combine Kava Haven, juice, syrup, and bitters in a shaker with ice and shake briefly.
Strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice.
Top with tonic water and stir gently to combine.
Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Recipe Note
ABOUT KAVA HAVEN Kava Haven is a lemon-forward kava spirit made for mixing—bright, zesty, and far more refined than traditional muddy kava tea. It works naturally with simple mixers like tonic, soda, ginger ale, or sparkling wine, and makes a terrific ingredient in more complex cocktails like our Lemon Drop and Blackberry Smash. You don’t need to mix Kava Haven, though—because of its big flavor and the natural bite of kava root, it’s one of the few non-alcoholic spirits that is enjoyable sipped straight.
WHAT DOES KAVA FEEL LIKE? If you’ve ever wondered what kava actually feels like, this is the perfect format to experience it. Kava drinks have a relaxing effect—often described as a mild, calming buzz—along with a gentle warmth and the classic tongue-tingling sensation that kavalactones are known for. It’s subtle and grounding—not inebriating in the way that alcohol is—and it makes kava cocktails the perfect non-alcoholic alternative.
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. Kava Haven 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 MOCKTAILS 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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