Banff’s Best Mocktails: Non-Alcoholic Sips Worthy of Another Round

We’re so lucky to live in the golden age of mocktails and that the world of alcohol-free drinks has evolved beyond the Shirley Temple.

If you’re looking for non-alcoholic drinks, Banff has you covered with mouth-watering concoctions created with all the theatrics and deliciousness as their boozy counterparts, but none of the downsides.

If you’re interested in dry-tripping, here’s where to find the best mocktails in Banff. Bottoms up!

The Fat Ox

The Elder & The Cucumber Mule

Bright and airy, The Fat Ox serves up more than upscale Northern Italian fare. Here, you’ll find several alcohol-free indulgences perfect for après-ski imbibing. With your drink in hand, you can gaze out of their floor-to-ceiling windows and enjoy Banff’s majestic mountains.

While the phrase “The Elder” may refer to a person of advanced age, this zero-proof option sure isn’t old.

Sweeter than your typical Gin and Tonic, this mocktail resembles a gin collins thanks to its alchemy of DHŌS Gin Free, in-house honey syrup and lemon juice topped with soda. It’s light and refreshing and not too tart.

A dead ringer for the real thing, the Cucumber Mule is your answer to a Moscow Mule. Lovers of ginger will appreciate the punch packed in this dry option comprised of house-made cucumber simple syrup, lime juice, ginger beer and DHŌS Gin. It goes down oh-so well, but that hit of ginger lingers in a loving way.

Earl’s

Italian Spritz & Picante Margarita

Enjoying Banff’s alcohol-free beverages doesn’t mean resorting to being modest and demure, not at the always buzzing Earl’s situated just off Banff Avenue. Get into the spirit of things with their Picante Margarita, which tastes exactly like a spicy margarita should.

Sporting a slight sweetness from the agave, it’s well balanced with lime and enough of a chili kick; you won’t need to lick the Tajín salt rim, but hey, don’t let us stop you.

One of their most popular zero-proof orders is the Italian Spritz. Served in a tall wine glass and garnished with a dehydrated slice of orange, it looks every bit as red and juicy as an Aperol Spritz. This is where the two part ways.

Thanks to passionfruit syrup, orange bitters and fresh lemon, the non-alcoholic Spritz is puckery and fruity but not sweet. This tropical thirst quencher is a perfect complement for a night out on the town.

Park Distillery Restaurant + Bar

White Pyramid & Glacier Lily

You might think parking yourself at Park, the first distillery inside a national park, for some booze-free bevvies to be counterintuitive. But you’d be wrong.

This popular restaurant and bar feels like a rustic mountain lodge and encourages everyone to gather around — which is quite easy to do in its cozy wood dining room.

The food and drink menu inspired by campfire cooking extends to its booze-free selections. Smoky and lightly spiced, White Pyramid, named after a local summit, is a winning composition of habanero lime syrup, lemon juice and sugar.

Served in a coup with a thick, foamy layer of egg white on top, you can’t beat the sophistication.

Also, on the mocktail menu, you’ll find Glacier Lily. This super juicy sweet sipper plays with grapefruit, lime, honey and basil flavours.

What sets Park apart is that they don’t use alcohol-free spirits, relying on their syrups and spices to create that cocktail kick. Oh, and there’s a retail shop situated at the main entrance. Head there to pick up tea syrups made by Banff’s Jolene’s Tea House to make your own creations.

Better yet, scan the QR code on your table, and they’ll bring your purchases directly to you. As a bonus, you’ll receive a 10% discount if you’ve been eating or drinking before your purchase.

Block Kitchen and Bar

Passionfruit Mojito & Unbeetable

Block has a pretty small footprint but the food and mocktails pack a punch, so count yourself lucky to score a table or barstool in this highly coveted spot. Locals love its high-quality, affordable meals, but you’re here for the drinks, which also come highly recommended.

Refreshing and clean, their Passionfruit Mojito will immediately transport you to the tropics. Served tall and kissed by plenty of mint, it’s a substantial spirit-free sipper that remains light and approachable.

For something you won’t find anywhere else, order the Unbeetable, invented by a former bar manager driven by a desire to make everyone fall in love with beets. Correct in his optimism; he was pretty obviously from Australia.

Comprised of fresh beet juice, lemon syrup, egg white, and Seedlip, the world's first non-alcoholic spirit, its gorgeous ruby tones are highlighted by being served in a coup.

Juicy and citrusy, this "Blocktail" sports a subtle earthy undertone, but you'dprobably never guess it was from beets. Unbeetable pairs perfectly with pretty much everything on Block's eclectic menu.

Brazen

Papa Don’t Peach & Lavender Lemon Spritzer

An elegant space with chandeliers and cozy horseshoe booths inside Mount Royal Hotel, Brazen dishes out contemporary takes on the classics. This extends to their cocktail program.

While Brazen offers several intriguing zero-compromise options, the nattily dressed bartenders are also happy to create custom non-alcoholic alternatives to what’s on their cocktail list.

Just a heads up, you’ll probably throw back the Lavender Lemon Spritzer faster than you expected. Made with DHŌS Gin Free, local chamomile tea and house-made butterfly pea flower lavender syrup, this mocktail morphs from royal blue to pretty purple with the addition of lemon.

Lovely and layered like a Kardashian’s ombré hair circa 2016, you’re sure to appreciate its sweet, slightly floral taste as much as its good looks.

For something to sip and savour, opt for Papa Don’t Peach. We’re pretty confident Madonna would appreciate the notes of peach, which work so well when muddled with fresh thyme, Jolene’s green tea, and that alcohol-free DHŌS Gin.

The addition of spiced ginger syrup treats taste buds to a slight tingle, which will probably make you appreciate all those finer nuances you can pick up when sober.

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