Vegan Cocktails That You Must Try!

We understand that most cocktails are generally vegan-friendly and that many spirits are cruelty-free. However, our goal is to expand that list and present a variety of cocktails that may not have traditionally been considered vegan. You might be curious about how this is possible. The answer lies in using the right substitute ingredients and following a guide highlighting loopholes to ensure the cocktails meet vegan standards.

Let’s start with a quick overview of vegan substitutes.

How To Make Any Cocktail Vegan

As veganism gains popularity, more options have emerged to help find suitable substitutions for original ingredients. Consider trying these solutions to make your cocktail vegan.

• Read the labels

When buying spirits, read the ingredients list and other information on the label. Preferably look for spirits that state they are vegan-friendly. With veganism rising among the customer base, most distilleries have considered launching suitable options.

• Opt out of store-bought mixers

Having to hunt for the appropriate mixers can be a tedious task, and can limit cocktail options. Instead, opt for simple ingredients that you can find at home. It’s a surety all the ingredients are bound to be approved.

• Choosing milk and sugar substitutes

Cheat code: replace all milk ingredients with almond, soy, or coconut milk options. Likewise, you can substitute honey with agave syrup.

• Egg white substitute

The liquid from canned chickpeas makes a good substitute for egg white and can help you provide your cocktail with all the froth.

Try These Cocktails Made Vegan-Friendly

1. Vegan-friendly Whiskey Sour
2. Christmas Vegan Eggnog
3. Hot Buttered Rum
4. White Lady
5. Vegan Pina Colada
6. Vegan Mudslide Cocktail
7. Vegan Irish Cream

1. Vegan-friendly Whiskey Sour

The primary ingredient that gives a Whiskey Sour cocktail its frothy texture is egg whites. Eliminating egg whites may not be the best choice. Instead, you can substitute the egg whites with a liquid of chickpeas, which is the liquid from canned chickpeas. This alternative will provide a similar texture. Give it a try!

Ingredients

• 2 oz. bourbon
• 2 tbsp. chickpea water
• ¾ oz. simple syrup
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• 1 orange peel
• 1 cocktail cherry

How To Make Vegan-friendly Whiskey Sour

1. In a cocktail shaker, add bourbon, simple syrup, and lemon juice and shake well. This is called a dry shake.
2. Then add the chickpea water in the shake and shake extremely vigorously and we mean it. It’s got to froth.
3. Strain the mix in a cocktail glass and garnish with ice cubes, cherry, and orange peel. 

Also Read: Alcohol In Food? Make Your Meals Tastier With These Recipes

2. Christmas Vegan Eggnog

Ah, this is the recipe for a good ol’ eggnog but without the egg part in it. Just because eggnog’s main ingredients are not vegan-friendly, we weren’t going to let it stop us from ruining a delicious Christmas tradition. Here’s how you can make your Eggnog vegan without compromising on its integrity. 

Ingredients

• 13 oz. full-fat coconut milk (we’re making a batch)
•  1 cup soaked cashews
• 1 ½ cups plant-based milk
• 8 tbsp. coconut sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. Ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp. Ground cloves
• ¼ tsp. cardamom
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• 4 oz. bourbon

How To Make Christmas Vegan Eggnog

1. Add all the ingredients without the bourbon in a blender and blend on medium. It should take about 3 minutes.
2. If you like your eggnog hot, then heat the mixture in a saucepan but don’t boil.
3. Otherwise, serve on ice.
4. Before serving, add bourbon to a glass and top up with the eggnog mixture.
5. You can make it a holiday special by garnishing it with coconut whipped cream and cinnamon sticks.

3. Hot Buttered Rum

Although it might seem confusing with “butter” in the title, rest assured that the recipe remains unchanged. With the increasing number of companies offering plant-based products, you can easily find plant-based butter to use in this recipe. Everything else stays the same. Just a quick reminder – be sure to check the labels for the type of spirit and vanilla extract used. It’s always a good idea to verify these details.

Ingredients

• 2 oz. dark rum
• 4 oz. hot water
• 2 packets of brown sugar
• 1 tbsp. soften butter (plant-based)
• A splash of vanilla extract
• A pinch of ground cinnamon
• A pinch of ground nutmeg
• A pinch of allspice
• Cinnamon stick for garnish

How To Make Hot Buttered Rum

1. Add brown sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and spices to a coffee mug. Mix well.
2. Add rum and mix well.
3. Top up with hot water and stir.
4. Garnish with the cinnamon stick and serve.

 

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4. White Lady

The good part of the White Lady cocktail is that the official recipe makes egg white optional. The main purpose of the egg here is to smoothen the texture of the cocktail, unlike in the case of a Whiskey Sour where the egg whites add to the taste and flavor. So here, you can eliminate the egg without any regrets! 

Ingredients

• 2 oz. gin
• ½ oz. cognac
• ½ oz. lemon juice
• 1 oz. liquid of chickpeas (or skip this part completely)
• Lemon wheel for garnish

How To Make White Lady

1. Add all the ingredients and ice in a cocktail shaker until it’s forthy. Keep in mind, that if you omit the liquid of chickpeas, the cocktail will not froth. So don’t wait around.
2. Strain the drink into a cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Also Read: Make Pride Month Colorful With These Rainbow Cocktails

5. Vegan Pina Colada

Get this, even though the original version is already vegan-friendly, we’ve got a fun twist, making it even more ecstatic. Just swap the cream of coconut with coconut milk. The rest will fall in place, creating a new and exciting version of its older self. Be careful when ordering the original edition in restaurants. Some bartenders use dairy cream to thicken the cocktail. Just ask them to skip over. Here’s how to make a complete vegan one.  

Ingredients

• 2 oz. coconut rum
• 4 oz. pineapple juice
• 2 oz. coconut milk
• 1 tbsp. coconut sugar
• Colada-friendly cocktail umbrella

How To Make Vegan Pina Colada

1. We are going to use a blender for this one. Add all the ingredients and ice in a blender.
2. That’s right, blend.
3. Pour into a cocktail glass and decorate with the umbrella.
4. Enjoy it by the pool or a beach because this drink is the epitome of tropical.

6. Vegan Mudslide Cocktail

If you’re a chocolate lover, this vegan version of the Mudslide Cocktail is a perfect treat. It uses dairy-free, grain-free, plant-based ingredients while maintaining its identity as a fun dessert cocktail. Though this recipe uses coconut milk, you can swap it for soy or almond milk. We like the latter since it adds a nutty flavor to the cocktail.

Ingredients

• 3 oz. Kahlúa
• 1 ½ oz. Crème De Menthe
• 2 tbsp. vegan dark chocolate chips (melted)
• 2 scoops of non-dairy ice cream
• 1 sprig of mint (this one is minty!)

How To Make Vegan Mudslide Cocktail

1. In a blender, add melted chocolate, Kahlúa, Crème De Menthe, ice cream, and ice cubes. 
2. Blend all the ingredients.
3. Pour the mixture into a cocktail glass and add the mint leaves.
4. You can also sprinkle a few chocolate chips before serving.

7. Vegan Irish Cream

Most Irish Cream options like Baileys Irish Cream contain dairy which is a straight no-no for vegans. But that doesn’t mean you have to turn your back on this one completely. Let us teach you how to make your own with a vegan-friendly solution! It’s just as delicious as the regular one. 

Ingredients

• 2 shots of espresso
• ¼ cup coconut sugar
• 1 tsp. cocoa powder
• 2 cups coconut milk
• 1 tsp. almond extract
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup whiskey

How To Make Vegan Irish Cream

1. First, prepare the coffee.
2. While the coffee is hot, add the sugar and cocoa powder and whisk together.
3. Add coconut milk, almond extract, vanilla extract, and whiskey into the mix. Whisk.
4. To serve, pour the mixture over ice and enjoy!
5. This version of Irish Cream can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 2 weeks so enjoy this one over time.

Also Read: Most Creative Sambuca Cocktails To Try

Summing Up

With these simple swaps and minor changes, you can convert any cocktail into a vegan one. So next time you have to make a vegan cocktail for yourself and a friend, freak them out with this eggnog recipe (and don’t tell me what they’re in for!)

FAQs

What Common Cocktails Are Vegan?

Commonly ordered cocktails like Manhattan, Pina Colada, Cosmopolitan, Old Fashioned, and Mojito are already vegan-friendly. With our vegan-friendly substitutions, you can convert any cocktail to vegan as well.

Can Vegans Drink Gin And Tonic?

Yes! Gin and tonic, the main ingredients of G&T are vegan-friendly. The only thing to check for here is if the gin brand you’re using is vegan. This can be found on the label or their product website.

What Alcohol Isn’t Vegan?

Almost all alcohols are vegan. But it’s important to know the production process that involves ingredients that may not suit the vegan diet. Most brands do state if they are vegan-friendly or not on the website and label. Make sure you check before consumption.

Can Vegans Drink All Alcohol?

Most alcohols like rum, whiskey, gin, and vodka are vegan-friendly and can be consumed without hesitation. The only ones that need to be taken into account are dairy-based products like Irish Cream and other creamy liqueurs.

Are Mojitos Vegan?

Mojitos are primarily made of gin (or vodka), mint, lemon, simple syrup and soda. All the ingredients are vegan-friendly.