Tea
Tea is my base of choice for non-alcoholic cocktails. The incredible variety of flavour available in herbal, black, oolong, chai, green and rooibos teas allow for almost limitless cocktail bases. Most non-alcoholic cocktails are fruit juice based, and as a result end up horribly sweet. Teas also make great infusions of other base spirits.
Coffee
Coffee is an extremely dominant flavour in a cocktail. When it works and is done properly, the result can be extraordinary but I too often find coffee overpowering.
Juice
Fruit juice is the most common base in non-alcoholic cocktails but if not used carefully, the drink will end up way too sweet. Too often people use juice as a base then add other sweet ingredients to make the end result a syrupy mess. Try a less sweet juice like watermelon or tomato if you insist on using juice as a base. Tea is always a better option.
Beer
I hate cocktails made with beer. I’ve tried a few and have never been impressed. Beer just doesn’t belong in a cocktail in my eyes. I know a lot of people would disagree. Other than on the patio on a scorching hot day, I almost never drink it. Maybe I’m a bit biased.