How To Make a Non-Alcoholic Holiday Old Fashioned

Key Takeaways for Holiday Hosts

• A non-alcoholic holiday Old Fashioned follows the classic 1806 template of spirit, sweetener, water, and bitters, dressed with warm spice, orange, and cherry for a festive feel.
• Little Saints Old Fashioned can delivers that signature profile at zero sugar and five calories per serving, ready to pour over ice for instant service.
• Little Saints St. Oak mixes 1:1 with whiskey in built or batched recipes, providing oak-aged notes, functional mushrooms at 100 mg per serving, and documented 70% beta glucan potency.
• Both the can and built versions support zebra striping, so guests can alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at the same table without compromise.
• Four builds in this guide, from can to warm cider, all follow the same spirit-sweetener-bitters-garnish formula.

Stock Your Holiday Bar With Little Saints

What Is a Non-Alcoholic Holiday Old Fashioned?

The Old Fashioned is the oldest surviving cocktail template. The earliest known definition of a cocktail, published in the Hudson Balance and Columbian Repository on May 13, 1806, described it as “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters.” That four-part formula of spirit, sweetener, water, and bitters still defines the Old Fashioned today.

A non-alcoholic holiday Old Fashioned rebuilds that 1806 template without alcohol and dresses it for the season with warm spice, orange, cherry, a real rocks glass, and a garnish at nose level. The ritual makes it read as a proper stirred cocktail: the expressed peel, the large cube, and the amber color in proper glassware. The drink is a proper stirred cocktail, and Little Saints was built to avoid the juice-forward, syrup-heavy profile of the mocktail category.

For a deeper look at how non-alcoholic spirits perform in the Old Fashioned template, see Non-Alcoholic Spirits for an Old Fashioned: Build It Right.

Why Little Saints Is the Best Base for a Non-Alcoholic Holiday Old Fashioned

Little Saints stands out as the most complete base for a non-alcoholic holiday Old Fashioned. The strengths are nutritional, functional, and practical for hosting.

The Little Saints Old Fashioned can delivers zero sugar and five calories per can, sweetened with monk fruit juice concentrate. Little Saints St. Oak carries zero grams of sugar with no sweeteners of any kind, so any sweetness comes from the botanical extracts themselves. Both Little Saints lines are built on the brand's functional platform, Nature's Neuroscience, which draws on organic Reishi, organic Lion's Mane, Damiana, and botanical terpenes, with the exact blend varying by product. The mushroom extracts are dosed at a stated 100 mg per serving at a minimum of 70% beta glucan, documented by certificates of analysis from the supplier. That dose and potency figure appear on the label, where many brands publish no functional numbers at all.

St. Oak mixes 1:1, so two ounces of St. Oak stand in for two ounces of whiskey in an Old Fashioned build and capture the notes of an oak-aged whiskey without claiming to match its taste. That ratio works because the spirit is built on oil-based craft extracts instead of flavored water, which is also why it holds up in a stirred build instead of thinning out over ice. It carries a deliberate heat from cardamom and capsicum that signals a cocktail rather than a soft drink. St. Oak was named Best NA Spirit of 2025 by the BevNET Spirit Awards. It also holds a 4.5/5 rating across 133 customer reviews on littlesaints.com, captured August 2026.

A separate category of non-alcoholic bourbon-style spirits relies on producing an alcoholic distillate and then removing the ethanol. These products often carry real oak and caramel character, but the trade-offs show up on the label. Sugar appears in the ingredient list of leading products in this category, calorie counts run higher than five per serving, and they publish no dose or beta glucan potency figure, since there is no functional ingredient to dose. The standard pour for many of these spirits runs two to three times the volume of the whiskey they replace because they do not use the oil-based extract technology that allows a 1:1 ratio. Little Saints St. Oak answers each of those trade-offs directly and keeps the build simple for hosts.

St. Oak covers the built side of that comparison. For hosts who want no build at all, the Little Saints Old Fashioned can is a different proposition: a finished non-alcoholic cocktail, ready to pour over ice, at the zero-sugar and five-calorie spec already noted. It requires no build at all, which makes it the simplest option for a self-serve station, a last-minute guest, or a host who wants to be at the table instead of behind the bar.

Convenience is not the only evening consideration. There is also no caffeine in the core Little Saints line, which matters when guests are protecting their sleep. The Little Saints Lift, the sense of clarity and ease that customers describe as feeling a little lifted and more present, comes from the functional blend, not from stimulants.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Non-Alcoholic Old Fashioned, Low Sugar: Build & Breakdown covers the full nutritional comparison in detail.

Explore Little Saints Old Fashioned and St. Oak

How To Make a Non-Alcoholic Holiday Old Fashioned

Two builds use the same formula. The can build gives instant service, and the built version gives you the stirring ritual.

Can Build for Instant Holiday Service

This is the fastest path to a proper glass: one can, one large cube, and two garnishes do all the work.

Ingredients:

• 1 can Little Saints Old Fashioned (8 oz)
• 1 large clear ice cube
• 1 wide orange peel, for expressing
• 1 brandied-style cherry, for garnish

1. Place one large clear ice cube in a rocks glass.
2. Open the can and pour the Little Saints Old Fashioned directly over the ice.
3. Hold the orange peel skin-side down over the glass and snap it firmly to express the oils across the surface.
4. Drop the peel into the glass or drape it on the rim. Add the cherry and serve immediately.

Built Version With Little Saints St. Oak

This version suits hosts who enjoy the classic stirred build and want full control over sweetness and bitters.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Little Saints St. Oak
• ¼ oz monk fruit syrup or a few drops of liquid monk fruit sweetener (zero sugar; avoid maple syrup or simple syrup)
• 2–3 dashes aromatic bitters
• 1 large clear ice cube
• 1 wide orange peel, for expressing
• 1 brandied-style cherry, for garnish

1. Add the monk fruit sweetener and bitters to a rocks glass. Stir briefly to combine.
2. Add the large ice cube.
3. Pour 2 oz Little Saints St. Oak over the ice.
4. Stir gently for 20–30 seconds to chill and lightly dilute. The classic Old Fashioned is built by stirring, not shaking, because shaking aerates, clouds, and over-dilutes a spirit-forward drink.
5. Express the orange peel skin-side down over the glass to release the citrus oils. Rub the peel around the rim, then drop it in or drape it on the edge.
6. Add the cherry and serve immediately.

Zero-Sugar Sweetener Choices

Monk fruit is the sweetener in the Little Saints Old Fashioned can, while the spirits contain no sweeteners at all. When building with Little Saints St. Oak, use a monk fruit-based syrup or liquid monk fruit drops to keep the drink zero sugar. Sugary syrups, maple syrup, and simple syrup add sugar load and move the drink away from the zero-sugar spec. The non-alcoholic maple Old Fashioned question is really a sweetener question, because monk fruit delivers the same rounding sweetness without the sugar.

Get Little Saints for Built and Can Versions

Batch a Non-Alcoholic Holiday Old Fashioned for a Crowd

The built version scales cleanly for parties. Stirred drinks hold well because they do not lose carbonation and contain no fresh citrus that oxidizes quickly.

Pitcher Batch for Eight Guests

This pitcher build lets guests pour their own while you focus on hosting.

• 16 oz (2 cups) Little Saints St. Oak
• 2 oz monk fruit syrup (zero sugar)
• 20–24 dashes aromatic bitters
• 3–4 oz cold water (to replace the dilution stirring over ice would provide)

1. Combine Little Saints St. Oak, monk fruit syrup, bitters, and cold water in a pitcher or large jar.
2. Stir to integrate, then taste and adjust bitters if needed.
3. Seal and refrigerate for at least two hours before service.
4. At service, pour approximately 80 ml (about 2¾ oz) per guest over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
5. Express an orange peel over each glass and add a cherry. Keep the garnish station beside the pitcher so guests can finish their own.

Keep ice beside the pitcher, not inside it, so the batch does not dilute as it sits. Chill the batch itself and ice the individual glasses at pour. For a self-serve station, set out the pitcher, a bowl of large clear ice cubes, a plate of orange peels, and a jar of cherries so guests can pour and garnish at the table.

The Warm Holiday Version

A warm build works for arrivals, dessert, or any moment when the room calls for something that smells like the holidays.

Warm Apple-Cider Old Fashioned (Single Serve)

This mug-style Old Fashioned brings apple, spice, and oak together without adding sugar.

• 2 oz Little Saints St. Oak
• 3 oz unsweetened cloudy apple cider (unfermented)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 small strip of orange peel
• 2 dashes aromatic bitters
• Monk fruit drops to taste (optional; the cider adds natural sweetness)

1. Combine the cider, cinnamon stick, and orange peel in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
2. Warm gently until steaming. Keep it at a steam and pull before a boil, because boiling drives off the apple aroma.
3. Remove from heat. Add the bitters off the heat and stir once.
4. Pour into a heatproof mug or rocks glass. Add 2 oz Little Saints St. Oak and stir gently to combine.
5. Taste. Add a drop or two of monk fruit if the cider is tart. Garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick and an orange peel.

To keep this zero sugar, choose unsweetened cider, skip maple syrup and honey, and use monk fruit drops only if the cider needs rounding. The cider itself carries natural sweetness, and Little Saints St. Oak carries the oak, vanilla, and spice.

A Cranberry-Orange Holiday Variation

This is the most festive version in the glass, with a red hue, cranberry and orange on the nose, and Little Saints St. Oak as the base.

Cranberry-Orange Old Fashioned (Single Serve)

Use this build when you want a bright, photo-ready drink that still drinks like an Old Fashioned.

• 2 oz Little Saints St. Oak
• ½ oz unsweetened cranberry juice
• ¼ oz monk fruit syrup
• 2 dashes aromatic bitters
• 1 large clear ice cube
• Fresh cranberries and a wide orange peel, for garnish

1. Combine monk fruit syrup and bitters in a rocks glass and stir briefly.
2. Add the large ice cube, then pour in Little Saints St. Oak and unsweetened cranberry juice.
3. Stir gently for 20 seconds.
4. Express the orange peel over the glass, rub the rim, and drop it in. Thread two or three fresh cranberries onto a cocktail pick and rest it across the glass.

Build Your Own: The Little Saints Formula

Every non-alcoholic holiday Old Fashioned follows the structure the 1806 template established: spirit, sweetener, bitters, and garnish. With Little Saints St. Oak as the base, the formula looks like this.

• Spirit: 2 oz Little Saints St. Oak (1:1 substitution, no over-pouring required)
• Zero-sugar sweetener: ¼ oz monk fruit syrup or a few drops of liquid monk fruit. Start low and adjust, because sweetness cannot be removed once added.
• Bitters: 2–3 dashes aromatic bitters. Orange bitters brighten the drink, and aromatic bitters anchor it.
• Garnish: Expressed orange peel for aroma, plus a brandied cherry or fresh cranberries for the holiday version.

Labels matter because sugar hides in unexpected places. Some flavored bitters carry added sweeteners, and mixers or syrups may list sugar, agave, or juice concentrate. That is why the non-alcoholic maple Old Fashioned is really a sweetener question: monk fruit delivers the rounding sweetness of maple without the sugar load. Maple syrup in an Old Fashioned adds roughly 6 grams of sugar per quarter ounce, based on about 12 grams of sugar per 15 mL (half-ounce) serving, a trade-off that is visible on the label and avoidable with a zero-sugar substitute.

For a full holiday bar setup built around these builds, see How To Build A Zero-Proof Holiday Bar For Christmas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Good Non-Alcoholic Substitute for Bourbon in an Old Fashioned?

Little Saints St. Oak is built specifically for brown-liquor cocktails such as Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and Boulevardiers. It captures the notes of an oak-aged whiskey, including vanilla, spice, caramel, and oak, with a built-in heat from cardamom and capsicum. It mixes like a whiskey at a 1:1 ratio, so two ounces of Little Saints St. Oak replace two ounces of bourbon in any Old Fashioned build without over-pouring or rebalancing the recipe. The oil-based extract formulation is why it holds up in a stirred build instead of thinning out over ice the way flavored-water spirits do.

What Is a Classy Non-Alcoholic Christmas Drink?

A non-alcoholic holiday Old Fashioned built on Little Saints reads as a proper cocktail in a rocks glass. The can version poured over a large clear cube with an expressed orange peel and a cherry, or the built version with Little Saints St. Oak, both deliver the amber color, garnish at nose level, and warm-spice aroma that signal celebration. The drink reads as a cocktail instead of a soft drink or a juice. For a crowd, the cranberry-orange variation adds a festive red color and a garnish of fresh cranberries that looks intentional on any holiday table.

Can I Make a Non-Alcoholic Holiday Old Fashioned Ahead of Time?

Yes. The built version batches well because stirred drinks hold without losing carbonation or citrus freshness. Combine Little Saints St. Oak, monk fruit syrup, bitters, and cold water in a sealed pitcher or jar, stir to integrate, and refrigerate for at least two hours before service. Pour approximately 80 ml per guest over a large ice cube at service. Keep ice beside the pitcher rather than inside it so the batch does not dilute as it sits. Garnish each glass at pour. A batched Old Fashioned without fresh citrus stays at peak quality in the refrigerator for weeks or even indefinitely when stored in an airtight container, whereas batches containing fresh citrus juice stay good for at most two to three days.

Is a Non-Alcoholic Holiday Old Fashioned Sweet?

A non-alcoholic holiday Old Fashioned built with Little Saints reads balanced rather than sugary. The Old Fashioned can uses monk fruit juice concentrate for sweetness and stays at the zero-sugar and five-calorie spec already described. Little Saints St. Oak contains zero grams of sugar and no sweeteners, so any sweetness in the spirit comes from the botanical extracts themselves. When building with Little Saints St. Oak, monk fruit syrup or liquid monk fruit drops deliver sweetness without sugar, which keeps the drink from tasting cloying or flat.

How Many Calories Are in a Non-Alcoholic Holiday Old Fashioned Made With Little Saints?

The Little Saints Old Fashioned can contains five calories per can, a figure published on the label and verified by the brand. No calorie figure is published for Little Saints St. Oak, so a built or batched version using the spirit does not carry a stated calorie count, but it contains zero grams of sugar and no sweeteners, so the calorie contribution from the spirit itself is minimal. For the most precise figure on the can build, the label remains the source.

Can I Serve This to Guests Who Are Drinking Alcohol?

Yes. Zebra striping, the practice of alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks over the course of a gathering, reflects how most people actually use non-alcoholic options. NIQ puts 47% of on-premise visitors mixing alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in the same occasion, and 93% of non-alcoholic beverage buyers also purchase alcohol. A non-alcoholic holiday Old Fashioned built on Little Saints looks identical to its alcoholic counterpart in the glass. Guests who are drinking can hold one without it reading as a lesser choice, and guests who are not drinking get a proper cocktail experience rather than a glass of sparkling water. Everyone at the table can hold the same drink, so there is no second menu to manage.

The Verdict on Little Saints for Holiday Old Fashioneds

Little Saints is the best non-alcoholic holiday Old Fashioned base for a festive, inclusive holiday table. Its Old Fashioned can delivers the classic orange-cherry-warm-spice profile at zero sugar and five calories, and St. Oak mixes 1:1 in a built or batched version with the published functional dose and beta glucan potency detailed above. Four builds, one formula, and a self-serve batch that holds overnight mean the non-alcoholic holiday Old Fashioned is ready for the whole table.

Build Your Holiday Old Fashioned Lineup

The statements made on our website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medications or have any medical conditions, consult your doctor before use.

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