Tequila’s flavor isn’t simple to imitate. Beyond the flavors coming from the agave itself, it also carries grassy and vegetal notes, a touch of pepper, and a subtle fruitiness that most non-alcoholic substitutes lack in a way that makes them resemble juice more than a non-alcoholic alternative to the most iconic spirit from Mexico.
Zero Tequila is built to get closer to the real thing, using an approach inspired by the book Zero: ZERO: A New Approach To Non-Alcoholic Drinks. And to get the depth of flavor needed, we’ll combine the freshness of green ingredients with the roasted notes of others, which we’ll enhance through cooking.
Zero Tequila
Cooked Base
- 700g Water
- 200g Chopped Pineapple Skin
- 30g Agave Syrup
- 25g Roasted Peanuts
- 10g Black Peppercorns
- 2g Dry Rose Petals
- 0.1g Mint Tea
- 1.3g Vanilla Bean, cut lengthwise
- 2g Salt
- 1.5g Bay Leaves
- Add the pineapple skin, agave syrup, and water to a pot.
- Crush the roasted peanuts, black peppercorns, and dried rose petals with a mortar and pestle, then add them to the pot along with the remaining cooked base ingredients.
- Split the vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape out the seeds, and add both to the pot.
- Cook on low heat for 1 hour.
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer and return the liquid to the pot.
Blended Mixture
- 500g Water
- 2g Peeled Ginger
- 2.2g Parsley
- 1g Lime Peel
- 0.5g Green Chili
- Add the ingredients to a blender and blend for 30 seconds, adjusting the amount of chili to taste.
- Refrigerate this mixture.
For Clarification
- 1g Agar Agar
- Add the agar agar to the reheated base, stirring constantly until fully dissolved.
- Pour in the refrigerated blended mixture and stir well.
- Chill in an ice bath or place the mixture in the freezer until the agar agar forms a soft gel.
- Strain through a cloth filter, allowing it to drip through slowly. Check for cloudiness as it filters, and if the liquid runs clear, there’s no need to refilter it.
- Bottle and label.
The result carries an añejo-like color and a flavor of cooked agave with pleasant aromatics and a subtle spice. It won’t stand in for tequila as a sipper, but it holds its own as a base spirit in cocktails. Store it in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze it for longer use – just make sure to test it out in a quick alcohol-free Tommy’s Margarita first.
The Marg-0-rita
- 90mL · 3oz Zero Tequila
- 22.5mL · 0.75oz Agave Syrup
- 22.5mL · 0.75oz Lime Juice
- 2 drops 20% Saline Solution
- Rim half of a coupe glass with lime and salt, then chill it in the freezer.
- Add the ingredients to a chilled shaker with ice.
- Shake well.
- Double strain into the chilled, salt-rimmed coupe. No additional garnish is needed.
The result is refreshing and tart, with a touch of sweetness and just the right amount of bitterness. The Agave Syrup made using the Cocktail Universe calculators made sure the balance of the cocktail was perfect, and the spice and green notes from the Zero Tequila round the whole drink out, doing real work rather than sitting in the background. The same base also holds up well in a Batanga-style highball with cola, for anyone looking to take it further. So experiment, and enjoy great drinks, even when you’re not feeling like having alcohol. Cheers!
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Frequently
asked questions.
Here are the most frequently asked questions and answers.
What is The Cocktail Universe?
The Cocktail Universe is an online platform designed for bartenders who want to improve their skills, creativity, and efficiency behind the bar. It offers a range of professional cocktail courses covering modern mixology techniques, from foundational skills to advanced methods like clarification, batching, and flavor balancing.
In addition to structured bartending courses, The Cocktail Universe provides powerful digital tools such as cocktail calculators to help you create, standardize, and scale recipes with precision. You also get access to an AI-powered assistant trained on Kevin Kos’s expertise, allowing you to ask detailed questions about cocktail techniques, ingredients, and bar workflows.
Who is The Cocktail Universe for?
The Cocktail Universe is designed for anyone who wants to improve their bartending skills, from passionate home enthusiasts to professional bartenders. Whether you are a beginner learning the fundamentals, an intermediate bartender refining your technique, or an experienced professional exploring advanced mixology methods, the platform provides valuable education at every level.
With structured cocktail courses, practical bartending tools, and expert guidance, The Cocktail Universe helps you develop better skills, improve consistency, and elevate the quality of your drinks behind the bar.
Is this cocktail course for home bartenders, beginners, or professional bartenders?
This cocktail course is designed for all levels, including home bartenders, beginners, and professional bartenders. Whether you are just starting out or already working in a bar, the content is structured to help you improve your skills, learn modern mixology techniques, and create better cocktails with consistency.
The training covers both fundamental concepts and advanced bartending methods, making it valuable at every stage of your bartending journey.
What will I learn in an online mixology course?
Our online mixology courses are structured in tiers, allowing you to progress from fundamental bartending skills to advanced, professional-level techniques.
In the beginner course, you will learn the essentials of cocktail making, including how to prepare simple syrups, mix classic cocktails, and properly shake and stir drinks. This level builds a strong foundation for anyone starting their bartending journey.
In the aspiring mixologist course, you will move into more advanced techniques such as creating flavored syrups, super juice, tinctures, and bitters. You will also learn fat washing and advanced garnishing, helping you develop more creative and refined cocktails.
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These skills are designed not only to elevate your cocktail quality, but also to help you improve efficiency, create signature products, and monetize your work as a bartender.
Can I learn bartending online without working in a bar?
Yes, you can absolutely learn bartending online without working in a bar. Our cocktail courses are designed to help you build real skills from home, including mixing drinks, understanding flavor balance, and mastering essential bartending techniques.
Whether you want to create a professional-level home bar, host friends and family, or simply improve your cocktail-making skills, the training gives you everything you need to get started and progress confidently at your own pace.
Which course level is right for me: Beginner, Aspiring Mixologist, or Pro Mixologist?
The right course level depends on your current bartending skills and experience. Whether you are just starting out, already comfortable with cocktail basics, or working at a professional level, Cocktail Universe offers a tier that matches your needs.
To help you choose, you can use our built-in chatbot, which will ask you a few quick questions and recommend the most suitable course level for you. This ensures you start at the right stage and get the most value from your mixology training.
Do I need any previous bartending or cocktail knowledge to start?
No previous bartending experience or cocktail knowledge is required to start. The beginner course is designed for complete beginners and covers all the essential skills you need, from basic techniques to making classic cocktails.
As you progress, you can move into more advanced mixology courses that build on this foundation and introduce professional bartending techniques.
Do I need special cocktail equipment or ingredients to follow along?
No special cocktail equipment or ingredients are required to start, especially at the beginner level. The course is designed to help you get started with tools and ingredients you already have at home.
You will also learn how to substitute professional bartending tools with simple household items, making it easy to follow along without investing in expensive equipment right away. As you progress, you will be introduced to essential cocktail tools and ingredients that can help you further improve your skills and efficiency.
Are the lessons video-based and practical?
Yes, all lessons are video-based and designed to be highly practical. You can follow along step by step and recreate each cocktail or ingredient at home.
In addition to video tutorials, you also get detailed written recipes, tool lists, and supporting materials. These include background information and cocktail history to help you better understand ingredients, techniques, and flavor development.
The courses are built for real-world application, so you can immediately practice what you learn and improve your bartending skills with every lesson.
How much of the course is hands-on practice vs. theory?
The majority of the course is focused on hands-on, practical bartending. You will actively make cocktails, prepare ingredients, and apply techniques that can be easily replicated at home or behind the bar.
There is also a small but important amount of theory included, covering topics such as cocktail history, flavor balance, and the fundamentals of mixology. This helps you understand not just how to make drinks, but why techniques and ingredients work.
The balance ensures you build real, usable skills while developing a deeper understanding of modern bartending.
Can this course help me become a professional bartender?
Yes, this course can help you build the essential skills and knowledge needed to become a professional bartender. You will learn cocktail techniques, ingredient preparation, and modern mixology methods used in real bar environments.
However, becoming a professional bartender also requires hands-on experience in a working bar. We recommend combining these online cocktail courses with real-world practice, as this is where you develop speed, consistency, and service skills.
Together, practical bar experience and structured mixology training give you the strongest foundation to grow into a confident and skilled professional bartender.
How does the cocktail learning chatbot help me?
The cocktail learning chatbot is designed to support you in every stage of creating and improving cocktails. It can help you find the right ratios for balanced drinks, suggest new cocktail ideas, and give you inspiration based on ingredients, styles, or flavor profiles.
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Does the chatbot adapt to my level?
Yes, the cocktail chatbot adapts to your level of bartending experience. In the beginner tier, it focuses on basic cocktail knowledge, simple recipes, and foundational techniques to help you get started with confidence.
As you progress to higher tiers, the chatbot becomes more advanced, offering deeper insights into mixology, recipe development, and professional bartending techniques. In the Pro level, you get full access to its capabilities, including complex calculations, menu development, and advanced cocktail creation support.
This ensures you always get relevant guidance based on your current skill level.
Can I upgrade to a higher tier later?
Yes, you can upgrade to a higher course tier at any time. As your bartending skills progress, you can move from beginner to more advanced mixology courses and continue developing your knowledge with deeper, professional-level training.
How long do I have access after purchase?
All Cocktail Universe courses come with lifetime access. Once you purchase a course, you can return to the lessons at any time and learn at your own pace.
You will also receive access to future updates and new content added to your course, ensuring your mixology training continues to grow without any additional cost.
Is there a certificate or proof of completion?
Yes, you will receive a certificate of completion after finishing the course. This serves as proof of your training in cocktail making and mixology techniques.
While the certificate recognizes your progress, becoming a skilled bartender comes from applying what you have learned in practice. Use it as a foundation to continue developing your skills, building experience, and advancing your career in bartending.


