Ingredient Substitute Finder

WhatDrink shows governed substitutes for cocktail ingredients — spirits, liqueurs, syrups, juices, mixers, vermouths and bitters — drawn from a reviewed substitution graph, not guesses or AI. Each swap comes with how it changes the drink and, where governed, guidance on adjusting the amount.

No. Some swaps are close and can be used in the same amount; others change sweetness, bitterness or strength and need a small adjustment. The finder shows the governed adjustment guidance for each swap, and says so honestly when none is available.

Ingredients differ in sweetness, bitterness, acidity, body, colour and alcohol strength. The finder shows the governed impact for each of these dimensions where the data supports it — and leaves a dimension out rather than inventing a change.

Not always. A swap that works broadly can behave differently in a specific recipe. When WhatDrink has a governed recipe-specific rule, choosing a drink re-tailors the recommendation and can suppress a swap that isn’t suitable there.

Yes — replacing one ingredient with another of different strength can change the drink’s ABV depending on the pour and the bottle. Where the governed data supports it, the finder notes the alcohol impact. A lower-strength result is not implied to be safer.

Eligibility comes only from WhatDrink’s reviewed, approved substitution relationships. No large language model decides whether one ingredient can replace another, and no swap is inferred from mere similarity, shared category or popularity. Explanations are presentation; the governed graph is the authority.