12 Best Mocktail Recipes If You Want To Continue Dry January

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Mocktails are a great way to enjoy specialty drinks without worrying about a hangover the next day. Beyond avoiding a hangover, mocktails make it easier to show up to work on time, drive yourself home, make lasting memories with friends, and try new flavors. Nonalcoholic options are also perfect for you and your friends who may be sober or sober curious.

Having these easy mocktails at your next gathering is a great way to be inclusive, and by having these recipes on hand, you’ll have people wondering how a non-alcoholic drink could be so yummy!

What is a mocktail?

A mocktail is more than just a cocktail without alcohol or liquor. Instead, they are drinks made up of various juices, syrups, fruits, herbs, and waters. What makes a cocktail special in a lot of ways is the perfect ratio of ingredients that create harmonious flavors with a bit of zing. But, with a little tweaking, practice, and the perfect recipe, that harmony is possible in mocktail drinks as well.

Mocktails are great alcohol alternatives  that still allow drinks to feel special, fancy, celebratory, and pretty, so you aren’t giving up anything other than the ABV. They’re also an invitation to treat yourself to some fancy glasses, because who says you can’t drink in style!?

How do you make simple syrup?

One ingredient that you will find in almost any mocktail recipe is a simple syrup. And, it really is a simple recipe. To make it, you’ll just need sugar, water, a saucepan, and a stove. You’ll combine one part water and one part sugar (I usually start with ½ cup each), and heat your mixture up until your sugar is thoroughly dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, and store in a glass container in your fridge for up to 2 weeks. For a richer and thicker syrup, you could add two parts sugar to one part water.

Simple Syrup Instructions

• Heat equal parts sugar and water in saucepan until sugar is fully dissolved

• Allow to cool to room temperature

To infuse:

• Add equal parts water, sugar, and herb/spice of choice to sauce pan

• Heat until sugar is fully dissolved

• Allow syrup to rest for 15 minutes

• Allow to rest for additional time for richer flavor

Store in glass container in fridge for up to 2 weeks

To make your simple syrups more unique, try infusing yours with thyme, rosemary, lavender, or another herb or spice that you like. To do this, just add the herb or spice of your choice to the saucepan when heating up your water/sugar mixture. You could also try infusing with fruits like strawberry, blueberry, or lemon.

Once the sugar is dissolved, allow your simple syrup to rest with the herb or spice in the saucepan. After 15 minutes, taste test and continue to infuse as needed for up to 30 minutes.

Other helpful Bar tools

If you don’t normally make drinks at home, that’s okay! While you only need minimal tools to make a lot of these non-alcoholic bar drinks at home, there are some things you could get to really up your mocktail game such as:

Image: Amazon

10-Piece Bar Tool Set

Mixology & Craft

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Image: Amazon

Citrus Peeler

Amazon

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Image: Anthropologie

Monogram Old Fashioned Glasses

Anthropologie

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Image: Anthropologie

Morgan Colorful Coupe Glasses

Anthropologie

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Image: Amazon

Copper Moscow Mule Mugs

Estilo

8 Mocktail Recipes to Try

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Faux French 75

A French 75 is a classic cocktail, traditionally made with gin and champagne. It is wonderfully refreshing and with the mixture of bitters and tonic water, you’ll get the same vibe as if you were drinking gin and champagne! This is my go-to mocktail when I want to feel like I’m about to get all dressed up and listen to jazz music. It’s the perfect sophisticated drink without the booze and hangover that mixing gin and champagne can give you. 

What You’ll Need:

• 1 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice

• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

• Tonic water

• Ice

How to Make:

1. Add fresh lemon juice and bitters to cocktail shaker filled with ice. 

2. Shake and then our into champagne flute or coupe glass.

3. Top off with tonic water until it reaches about 3/4 of the way up the glass.

4. Garnish with lemon peel.

Sparkling Jasmine Tea Lemonade

Nothing sings spring to me more than jasmine tea, and when you add a little bit of lemonade and soda to make it sparkling, it’s like a blooming garden in a glass. This isn’t necessarily trying to emulate a classic cocktail, but maybe you can think of it as an elevated Arnold Palmer for all your upcoming patio-sitting days.

What You’ll Need:

• Jasmine tea bags (or bottled jasmine iced tea)

• 1 lemon

• 1/2 oz. simple syrup

• Lemon-lime soda or club soda

• Edible flowers (optional)

How to Make:

1. Brew jasmine tea.

2. Add a lemon wheel to the bottom of the glass.

3. Add simple syrup.

4. Muddle together.

5. Add crushed ice.

6. Pour in 1/2 cup of jasmine tea.

7. Add 1/2 cup of lemon-lime or sparkling water soda.

8. Garnish with lemon peel or edible flowers.

Rosewater & Pomegranate Mocktail

When I originally made this, I found a cactus rose-flavored sparkling water, but wanted to recreate it without needing to buy that specific item. I found rosewater gives the same—if not better—effect. However, Aura Bora’s Cactus Rose drink makes a perfect base. Similar to the jasmine tea lemonade, anything floral makes me ready for any and all outdoor hangs, but the pomegranate juice in this mocktail gives it the tartness I’m often looking for in a traditional cocktail.

What You’ll Need:

• ¼ tablespoon rosewater or Cactus Rose Drink

• ½ oz. honey simple syrup

• ½ cup pomegranate juice

• Club soda

• Lemon juice

• Food-safe rose petals

How to Make:

1. ​​Combine pomegranate juice and rosewater in a glass filled with ice.

2. Add a squeeze of lemon.

3. Top with club soda (to taste).

4. Garnish with rose petals.

Grapefruit & Rosemary Spritzer

To me, there is no better combination than herbs and citrus. Rosemary has a deeply aromatic quality to it that not only makes it a joy to eat or drink, but it adds an aroma around the glass that honestly cures my anxiety. Aromatherapy, am I right? This mocktail pairs rosemary and grapefruit in a way that gives me margarita vibes without the headache of tequila the next day.

What You’ll Need:

• 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary

• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed grapefruit juice

• 2 tablespoons simple syrup 

• 3/4 cup grapefruit-flavored sparkling water (can sub for plain sparkling water)

• Rosemary sprig or grapefruit slice for garnish

 How to Make:

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle rosemary and sugar. 

2. Fill shaker three-fourths full with ice; add grapefruit juice. 

3. Cover and shake.

4. Strain into glasses and fill with ice. 

5. Top with club soda and a rosemary sprig.

Blueberry & Mint Citrus Sparkle 

You could really call this a virgin mojito of a sort, but I like the term ‘sparkle’ much better! I love this drink because it is something that you can just whip up at any time during the day. It almost feels like a luxury sparkling water, but it can also be a perfect substitute for your classic mojito or gimlet.

What You’ll Need:

• 8 mint leaves

• A handful of fresh blueberries

• 2 oz of lime juice

• 2 oz of simple syrup

• Splash of sparkling water or club soda

How to Make:

1. Muddle blueberries and mint in a cocktail shaker.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients and ice in a shaker, reserving the sparkling water. 

3. Shake, serve, and top with sparkling water or club soda.

 Cranberry Fizz

If you’re looking for something to add to your future holiday drink lineup, I’d say this is a good place to start! A lot of people might be weirded out by egg whites in a drink—but, hear me out—it’s actually the best. A whiskey sour was traditionally one of my favorite drinks and I thought that I had to drink alcohol in order to have an egg white cocktail. I was mistaken, because this cranberry fizz mocktail is delightfully creamy, tart, and sweet all in one glass. It’s the Thanksgiving (and year-round) drink you didn’t know you needed.

What You’ll Need:

• 2 egg whites

• 3 oz. brewed black tea, chilled

• 1 oz. fresh lemon juice (½ lemon)

• 3 oz. cranberry juice

• 2 oz. simple syrup

• 1 rosemary sprig, plus more for garnish

How to Make:

1. Combine egg whites, black tea, lemon juice, cranberry juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker without ice. 

2. Dry shake vigorously, about 30 to 60 seconds until the mixture is very frothy.

3. Add rosemary and ice to the shaker, close, and shake again.

4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve, garnished with a rosemary sprig or fresh cranberries.

Strawberry, Ginger & Pineapple Mocktail

When I was thinking about my dream mocktail, I was imagining the perfect blend of sweet, tart, and spice. And wah-lah, this cocktail was born. I adore ginger in any style of beverage, and I think it really balances out the sweetness of both fruits in this drink. If you’re wanting to level up your Moscow Mule mocktail, this is the right way to go.

What You’ll Need:

• ​​½ cup fresh strawberries

• 12 oz. pineapple juice

• Juice of 1 lime

• Ginger beer

• Strawberry slice or candied ginger for garnish

• Ice

How to Make:

1. Use a muddler to mash the strawberries. 

2. Add pineapple juice and stir until the strawberries are incorporated into the pineapple juice.

3. Top the drink with ginger beer and crushed  ice.

4. Serve with a pineapple cube, strawberry slice, or candied ginger as garnish.

Mulled Apple Cider

I couldn’t make a list of mocktail recipes without including something warm for the cold winter nights. This is what I’m making when I’m sitting in front of a fireplace or snuggled up under a mountain of blankets pretending I’m on a cabin vacation in the woods. There’s not much more to say about it except this is cozy in a glass (except make sure you drink this in a mug for ultimate coze).

What You’ll Need:

• 4 cups apple cider or unfiltered apple juice

• 1/4 cup brown sugar (or make your own cinnamon-infused simple syrup) (see beginning of post for info about infused syrups)

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 2 star anise

• 4 cloves

• 1 sliced orange

• Pomegranate seeds or fresh cranberries

 How to Make:

1. Heat all of your ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat until just simmering.

2. Cover and simmer on low for 20-30 minutes.

3. Serve in mugs and garnish with orange slices, pomegranate seeds or fresh cranberries.

NA Dark and Stormy 

A Dark and Stormy is a classic rum-based cocktail. It is made with dark rum and ginger beer, typically served over ice in a highball glass and garnished with a lime wedge. The name "Dark and Stormy" refers to the dark color of the rum and the cloudy, effervescent appearance of the ginger beer. Thankfully, there are incredible tasting zero-proof liquors on the market, like the Rum from Ritual Zero Proof. You’ll hardly know it doesn’t have alcohol. 

What You’ll Need:

• Ice

• 2 ounces non-alcoholic rum

• 2 ounces ginger beer

• 1/2 ounce simple syrup

• 1/2 lime 

How to Make:

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.

2. Add 2 oz of zero-proof rum.

3. Top with ginger beer.

4. Garnish with a lime wedge.

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Our Favorite:

Image: Ritual Zero Proof

Rum Alternative

RItual Zero Proof

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Ghia Aperitif 

Ghia is a nonalcoholic aperitif that’s slightly bitter in the best way. It has an earthy consistency and is best mixed with equal parts of a bubbly sparkling water or seltzer. If you like a pre-dinner drink, this Mediterranean-inspired drink is fantastic, and it’s a crowd-pleaser. You can try it various ways, but for a fancy and rosy concoction, try the rosebud recipe below from my good friend  Maddy of Hand Me the Fork. 

What You’ll Need for a classic mix:

• ½ cup Ghia Aperitif

• ½ sparkling water (or another bubbly option)

• ¼ cup lime juice

What You’ll Need for a rosebud recipe:

• 1/2  cup Ghia Aperitif

• 1/4 cup seltzer 

• ¼ cup rosewater

• Sprinkle of rosebuds 

How to Make:

1. Mix equal parts of Ghia and a bubbly drink.

2. Squeeze in lime juice (or replace with rosewater).

3. Top with rosebuds for an aesthetic Aperitivo.

The New Old Fashioned

An Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail that typically contains whiskey, sugar, bitters, and a citrus wedge. A nonalcoholic version of this popular drink can be made using a variety of ingredients to mimic the flavors of the original, while leaving out the alcohol. This nonalcoholic Old Fashioned offers the same sweet and spicy flavors as the traditional version, without the alcohol. 

What you’ll need:

• 2 oz of nonalcoholic whiskey (try Ritual Zero Free)

• 1 tsp of simple syrup or maple syrup

• 2 dashes of bitters (such as Angostura)

• Orange slice

• Ice cubes

How to make: 

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice.

2. Add the nonalcoholic whiskey, simple syrup, and bitters to the glass.

3. Stir everything to combine.

4. Garnish with an orange slice or twist.

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Our Favorite:

Image: Ritual Zero Proof

Whiskey Alternative

Ritual Zero Proof

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Negroni Sbaglatio 

A Negroni Sbaglatio (which you may read in Emma D’Arcy’s voice) is an Italian cocktail mixing gin, vermouth, and Campari soda. There are versions with Prosecco for an added bubbly finish, and of course, there are mocktail versions as well. Depending on what you may have on hand, you could replace vermouth with sparkling non-alcoholic wines or white grape juice. Turn to Crodino soda as a Campari replacement and use bitters to achieve the perfect orangey taste.  

What You’ll Need:

• 1 ounce white grape juice

• 1 ounce non-alcoholic Crodino soda

• 1 ounce non-alcoholic sparkling wine

• 2 full droppers Orange bitters

• 2 full droppers Aromatic bitters

• Orange slice

How to Make:

1. Mix all ingredients into a rocks glass or wine glass.

2. Add ice.

3. Stir to combine.

4. Garnish with an orange slice.

Pre-Mixed drinks

A mocktail doesn’t always need to be a labor of love; you can find a nonalcoholic drink that’s ready to go. There are several canned and bottled versions on the market, like De Soi, Mixoloshe (Orange Old Fashioned, Blueberry G&T, Cosmic Bitter Spritz, Mango Chili Crush, Southern Pineapple Smash, Tropical Smoky Margarita), Recess (margarita), and Free AF (Cuba Libre, Paloma, Vodka Spritz, Apero Spritz). You can drink straight from the can, pour into glasses, or use them as a base for a more detailed drink. They’re quick, pre-mixed, and just as delicious as a mocktail you’d make yourself!

Mocktails are a fun and creative alternative to traditional cocktails. They offer a variety of flavors and ingredients without the addition of alcohol, making them an accessible drink option for those who choose not to drink or who want to enjoy a drink without the effects of alcohol. Whether it's for a special occasion or just a casual gathering, mocktails are a delicious and refreshing option for everyone to enjoy.