Stay strong and carry on.
by Jessica Toscano Jan 25, 2021
No doubt 2020 was boozy. In fact, Neilsen reported a 55% increase in national sales of adult beverages in just the third week of March compared to that of the year before. If a quarantini rest, even if only for Dry January — a month-long booze break — is part of your New Year’s resolution, there’s a good chance you’ve already discovered your love for mocktails. Whether your goal is to stay strong for the remainder of this month’s challenge or you’re looking to carry healthy drinking habits into February, mixing novel go-tos and recreating booze-free classics have never been easier, thanks to the myriad alcohol alternatives and sparkling waters on the market.
Here, 11 mocktails for you to pour, shake, and sip until the end of eternity now that morning-after hangovers are a thing of the past.
Who doesn’t love brunch punch? With orange slices, halved strawberries, and a tablespoon of blueberries, this sweet sip doubles as a healthy meal. Not to mention, its juice combination of succulent peach, acidic orange, and tart cranberry offers your tastebuds a sensation unlike any other. Finalized with a dash of soda water for a bit of fizz and Lyre’s Dry London Spirit for a taste of gin, this pitcher is a brunch staple when it comes to mocktails.
In a carafe, combine 4 oz Lyre’s Dry London Spirit, 2 oz peach juice, 5 oz cranberry juice, and 5 oz orange juice. Add 4 orange slices, 4 strawberry halves, and a tbsp of blueberries. Fill with ice and stir, then top with soda water.
2. Ritual Zero Proof “Sweet & Sour”
If you’re a fan of Whiskey Sours, this zero-proof spin on the cocktail classic will surely satisfy your palate. Simple syrup adds a hint of sweetness, while lemon juice adds a bit of zest. Follow with Ritual Whiskey Alternative, and you’ll truly bask in the ambiance of saccharine tart with each taste.
In an ice-filled shaker, combine 2 oz Ritual Whiskey Alternative, ¾ oz lemon juice, .5 oz simple syrup, and 1 egg white or 1 oz chickpea juice if raw egg whites aren’t your thing. Shake until frothy. Pour into the cocktail glass that makes you feel most fancy, and garnish with a lemon slice or wedge.
3. Twisted Alchemy “Virtual Insanity”
Not only is this mocktail aesthetically pleasing (hence, the name), it’s so deliciously deceiving, even you’ll find it hard to believe it’s alcohol-free. Its flavor combo of strawberry, pineapple, and coconut denotes island vibes, while its frozen texture suggests a daring night of wicked daiquiris and margaritas — only, this mocktail dare not be compared.
Add ½ cup Twisted Alchemy Persian Lime Sour Fresh Cold Pressed Craft Mixer, ½ cup Twisted Alchemy Pineapple Juice Fresh Cold Pressed Craft Mixer, ¼ cup coconut milk, and 1 cup frozen strawberries to a blender. Pulse until smooth and pour into a sugar-rimmed glass. Pro tip: To keep your mixture chill post-pour, place your pre-filled glass into the freezer at least 15 minutes before imbibing.
4. Sunwink “Rose + Lemon Poppy Spritz”
Think champagne with floral notes: That’s what you can expect from this energetic mixture of rose, lemon, and hibiscus. Plus, each Sunwink sparkling tonic, like this recipe’s Lemon-Rose Uplift, contains four times the equivalent of herbs in a standard tea bag — your daily wellness in the form of Detox, Unwind, Uplift, Recover, or Immunity boost.
For the mocktail:
Combine .75 oz pressed lemon juice and .75 oz Zesty Poppy Syrup* in a cocktail shaker. Fill shaker with ice and shake. You’ll know your mixture is set once the shaker’s exterior becomes frosty. Fine strain into a champagne flute, top with Sunwink Lemon-Rose Uplift and garnish with a lemon twist.
For the *Zesty Poppy Syrup:
In a saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1 tbsp ground poppy seeds, and the zest of half of a lemon. Stir over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves. Once the mixture reaches a roiling boil, remove from heat and let cool. Once cool, finely strain the lemon zest and poppy seeds, and pour syrup into a tightly sealed container. Store in the refrigerator until use.
5. Kin Euphorics “Kin Spice”
Searching for a morning mocktail to kick-start your day? This Gin and Tonic-tasting blend of adaptogens, nootropics, and functional herbs keeps you both alert and chill as you adult—or don’t. No judgment whichever you choose!
Pour 2 oz Kin Euphorics High Rode over ice into a highball glass. Add .5 oz lime juice and stir for about 10 seconds. Add a scoop of ice, then top with 1.5 oz tonic water. Garnish with a lime wheel and edible flower.
6. Brew Dr. Kombucha + Wilderton “The Wild Bramble”
Enjoy the buzz of sparkling Brew Dr. Superberry Kombucha with the punch of Wilderton Earthen in this unique concoction of sweet and smoky that delivers an unexpected oomph with every sip.
Add minced ginger to the bottom of a cocktail shaker, then follow with 2 oz Wilderton Earthen, .5 oz fresh lemon juice, .5 oz fresh lime juice, .5 oz simple syrup, 3 oz Brew Dr. Superberry Kombucha (more or less, depending on the volume of the glass), and 3 dashes Angostura bitters. Give it a good shake, then strain contents over ice into a Collins glass. Finalize with a lemon peel and a handful of fresh blackberries.
7. Taffer’s Mixologist “Matcha Colada”
If you thought matcha ice cream was the daring new way to sample the green powdered tea, you haven’t yet experienced the delightful innovation of a matcha-infused mocktail. This simple blend of matcha powder, rum alternative, and Taffer’s Pina Colada Mix harvests the power to smooth, sweeten, and dazzle your taste buds with each gulp — yes, gulp.
Add 3.5 oz Taffer’s Pina Colada Mix, 1.5 rum alternative of your choice, and 1 tsp matcha powder to an ice-filled cocktail shaker, and shake like it’s going out of style. Strain contents into the fancy glass of your choice, and finalize with a touch of matcha powder as garnish.
8. Three Spirits “Light & Stormy”
For those moments you crave the fancy but have zero energy, this two-ingredient mocktail will become your go-to. Its simple yet classic mixture of ginger ale and rum alternative will leave you feeling decadent, no matter the occasion.
Fill a tall glass with ice, then pour 50 ml Three Spirit Social Elixir. Top with ginger ale, and garnish with a lime wheel or wedge for bonus points.
9. TÖST “Blackberry Basil Mojito”
As refreshing a drink as a mojito, this booze-free version (just swap “light rum” for your favorite rum alternative) offers just a hint of warmth, thanks to cherished ingredient maple syrup. The remainder of its palette — blackberries and basil — packs fruity and minty notes to offer a taste of summer.
Add crushed ice and fresh basil to a tall glass, then pour 1 tsp Dorset Maple Reserve Barrel-Aged Syrup and 2 oz rum alternative. Gently muddle. Top with TÖST and garnish with a fresh lime wedge and sphered blackberries.
10. Free Spirits “Tangerine Thyme”
If it’s a nightcap you seek, this smoky mixture is ideal on the coldest of winter nights. Tangy tangerine juice enhances Free Spirits’ agave-forward tequila alternative, while a blend of tart lime juice and minty thyme syrup adds refreshment to every swig.
For the mocktail:
Fill a shaker halfway with ice, then add 3 oz The Spirit of Tequila, 1.5 oz tangerine juice, .5 oz lime juice, and .5 oz thyme syrup*. Give it a good shake, and strain over ice into a large rocks glass. Garnish with a toasted tangerine wheel and thyme sprig.
For the *thyme syrup:
In a small saucepan, heat 1/2 cup sugar, ½ cup water, and 4 thyme sprigs. Slowly stir until sugar dissolves, then remove from heat and allow to cool before adding to mixture.
Jessica Toscano is the founder of IntrigueMag, covering health and fitness, sex and relationships, and more.
