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12 Mocktails to Enjoy Dry January in Style

December 08, 2022 by Anna-Bet Stemmet

To help you usher in the new year the light and breezy way, we’ve rounded up 12 gorgeous Dry January mocktails that are easy to make and delicious to enjoy. These alcohol-free drinks follow the popular templates of traditional cocktails without any alcohol in the mix, so you can enjoy a beautiful sipping experience while taking a breather from festive indulgence.  

1. Non-Alcoholic Negroni mocktail

Non-Alcoholic Negroni mocktail 

One of our favourite mocktails for dry January is a non-alcoholic riff on the classic Negroni. This drink is a go-to for bitter lovers around the globe, so the trick is to get that bitter note without any of the alcohol that’s usually part of the package. Sourcing the ingredients can be a little tricky, but once you have it, you can pour your Non-Alcoholic Negroni mocktail very easily. 

Gather non-alcoholic gin, alcohol-free Rosso vermouth, and non-alcoholic bitters. These are all readily available online and from most reputable liquor stores. To make the drink, you then simply add 60ml of the zero-alcohol gin, 15ml Rosso vermouth, 15ml bitters, and 20ml sugar syrup to a mixing glass with ice, and stir it until chilled. Strain and pour over ice into a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist and serve.   

Learn more: Are Mocktails Healthy? Here’s the Skinny! 

2. Virgin Mojito mocktail

Virgin Mojito with a yellow straw, mint and sliced lime

Arguably one of the best mocktails for Dry January, this Mojito mocktail recipe is super easy to make; it pretty much calls for the same ingredients as a classic Mojito but without the rum. To make this minty-fresh, effervescent Virgin Mojito, you’ll need lime, mint, sugar syrup, and soda water. You can also replace the soda water with a little ginger ale to add more depth of flavour.

3. Pornstar Martini Mocktail  

Close up of pornstar martini cocktail

To make a Pornstar Martini Mocktail you will need passionfruit purée and juice, lime juice, vanilla syrup, alcohol-free vodka, and alcohol-free Prosecco. It’s a fun and festive drink that adds some extra pizzazz to just about any event.  

4. Margarita Mocktail

Virgin Margarita

No list of Dry January mocktail recipes would be complete without the classic Margarita Mocktail. Our tried and tested recipe brings a few unexpected flavours together. We like to combine freshly squeezed lime, lemon, and orange juice with a little olive brine over ice. You can sweeten it with a hint of agave nectar if preferred and top it up with some soda water for a little fizz. 

5. Earl Grey Tea & Tonic mocktail

Earl Grey Tea & Tonic mocktail 

If you love a good tea cocktail, the Earl Grey Tea & Tonic mocktail will be right up your alley. To make it, build 20ml Earl Grey tea syrup, 15ml fresh lemon juice, and 120ml tonic water in a highball glass over lots of ice.  

Make the syrup by combining 1 cup of sugar and half a cup of water in a small saucepan. Bring it to a boil, and let it simmer until all the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and add three Earl Grey tea bags. Cover the container, let it steep for 30 minutes, and transfer it to the fridge in an airtight container.  

6. Virgin Mary mocktail

Virgin Mary Mocktail

One of our favourite brunchtime mocktails dry January, the Virgin Mary is filled with vitamins C, B, and potassium thanks to the tomato juice that forms its base. 

This lovely savoury drink is the more virtuous counterpart of the original Bloody Mary, combining tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice with a few optional shakes of hot sauce and a dash of dill pickle juice if you’re feeling fancy.     

7. Non-Alcoholic Mexican Mule mocktail

Non-Alcoholic Mexican Mule mocktail 

On a sunny summer’s day, there is nothing like a tall, cool drink to set the scene for relaxation. This is when we love to pour a Non-Alcoholic Mexican Mule mocktail at the end of the day (or even around lunchtime, come to think of it).  

You simply build ginger beer, club soda, fresh lime juice, and mint over crushed ice, or opt for some diet ginger beer if you’re keeping a close eye on those calories. Either way, it’s a sparkly and refreshing drink with a delightful hint of zing that’s just as satisfying as the typical Mexican Mule.   

9. Derby Mocktail

Derby Mocktail

The classic Derby cocktail is a delightfully old-school drink—a classic combination of grapefruit juice, bourbon, and honey syrup. The result is a sweet and refreshing drink that’s a real thirst-quencher. To make the virgin version of this cocktail, leave out the bourbon, and add a squeeze of fresh lime juice, and a few drops of non-alcoholic bitters. 

10. Strawberry Shrub Mocktail

Strawberry Shrub Mocktail  

The Strawberry Shrub Mocktail is a quick drink to pour once you have your shrub made. You can find all the instructions here. To make the mocktail version of the Strawberry Shrub cocktail, you can follow the conventional recipe using non-alcoholic vodka, or you can leave it out entirely, and win an extra flavour note by adding 15ml of either apple cider vinegar or fresh lime juice.  

11. Virgin Strawberry Mojito mocktail

Virgin Strawberry Mojitos garnished with mint

The Virgin Strawberry Mojito combines perfectly ripe sweet strawberries, fresh mint, zesty lime juice, simple syrup for texture and viscosity, and soda water to finish. For all the garnish appeal, add slices of lime, deliciously fragrant mint, and chili flakes too if you feel like some spice. 

12. Hot Mulled Cider mocktail

Comforting warm apple cider Dry January mocktail

Looking for Dry January mocktails to suit cooler weather? We love serving the Hot Mulled Cider mocktail when it’s frosty outside. In fact, the classic Hot Apple Cider cocktail is quite easy to turn into a non-alcoholic cocktail – you simply forgo any whiskey or rum, and you’ve got a comforting, hot drink ready to go.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Just about any cocktail can be turned into a mocktail by removing the alcohol base and replacing it with a non-alcoholic component, or rejigging the recipe a little to ensure that the flavour profile stays well balanced. See The Mixer for a great selection of mocktail and virgin cocktail recipes to inspire non-alcoholic drinks for all occasions.

'Dry January' is a term used by many folks who voluntarily stop drinking alcohol after the excesses of the festive season and want to start the new year on a clearer and more refreshed note.

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