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8 Easy Mocktails for Simple and Clean Sipping

August 11, 2022 by Anna-Bet Stemmet

Easy mocktails are at the top of everyone’s must-Google list right now, and with good reason – it’s the trend that keeps on trending! From sober-curious Gen Z trendsetters to folks who simply like to keep it clean so they can live their best lives, there are many reasons why non-alcoholic cocktails enjoy an extended stay in the limelight.  

The other great thing about these drinks is that they are suitable for just about every occasion. Having your kid’s friends’ parents over for a barbeque? Mocktails are a safe choice. Pregnant friend coming over for dinner? Mocktails it is! Hosting a get-together with co-workers the day before a big presentation? Grab yourself a mocktail, bestie.  

In short, it’s the drink choice that works in every social setting, guaranteed. Now, let’s get you sorted with a few DIY recipes for easy mocktails that you can whip up at home, right? Here you go… 

1. Sunset Margarita Mocktail

Sunset Margarita Mocktail

This version of the much-loved Margarita Mocktail is a delicious step up from the original for when you feel like pushing out the boat and straddling the divide between the classic Margarita and Tequila Sunrise but with less chance of a headache the next morning.  

Combining a splash of Grenadine with equal parts cranberry-, orange-, and pineapple juice, it’s just as lovely to look at as it is to sip at sunset (or sunrise, for that matter). 

2. Virgin Mojito

Close up of refreshing Mojito with fresh mint and lime

The wonderful thing about a Virgin Mojito is that it can be compiled in various ways. You can either combine ginger ale, simple syrup, lime juice, and mint leaves; or stick with muddled mint and sugar charged with club soda. Then there is also the option to go with fresh lime juice, mint, honey, and sparkling mineral water. Whichever way you choose to pour it, the good news is that this non-alcoholic cocktail will always be 100% refreshing. 

3. Virgin Piña Colada

Virgin Pina Colada

When someone is learning how to make mocktails, we always recommend having the Virgin Piña Colada as an ace up the sleeve. This pretty drink is like a little tropical holiday in a glass. Essentially a pineapple and coconut smoothie, this morish mocktail can be made using coconut milk, pineapple juice, and ice, or you can dare to dream and use ice cream for an extra creamy serve. Simply divine! 

4. Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri

Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri

As far as refreshing non-alcoholic drinks go, the Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri is perhaps one of the most popular mocktails around. Sweet, tart, cool, and delicious, this photogenic mixed drink is a great option for everything from beach parties to baby showers and summery lunches with family and friends. 

5. Virgin Mary

Virgin Mary Mocktail

Did you know the ‘virgin’ bit that stands in front of many mocktail names comes from the Virgin Mary mocktail? This lovely savory 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.  

Fun fact – tomato juice is filled to the brim with all sorts of lovely stuff like vitamin C, B and potassium, so the Virgin Mary is actually a superb choice when you’re trying to sneak in a few health-boosting nutrients. 

6. Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple Mocktail

What is a mocktail list without the classic Shirley Temple in the mix? This iconic non-alcoholic drink was originally dreamed into being for little Shirley Temple herself. She was a well-known child actress in the 1930s and often accompanied her parents and fellow actors to cocktail hour.  

The barmen decided to include her in a cute way and created a signature kid-friendly drink in her honor. Featuring ginger ale, lemon or lime juice, and a splash of grenadine as ingredients, this sweet, girlish drink is garnished with a maraschino cherry. 

7. Non-Alcoholic Sangria

Virgin Sangria Mocktail

On the lookout for virgin cocktail drinks that are easy to make batch-style to serve a crowd? Step right up, friend; the Non-Alcoholic Sangria mocktail recipe will change your life. 

You can either go super simple and combine equal parts grape juice and club soda and add all sorts of sliced fruit for color. Or you could deck out the flavor profile a little by combining equal parts grape-, apple-, and orange juice and top it off with a splash or two of fresh lime- and lemon juice. 

Of course, there is also the option of using a non-alcoholic red wine and combining it with orange juice and fruit slices for a more traditional taste and feel. However, not everyone who wants a mocktail likes the taste (even simulated) of alcohol, so this option is best for the sober-curious rather than the sober.  

8. Moscow Mule Mocktail

Virgin Moscow Mule

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 Moscow 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. 

BONUS RECIPE! There is also this recipe for a Virgin Martini if you want another option to play with.  

There you have it – 8 super easy mocktails you can totally shake up and sip at home, even if this is your first time doing so. Start with the one that looks the easiest (and tastiest!) and work your way from there. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A mocktail is a cocktail that does not contain any alcohol.

A good mocktail has a well-balanced flavor profile that makes for a satisfying sip.

While the taste of alcohol is quite difficult to replicate without actually influencing the ABV of a non-alcoholic drink, there are ways to build a satisfying flavor profile regardless. It all comes down to reimagining the drink you want to make by filling the olfactory gaps left in the original recipe with something that sings along with the remaining ingredients.

A cocktail is a mixed drink with a base of alcohol, while a mocktail is a mixed drink that does not contain any alcohol.

The term 'mocktail' was invented as a combination of 'mock' and 'cocktail', since its these non-alcoholic drinks are technically a riff on the alcoholic drinks that made a certain flavor profile popular originally. For instance, a Virgin Mary is the non-alcoholic version of the Bloody Mary.

It all comes down to reimagining the drink you want to make by filling the olfactory gaps left in the original recipe with something that sings along with the remaining ingredients. So, for instance, in a Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri, you will add a little lime juice to balance out the flavor profile when you leave out the alcohol that forms a part of the original recipe.

No, depending on the drink in question, it can contain a variety of ingredients. Some, like the Virgin Mojito, contain ingredients like muddled mint and club soda, while others, like the Virgin Pina Colada, contain coconut milk. There are plenty of options to choose from when you want to go alcohol-free.

The Moscow Mule Mocktail, Virgin Mojito and Shirley Temple are some of the most popular mocktails. However, the best mocktail is the one that you enjoy - so feel free to experiment until you find a non-alcoholic mixed drink that ticks all of your must-have boxes.

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