How to Make 5 Delicious Mocktails for Any Occasion

By Venita Adams
January 15, 2024

Mocktails are non-alcoholic drinks that mimic the flavor and appearance of cocktails, but without the booze. They are perfect for parties, brunches, or any time you want to enjoy a refreshing and festive drink without getting tipsy. In this blog post, I will show you how to make 5 easy and delicious mocktails that are sure to impress your guests and satisfy your taste buds. These mocktails are:

Sleepy Girl Mocktail: a soothing drink with tart cherry juice, magnesium, and prebiotic soda that may help you sleep better.
Ginger Beer Mocktail: a spicy and sweet drink with pineapple juice, mint, and ginger beer that is great for a barbecue or a warm afternoon.
Pomegranate Mocktail: a bright and crisp drink with pomegranate juice, orange juice, lime juice, and club soda that is full of antioxidants and vitamin C.
Mojito Mocktail: a classic and refreshing drink with lime juice, mint, sugar, and club soda that is easy to customize with different flavors and rims.
Margarita Mocktail: a tangy and fun drink with limeade, orange juice, simple syrup, and club soda that is rimmed with salt and sugar and garnished with lime.

Sleepy Girl Mocktail

The Sleepy Girl Mocktail is a popular drink on social media that claims to help you fall asleep faster and sleep better. It is made with tart cherry juice, magnesium powder, and a fizzy drink like prebiotic soda or sparkling water. The ingredients are said to have natural sleep-inducing properties, such as melatonin, tryptophan, and magnesium, which regulate your sleep-wake cycle and calm your nervous system. Whether or not this drink actually works, it is certainly delicious and soothing to sip before bedtime.

Ingredients

½ cup pure tart cherry juice
1 tablespoon of magnesium powder
A splash of prebiotic soda or sparkling water
Ice
Lime wedge for garnish

Directions

In a glass, stir together the tart cherry juice and the magnesium powder until well dissolved.
Add some ice and top with your choice of fizzy drink.
Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy!

FAQs

What is prebiotic soda and where can I find it? Prebiotic soda is a type of soda that contains prebiotics, which are fibers that feed the good bacteria in your gut and support your digestive health. Some brands of prebiotic soda are Olipop, Poppi, and Uplift. You can find them online or in some health food stores.
Can I use regular soda instead of prebiotic soda or sparkling water? Yes, you can use regular soda if you prefer, but it will add more sugar and calories to your drink. You can also use diet soda or lemon-lime soda for a different flavor.
Can I use fresh cherries instead of cherry juice? Yes, you can use fresh cherries if you have them. You will need about 1 cup of pitted cherries and a blender to make your own cherry juice. Blend the cherries with a little water until smooth and strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve. You can also use frozen cherries that have been thawed.

Ginger Beer Mocktail

The Ginger Beer Mocktail is a fun twist on the traditional ginger beer drink that is perfect for those who love their drinks with a bit of kick. It is made with ginger beer, pineapple juice, mint, and lime juice, and it has a spicy but sweet flavor that is wonderfully aromatic and refreshing. Ginger beer is a non-alcoholic drink that is brewed with ginger, sugar, and water, and it has a stronger and spicier taste than ginger ale. It is also loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, so it is good for your health as well as your taste buds.

Ingredients

¼ cup fresh pineapple juice
10 fresh mint leaves
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 cup ginger beer
Ice
Sugar and coarse salt for rim
Lime wedge for garnish

Directions

In a small dish, mix together equal parts sugar and coarse salt and pour onto a plate.
Wet the rim of a glass with a lime wedge and dip it into the sugar-salt mixture to coat the rim.
In a cocktail shaker, muddle the pineapple juice, mint leaves, and lime juice together, bruising the mint leaves well.
Fill the glass with ice and strain the pineapple mixture into the glass.
Top with ginger beer and garnish with a lime wedge.

FAQs

What is the difference between ginger beer and ginger ale? Ginger beer and ginger ale are both carbonated drinks that are flavored with ginger, but they are made differently. Ginger beer is brewed by fermenting ginger, sugar, and water, and it has a stronger and spicier flavor than ginger ale. Ginger ale is a soda that is made by adding ginger flavoring and sweeteners to carbonated water, and it has a milder and sweeter flavor than ginger beer.
Can I use fresh ginger instead of ginger beer? Yes, you can use fresh ginger if you want to make your own ginger drink. You will need about 2 inches of peeled and chopped ginger and a blender. Blend the ginger with 2 cups of water until smooth and strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve. Add ¼ cup of sugar and ¼ cup of lemon juice and stir until dissolved. Refrigerate the ginger drink until cold and use it instead of ginger beer in the recipe. You can also add some club soda for extra fizz.
Can I use canned pineapple juice instead of fresh pineapple juice? Yes, you can use canned pineapple juice if you don’t have fresh pineapple juice. However, fresh pineapple juice will have more vitamins and fiber than canned pineapple juice, and it may also have a better flavor. You can also use fresh or frozen pineapple chunks and a blender to make your own pineapple juice. Blend the pineapple with a little water until smooth and strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve.

Pomegranate Mocktail

The Pomegranate Mocktail is a beautiful and festive drink that is made with pomegranate juice, orange juice, lime juice, and club soda. It has a bright and crisp flavor that is slightly tart yet sweet and fizzy. Pomegranate juice is one of the healthiest juices you can drink, as it is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and anti-inflammatory compounds. It also has a gorgeous ruby-red color that makes this drink look stunning. This mocktail is ideal for the holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, but you can also enjoy it any time of the year.

Ingredients

2 ounces 100% pomegranate juice
1 ounce high-quality orange juice or freshly squeezed orange juice
3 ½ ounces fresh lime juice
2 ounces club soda, sparkling water, or seltzer
Ice
Pomegranate arils, lime slices, or orange slices for garnish

Directions

Fill a glass with ice and pour in the pomegranate juice, orange juice, and lime juice.
Top with club soda, sparkling water, or seltzer and stir gently.
Garnish with pomegranate arils, lime slices, or orange slices and enjoy!

FAQs

How do I get pomegranate arils from a fresh pomegranate? Pomegranate arils are the juicy seeds that are inside a pomegranate fruit. To get them out, you will need a sharp knife, a cutting board, a large bowl of water, and a colander. Cut the pomegranate into quarters and submerge them in the bowl of water. Gently break apart the quarters and separate the arils from the white membrane. The arils will sink to the bottom and the membrane will float to the top. Discard the membrane and drain the arils in the colander. You can also watch this video for a visual guide.
Can I use bottled pomegranate juice instead of fresh pomegranate juice? Yes, you can use bottled pomegranate juice if you don’t have fresh pomegranate juice. However, make sure to choose 100% pomegranate juice and not pomegranate cocktail or any of the blends, as they may have added sugar, coloring, or preservatives. You can also use pomegranate concentrate and dilute it with water according to the package directions.
Can I use blood oranges instead of regular oranges? Yes, you can use blood oranges instead of regular oranges for a different flavor and color. Blood oranges are a type of orange that have a deep red flesh and a sweet-tart flavor. They are in season from December to May and can be found in some grocery stores and farmers’ markets. You can also use other citrus fruits, such as grapefruit, lemon, or tangerine, for this mocktail.

Mojito Mocktail

The Mojito Mocktail is a classic and refreshing drink that is made with lime juice, mint, sugar, and club soda. It is a non-alcoholic version of the Cuban cocktail that is usually made with rum. The mojito mocktail has a fresh and zesty flavor that is easy to customize with different flavors and rims. You can add fresh fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, or watermelon, to the drink for a fruity twist. You can also rim the glass with sugar, salt, or lime zest for a different texture and taste.

Ingredients

2 ounces fresh lime juice or freshly squeezed lime juice
10 fresh mint leaves
2 teaspoons sugar
4 ounces club soda, sparkling water, or seltzer
Ice
Sugar, salt, or lime zest for rim
Lime wedge for garnish

Directions

In a small dish, mix together your choice of rimming ingredient and pour onto a plate.
Wet the rim of a glass with a lime wedge and dip it into the rimming mixture to coat the rim.
In a cocktail shaker, muddle the lime juice, mint leaves, and sugar together, bruising the mint leaves well.
Fill the glass with ice and strain the lime mixture into the glass.
Top with club soda, sparkling water, or seltzer and garnish with a lime wedge.

FAQs

How do I make lime zest? Lime zest is the green part of the lime peel that has a strong and aromatic flavor. You can make your own lime zest by using a zester, a grater, or a vegetable peeler. To use a zester, simply drag it across the surface of the lime, removing thin strips of zest. To use a grater, rub the lime against the small holes of the grater, collecting the zest on a plate. To use a vegetable peeler, peel off thin strips of the lime peel and then chop them finely with a knife. You can also watch this video for a visual guide.
Can I use bottled lime juice instead of fresh lime juice? Yes, you can use bottled lime juice if you don’t have fresh lime juice. However, fresh lime juice will have more vitamins and flavor than bottled lime juice, and it may also have a better color. You can also use lime cordial, which is a sweetened lime juice concentrate, but you will need to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe.
Can I use other herbs instead of mint? Yes, you can use other herbs if you don’t have mint or if you want to try a different flavor. Some herbs that go well with lime are basil, cilantro, rosemary, and thyme. You can also use a combination of herbs for a more complex taste.

Margarita Mocktail

The Margarita Mocktail is a tangy and fun drink that is made with limeade, orange juice, simple syrup, and club soda. It is a non-alcoholic version of the Mexican cocktail that is usually made with tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice. The margarita mocktail has a sour and sweet flavor that is rimmed with salt and sugar and garnished with lime. You can also add some fresh fruits, such as mango, pineapple, or cranberry, to the drink for a tropical twist. You can also rim the glass with chili powder, cumin, or paprika for a spicy kick.

Ingredients

4 ounces frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
2 ounces high-quality orange juice or freshly squeezed orange juice
1 ounce simple syrup
4 ounces club soda, sparkling water, or seltzer
Ice
Salt and sugar for rim
Lime wedge for garnish

Directions

In a small dish, mix together equal parts salt and sugar and pour onto a plate.
Wet the rim of a glass with a lime wedge and dip it into the salt-sugar mixture to coat the rim.
In a cocktail shaker, shake together the limeade concentrate, orange juice, and simple syrup with some ice.
Fill the glass with ice and strain the limeade mixture into the glass.
Top with club soda, sparkling water, or seltzer and garnish with a lime wedge.

FAQs

How do I make simple syrup? Simple syrup is a liquid sweetener that is made by dissolving sugar in water. You can make your own simple syrup by heating 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, until slightly thickened. Let the syrup cool completely and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Can I use fresh lime juice instead of limeade concentrate? Yes, you can use fresh lime juice if you don’t have limeade concentrate. However, you will need to adjust the amount of simple syrup and club soda, as fresh lime juice is more sour and less sweet than limeade concentrate. You will need about 2 ounces of fresh lime juice and 2 ounces of simple syrup for this recipe. You can also use bottled lime juice or lime cordial, but they may have added preservatives or artificial flavors.
Can I use other types of soda instead of club soda, sparkling water, or seltzer? Yes, you can use other types of soda if you prefer, but they will change the flavor and sweetness of your drink. You can use lemon-lime soda, ginger ale, or tonic water for a different flavor. You can also use diet soda or sugar-free soda for a lower-calorie option.

Conclusion

Mocktails are a great way to enjoy the flavor and fun of cocktails without the alcohol. They are easy to make, delicious to drink, and good for your health. In this blog post, I showed you how to make 5 mocktails that are perfect for any occasion: Sleepy Girl Mocktail, Ginger Beer Mocktail, Pomegranate Mocktail, Mojito Mocktail, and Margarita Mocktail. You can also experiment with different ingredients, flavors, and rims to create your own mocktail recipes. Cheers!