17 mocktail recipes you need to try

Mocktails offer a delightful escape from your usual cocktails. These concoctions are crafted with a meticulous balance of flavours, often incorporating fresh fruits, herbs, and unique ingredients to create a truly memorable drinking experience, no alcohol required.

Beyond their appeal to non-drinkers, mocktails have also gained popularity among those looking to moderate their alcohol consumption or simply enjoy a night out without the risk of overindulgence. Plus, the mocktail trend has given mixologists a new way to showcase their creativity on a sober night out!

We’ve gathered 17 delicious mocktail ideas to try, all with different flavour profiles to suit any and all tastes. Make them yourself at home, or bring these recipes along to your next stint at Alcotraz and have them crafted by our inmate mixologists!

Mocktail garnishes and presentation

Before we dive into our comprehensive list of mocktail recipes, it’s worth knowing that presentation is key when serving mocktails, as it adds to the overall experience and makes the drinks even more enjoyable. Our expert mixologists here at Alcotraz love adding creative flair to their creations, but if you ever want to recreate this experience at home, these tips will help you craft professional drinks right in your kitchen.

Here are some ideas for garnishing and presenting your mocktails in an attractive and appealing way:

Garnishes

• Fresh fruit slices or wedges (e.g., orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, pineapple)
• Herbs (e.g., mint, basil, rosemary, thyme)
• Edible flowers (e.g., lavender, hibiscus, rose petals)
• Spices (e.g., cinnamon sticks, star anise, nutmeg)
• Candied fruit
• Chocolate shavings (or cocoa powder) or ground cinnamon
• Rimmed glasses with salt, sugar, or crushed sweets

Presentation

• Use clear glasses or glasses with interesting shapes
• If you’re able to, serve mocktails in chilled or frosted glasses for a refreshing touch
• Arrange garnishes in a visually appealing way, such as creating a fruit or herb bouquet on the rim of the glass
• Use fun straws for a pop of colour and visual interest
• Serve mocktails with a side of fresh fruit skewers or a small plate of garnishes
• Incorporate themed decorations or props that complement the flavours or occasion of the mocktails

As with anything, the presentation of a mocktail should be just as enjoyable as the taste. By adding creative garnishes and presenting your mocktails in an appealing way, you’ll enhance the overall drinking experience and leave a lasting impression on your guests.

While our expert mixologists at Alcotraz have all the trimmings, feel free to bring your own too!

Classic mocktail recipes

Ah, the classics. These timeless mocktail recipes have stood the test of time, and for good reason. They’re easy to make, incredibly refreshing, and a surefire crowd-pleaser. Plus, your Alcotraz mixologists are guaranteed to know these recipes inside-out! Let’s kick things off with a few old-school favourites that never go out of style.

1. Virgin Mojito

• 1 tbsp sugar
• Small bunch mint
• Syrup (to taste)
• 3 limes, juiced
• Soda water

Fresh mint, tangy lime, and a hint of sweetness make this non-alcoholic mojito a summer staple. Simply muddle some mint leaves with lime wedges and simple syrup, top with soda water, and you’ve got a refreshing mocktail that’ll transport you straight to the Caribbean.

2. Virgin Piña Colada

• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened frozen pineapple chunks
• 1/4 cup ice
• 3/4 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
• 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 to 3 tablespoons brown sugar (optional)
• Splash of lime (to taste)
• Fresh pineapple wedges, for garnish (optional)
• Cherries, for garnish (optional)
• A cocktail umbrella (optional)

Coconut, pineapple, and a little umbrella: what’s not to love? This tropical treat feels like a holiday in a glass, minus the booze. Blend together pineapple juice, coconut cream, and a splash of lime juice for a creamy, dreamy mocktail that’ll have you dreaming of white sandy beaches.

3. Shirley Temple

• Ice
• 2/3 cup ginger ale, plus extra to serve (optional)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon grenadine
• 1 cherry, to garnish (optional)

Named after the iconic child star, this bubbly beverage is a timeless classic. Combine ginger ale with a splash of grenadine and a cherry garnish, and you’ve got a fizzy, fruity delight that’s as fun as it is delicious.

Fruity and refreshing

When the sun is shining and the temperatures soar, there’s nothing quite like a fruity and refreshing mocktail to quench your thirst, and to kickstart your creative abilities as you try to outwit the Warden at Alcotraz! These vibrant and flavour-packed drinks are the perfect way to beat the heat while indulging in a delightful, non-alcoholic treat.

4. Strawberry Lemonade Fizz

• 1 & 1/2 cups pureed strawberries (15-20 strawberries)
• 5-6 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice (1 large lemon or 2 small lemons)
• 2-4 Tbsp maple syrup, depending on the sweetness of the berries
• 1.5 cups of seltzer water or unflavoured pop
• Ice

Tart and sweet, this bubbly delight combines freshly squeezed lemon juice, muddled strawberries, and a splash of sparkling water for a refreshing and effervescent treat. Add more or less strawberries if preferred, but just keep in mind that the less strawberries you have, the paler the cocktail will be in appearance.

5. Pineapple Mint Cooler

• 2 whole pineapples (skinned and cut into spears)
• 2 small bunches of mint (~10 sprigs)
• 3-4 limes (juiced)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Simple syrup (or other sweetener, to taste)
• Leaves of mint and pineapple (for garnish)

Peel and core pineapples, cutting them into spears. Detach mint leaves from their stems. Juice the pineapple spears and mint leaves together, filtering out excess pulp with a fine-mesh strainer. Mix in lime juice and vanilla extract. Sweeten with simple syrup to taste, if needed, but consider the natural sweetness of the pineapple first. Add more lime juice if it’s too sweet. Keep the mixture in a sealed container in the fridge until serving. Serve chilled with ice, garnished with mint and pineapple leaves.

6. Watermelon Cucumber Refresher

• 5 cups watermelon (diced)
• 1 small cucumber (chopped)
• Juice from 1 lime
• ⅓ cup mint leaves
• 1 cup coconut water
• 1 tbsp honey
• Ice

Start by freezing watermelon chunks for at least four hours, or you can leave them in the freezer overnight. Once thoroughly frozen, place the chunks into a blender, adding the remaining ingredients. Blend everything together until the mixture achieves a smooth consistency. Finally, distribute the pureed mixture evenly among 6 glasses, ready to be served.

7. Raspberry Lime Rickey

For the syrup

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries

For the raspberry lime rickeys

• 1 cup raspberry syrup
• 3/4 cup lime juice
• 48 ounces of unflavored seltzer or pop
• Lime wedges or rounds, for garnish

To make raspberry syrup, combine sugar, water, and raspberries in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, which should take about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes, allowing the berries to break down and the sugar to dissolve. Next, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a glass container, letting it drain for about 5 minutes without pressing the berries too much to avoid extra pulp. Chill the strained syrup in the refrigerator for about an hour.

For pitcher drinks, mix 1 cup of the chilled raspberry syrup with lime juice in a large pitcher. Add ice, top with seltzer, and stir. Serve the raspberry lime rickeys in glasses garnished with lime.

8. Mango Mania

• 4 ripe mangoes, peeled and seeded
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 cup yoghurt
• 3 cups crushed ice
• 4 tablespoons honey
• A crack of black pepper

Indulge in the tropical flavours of ripe mango purée, mixed with a hint of orange juice and a spritz of sparkling water for a fruity and invigorating mocktail. Start by chopping the mango and placing it into a blender along with the rest of the ingredients. Blend everything until smooth, then pour the mixture into a tall glass. Finish by garnishing with a sprinkling of ground black pepper, giving it a unique twist before serving.

Mocktails with a twist

Bored with the same old fruity concoctions? These unique mocktail recipes will tantalise your taste buds with unexpected ingredients and flavour combinations that are sure to impress. Looking for something alcoholic instead? Discover our list of the top 20 unusual cocktails to find some showstoppers for your next birthday party, hen party or stag do!

9. Lavender Lemonade Fizz

• 2 tsp dried lavender
• 2 tsp sweetener
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 cups sparkling water

This refreshing drink blends tangy lemonade with soothing lavender syrup and a splash of sparkling water for a floral twist on a classic.

Begin by combining lavender, sweetener, and water in a small saucepan, bringing it to a gentle boil. Then, reduce the heat to very low, allowing the mixture to steam until the lavender fades in colour, about 7-8 minutes. After straining, let the syrup cool. In a glass, mix 2 tablespoons of the lavender syrup with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, then fill the rest of the glass with sparkling water. Add ice, and garnish to complete the refreshing beverage.

10. Matcha Mint Refresher

• 2 tablespoons matcha syrup
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• Mint leaves
• Tonic water (or lemonade for a citrus zing!)

For the matcha syrup, start by mixing one cup of water, one cup of white sugar, and two tablespoons of matcha green tea powder in a saucepan over low heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar has completely dissolved and the matcha is well blended. Once ready, pour it into a bottle and store it in the refrigerator.

To create the mocktail, take a highball glass and combine the matcha syrup with fresh lime juice. Toss in some mint leaves and gently muddle them together. Next, fill the glass with ice, pour in tonic water, and give it a good stir.

11. Mango Turmeric Tango

Mango juice:

• 3 cups fresh, ripe mango, chopped
• 1.5 cups filtered water
• 1-2 inch piece of fresh turmeric, peeled and chopped
• Juice from 1 lime

Honey simple syrup (make ahead if possible):

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup honey
• 1 vanilla bean, seeds/insides scraped out
• 2 litres sparkling water

To garnish:

• Kaffir lime leaves
• Sliced lime

Turmeric lends its warm, earthy flavour to this sunny mocktail. Blend all mango juice ingredients until smooth, then strain to eliminate pulp. Simmer water, honey, and vanilla in a saucepan until the honey dissolves, let cool, and refrigerate for up to 1 month. To serve, combine 3 ounces of mango juice and 1 tablespoon of the honey-vanilla syrup in a glass with ice, top with sparkling water, and garnish with lime and kaffir lime leaf if desired.

12. Rosemary Grapefruit Spritz

For the rosemary syrup

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 6 sprigs rosemary

For the spritz

• 2 cups grapefruit juice
• 2 cups carbonated water
• 3 cups ice cubes
• 4 sprigs rosemary optional for garnish

Herbaceous rosemary infuses this effervescent mocktail with an aromatic twist, balanced by the bright tartness of grapefruit juice and a splash of soda water.

Prepare the syrup before your spritz by dissolving sugar in water on medium heat in a saucepan, add rosemary, and simmer for 5 minutes until it’s aromatic and the sugar fully dissolves. Let it cool off for 10 minutes. Use immediately for cocktails or refrigerate for later use.

For the spritz, arrange 4 glasses and evenly distribute grapefruit juice and carbonated water into them. Incorporate at least 2 teaspoons of the rosemary simple syrup per glass, adjusting for sweetness preference, and mix. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and serve.

Mocktails for special occasions

When it comes to celebrating life’s momentous occasions, mocktails can add a touch of sophistication and festivity to any gathering. From elegant weddings to lively birthday parties, these non-alcoholic concoctions are the perfect way to toast to the occasion without compromising on taste or presentation. Below are some delightful mocktail recipes that are sure to elevate your special event.

13. Sparkling Cranberry Mimosa

• 1 cup cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1 cup ginger ale or sparkling water
• Fresh cranberries and orange slices for garnish

Mix the cranberry juice, orange juice, and lime juice together. Add the ginger ale or sparkling water and stir gently. Pour into champagne flutes and garnish with fresh cranberries and orange slices.

14. Lavender Lemonade Spritzer

• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup lavender simple syrup (equal parts water and sugar, infused with dried lavender)
• 1 cup lemonade
• 1 cup club soda or sparkling water
• Fresh lavender sprigs for garnish

Combine the lemon juice and lavender simple syrup, stirring well to dissolve the syrup. Add the club soda or sparkling water and stir gently. Pour into glasses filled with ice and garnish with fresh lavender sprigs.

15. Pomegranate Rosemary Fizz

• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup rosemary simple syrup (equal parts water and sugar, infused with fresh rosemary)
• 1 cup ginger ale or sparkling water
• Fresh rosemary sprigs and pomegranate arils for garnish

Combine the pomegranate juice, lime juice, and rosemary simple syrup, stirring well to dissolve the syrup. Add the ginger ale or sparkling water and stir gently. Pour into glasses filled with ice and garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and pomegranate arils.

Healthy and nutritious mocktails

For those looking to indulge in a refreshing beverage without compromising on health, our lineup of nutritious mocktails is sure to delight. These guilt-free concoctions are crafted with fresh fruits, vegetables, and other wholesome ingredients, providing a burst of flavour while nourishing your body.

16. Mixed Berry Bliss

• 1 cup mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
• 2 tablespoons honey or agave syrup (to taste)
• 1 cup sparkling water
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• Ice cubes
• Rosemary for garnish

To craft this delightful mocktail, begin by thoroughly washing your choice of berries and placing them in a shaker glass. Add honey or agave syrup, then muddle the mixture to blend the flavours together.

Next, prepare a serving glass by filling it halfway with ice cubes and pour the muddled berry puree over the ice. Introduce sparkling water into the glass, but leave some space at the top. Enhance the flavour by squeezing the juice of half a lemon into the mix, adjusting based on how tart you prefer your drink. Gently stir the mocktail with a long spoon to ensure the ingredients are well combined.

17. Tropical Green Machine

• 4 teaspoons passion fruit juice
• 2 tablespoons cucumber juice
• 2 teaspoons agave syrup
• 1 tsp orange blossom water
• Kombucha

To make cucumber juice, start by peeling the cucumber, then either juice it fresh or blend it and sieve out the pulp. Store the juice in the fridge (it will keep for two days).

Build the ingredients in the glass, excluding the kombucha. Add crushed ice, and then use a spoon to churn the cocktail, preferably in a circular motion, to mix well. Top it off with kombucha and another scoop of crushed ice. Garnish with an edible flower and a cucumber slice for a refreshing and visually appealing beverage.