8 Mocktails Perfect For A Summer Sans Alcohol

The Dry July movement continues gaining followers who seek to cut down on alcohol intake, and non-alcoholic options are sprouting everywhere. Canned mocktails, non-alcoholic spirits and different flavored mixers are more abundant in the market, and restaurants and bars are following suit by adding mocktail menus to their offerings.

As temperatures soar, a refreshing non-alcoholic drink is always welcome, even as something tasty to sip between regular cocktails. Here are eight recipes for you to try at home to beat the heat and decrease the tipsy factor a notch.

Honest mocktail

At Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa the menu of health-conscious inspirational mocktails includes the Honest, which includes refreshing ingredients like mint, lemon and cucumber. Pineapple juice and house-made ginger soda add extra antioxidants, anti-inflammatory benefits and aid in digestion.

• ½ oz yellow lemon juice
• 2 oz. natural pineapple juice
• 3/4 oz citrus syrup (recipe below)
• 8 mint leaves
• 1 cucumber
• Ginger soda

Take five slices of the cucumber (depending on how cucumber-forward you want your drink, you can add more or less) and macerate in the lemon juice for as little as 30 minutes or overnight, depending on how soft you want them. Combine the cucumbers and the macerating liquid with the pineapple juice, citrus syrup and mint and shake. Strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with ginger soda, garnish with fresh mint and a cucumber ribbon.

Citrus syrup

Add a cup of granulated sugar and a cup of water to a saucepan. Squeeze six limes into the mixture and boil on high heat until sugar is dissolved. Boil on high heat for 5 minutes and then reduce to a simmer for another 15 minutes. Allow to fully cool to room temperature before using.

London Bridge

At the AC Hotel Columbus in Dublin, Ohio, rooftop restaurant and bar VASO serves this non-alcoholic take on the gin and tonic. Their new retro-themed cocktail catalog offers plenty of delicious and beneficial mocktails to sip on. Although they make the tonic syrup in house, there are many commercial brands available.

• 1.5oz Lyre’s Dry London Spirit
• 1 oz tonic syrup
• 0.5 oz lemon juice

Mix all ingredients in an ice filled glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with juniper berries, dehydrated grapefruit, and a sprig of baby’s breath.

Dublin’s House Tonic Syrup

Take the peels from two lemons, two limes, two oranges and two grapefruits and put them in a mason jar or sous vide bag, along with 10 cloves, 10 allspice peppercorns, one cinnamon stick, 0.8 oz cinchona bark, 2 oz lavender buds, 2 oz tonka bean and 0.25 oz bergamot oil. Add 32 oz simple syrup and sous vide the syrup for 2 hours. Strain the syrup and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Heal and Spread Healing

With a 100% giveback to Southern Smoke’s Million for Mental Health campaign, Houston sushi spot Aiko is offering the Heal and Spread Healing Mocktail, Joshua Baugh, Cultural Ambassador for Duckstache Hospitality.

• 2.5 oz Japanese black tea (“wakoucha”)
• 0.5 oz Herbs de Provence infused-honey
• 0.25 oz vanilla
• 2-3 dashes black walnut bitters

Build over ice. Stir and garnish with expressed lemon peel.

South Villa Spritz

“The drink’s balance comes from the interplay between the bittersweet Lyre’s Italian Spritz Aperitif, the tropical sweetness of passion fruit syrup, and the tartness of lemon juice. Garnishing with grapefruit and lemon adds visual appeal and a fragrant zest, enhancing the aromatic experience,” says Olivier Charlot, Bar Lead of Summer House on Music Lane in Austin, Texas.

• 1.5 oz. Lyre’s Italian
• 0.5 oz. passionfruit juice
• 0.5 oz lemon
• Soda

Build in glass with ice and fill with soda. Stir gently and garnish with grapefruit and lemon wheels.

Spicy Pom Fizz

Seedlip is probably the best known non-alcoholic spirit brand, while Q Mixers are popular additions to any cocktail, with or without alcohol. This spicy, gingery drink hits all the bases.

• 1 oz Seedlip Garden
• 1 can Q Ginger Beer
• 1 oz Pom Juice
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 1/4 oz agave syrup
• 2 slices of chile serrano, muddled (optional, or sub your favorite chile)

Add all ingredients except ginger beer to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a Collins glass over pebble ice, and top with Q ginger beer. Garnish with a black cherry and lime slice.

Mingle Bellini

There are now more ready-to-drink zero-proof options in the market, including Mingle Mocktails, a line of sparkling mocktails. They are good right out of the can, but can be enhanced with a few additions.

• 4oz Mingle Mocktails Blackberry Hibiscus Bellini
• 5-6 dashes aromatic bitters
• 2 dashes grenadine
• Splash of club soda
• Garnish of your choice

Pour Mingle, bitters and grenadine in a shaker. Combine with stirring spoon. Pour over ice and splash with club soda. Garnish and enjoy!

Canelo mocktail

At the W Punta de Mita, the new 0.0% drink menu was designed to offer guests an incredible selection of non-alcoholic alternatives that not only will help you curve a hangover, but will also offer different health benefits. For the Canelo, you can make the cinnamon syrup or use your favorite commercial brand.

• 2 oz cranberry juice
• 1 oz cinnamon syrup
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz passion fruit juice

Pour all ingredients over ice and stir to combine.

Ladybird Spritz

Created by Lauren Webb, manager at Nido at The Loren Hotel Austin, this is the perfect replacement for an Aperol spritz. Slightly bitter, a touch of sweet, with bubbles that make it the perfect, refreshing cocktail for Texas summers.

• 2oz Giffard Apertif
• 1oz club soda
• 2 dashes of non-alcoholic orange bitters
• Alcohol removed sparkling wine

Combine all ingredients in mixing glass with ice and stir gently. Garnish with a lemon slice.