Mocktail 101
This is your ultimate guide to crafting delicious and refreshing mocktails! Whether you’re new to mocktails or looking to elevate your drink game, this page has everything you need to get started. From stocking your home bar with essential tools and ingredients to mastering simple techniques and recipes, I'll help you create beautiful, flavorful drinks for any occasion.
Why Mocktails?
Mocktails are alcohol-free beverages that combine fresh, flavorful ingredients like juices, herbs, syrups, and sparkling water to create delicious and beautifully crafted drinks. They offer all the sophistication and creativity of cocktails, but without the alcohol, making them a fantastic alternative for any occasion.
Mocktails cater to a variety of lifestyles and preferences, whether you’re abstaining from alcohol, looking for healthier options, or simply enjoying a unique drink. They’re inclusive, versatile, and perfect for sipping at parties, celebrations, or cozy nights in, proving that you don’t need alcohol to enjoy a truly exceptional beverage.
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Build Your Mocktail Bar
Setting up a mocktail bar at home is a fun and creative way to enjoy delicious, alcohol-free beverages anytime. Start by selecting a dedicated space, such as a bar cart, countertop, or shelf. Stock it with essentials like juices, sparkling water, syrups, and fresh garnishes like herbs and fruits. Don’t forget stylish glassware
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Mocktail Essentials
Start with base liquids like fresh juices (orange, lime, cranberry) and sparkling options like club soda, tonic water, or ginger beer for fizz. Sweeteners such as simple syrup, honey, or agave add balance, while flavor enhancers like alcohol-free bitters, shrubs, or spices bring depth. Fresh herbs (mint, rosemary) and garnishes like citrus slices or berries.
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Recipes To Get Started
Starting with simple recipes helps build confidence and lets you master the basics, like balancing flavors and perfecting presentation. Plus, they’re versatile and you can easily adapt them with what you have on hand or add creative twists. With simple mocktail recipes, anyone can enjoy a refreshing, beautifully crafted drink without the complexity!
Step One:
Must-Have Ingredients
Basic Liquids
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Juices: orange, cranberry, pineapple, grapefruit, tart cherry
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Bubbles: club soda, tonic water, ginger beer, sparkling water
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Non-Bubbles: Coconut water, tea
Basic Add-Ons
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Fresh: Lemon or Lime juice
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Fresh or Frozen Fruits: blackberries, blueberries, grapefruit, oranges, grapefruit, watermelon, mango
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Fresh Herbs: mint, rosemary, thyme, sage
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Others: Cream of coconut
Sweeteners
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honey
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agave
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maple syrup
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Homemade simple syrup (recipe below)
Mocktail Recipes
Simple mocktail recipes are essential for beginners and seasoned enthusiasts alike, as they make crafting delicious drinks approachable and stress-free. Starting with simple recipes helps build confidence and lets you master the basics, like balancing flavors and perfecting presentation. Plus, they’re versatile and you can easily adapt them with what you have on hand or add creative twists.
Build Your Home NA Bar Cart
Select stylish glassware​
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Rocks Glasses: For simple drinks
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Highball Glasses: For layered or fizzy mocktails
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Coupe Glasses: For elegant sips
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Wine Glasses: for white or red
Oraganize and Display
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Arrange tools in a caddy or glass jar
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Store garnishes in small bowls
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Use a tiered tray for syrups, bitters, or NA wine
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Add some Spirit Alternatives
Add Personality
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Include fun straws, cocktail picks, and napkins
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Use ice molds for unique shapes (spheres, flowers)
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Decorate with lights, a small plant, or a sign that says Mocktail Bar
Favorite Mixers at the Grocery Store
Grocery stores have mixers perfect for crafting mocktails at home. Stock up on staples like club soda, tonic water, ginger beer, and flavored sparkling waters for fizz and balance.
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You can also find syrups like grenadine or honey and specialty items like coconut water or non-alcoholic kombucha for added depth. With these easily accessible mixers, creating delicious mocktails is just a shopping trip away!
3 Reasons to Add Non-Alcoholic Spirits to Your Mocktails
Ready to shake (or stir) things up?
Elevate Flavor Profiles
Non-alcoholic spirits are crafted with unique blends of botanicals, herbs, and spices, adding depth and complexity to your mocktails. Whether it’s the crisp juniper notes in a non-alcoholic gin or the smoky essence of a non-alcoholic whiskey, these alternatives bring sophistication to your drinks that plain juices or sodas just can’t match.
Create a True Cocktail Experience
One of the joys of a well-made drink is the ritual of crafting it. Using non-alcoholic spirits lets you shake, stir, and garnish your mocktails just like a traditional cocktail, making the experience just as enjoyable. Plus, they’re perfect for those moments when you want the look, feel, and taste without the alcohol
Accommodate Every Guest
Non-alcoholic spirits make your mocktails more inclusive, ensuring there’s something special for everyone at your gathering. Whether your guests are sober-curious, pregnant, or simply prefer not to drink, these alternatives let you serve sophisticated beverages that everyone can enjoy.
Tequila Alternatives
Non-alcoholic tequila alternatives are perfect for those who love the bold, earthy, and slightly smoky flavors of traditional tequila. These substitutes are crafted to mimic the essence of tequila, making them ideal for mocktail versions of your favorite tequila-based drinks, like margaritas, palomas, or tequila sunrises!
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Whiskey Alternative
Non-alcoholic whiskey alternatives bring the warm, bold, and smoky flavors of whiskey to your drinks without the alcohol. Whether you’re craving a cozy nightcap or a sophisticated mocktail, these substitutes deliver the essence of whiskey while keeping things alcohol-free. They’re perfect for classic whiskey cocktails like an Old Fashioned, Manhattan, or Whiskey Sour.
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Rum Alternative
Non-alcoholic rum alternatives offer the sweet, spiced, and tropical flavors of traditional rum without the alcohol. These alternatives are crafted to capture the signature notes of rum, from rich molasses to warm spices, making them perfect for recreating classics like mojitos, piña coladas, or dark and stormies.
Gin Alternatives
Non-alcoholic gin alternatives are crafted to mimic the botanical complexity of traditional gin, offering flavors like juniper, citrus, and herbs. These alternatives are perfect for recreating classic gin-based cocktails, such as G&Ts, martinis, and negronis, or experimenting with unique mocktail recipes.
Aperitif / Aperitivo
Non-alcoholic aperitivo alternatives capture the essence of traditional aperitifs—bitter, citrusy, and herbal flavors designed to stimulate the palate before a meal. These alcohol-free options are perfect for creating sophisticated mocktails like spritzes, negronis, or other aperitivo-style drinks that feel indulgent and refreshing.
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Figlia is my favorite Aperitivo - use code MOCKTAILGIRLIE for 20% off!
Other Alternatives
​Coffee Originale - For NA Espresso Martinis
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Non-Alcoholic Bitters
I love All The Bitter for my mocktails. It's a great way to add flavor and depth to your drinks! It's also SO great to bring with you to add to sparkling water! They mimic traditional bitters in complexity but are 100% alcohol-free. ​​
Use code MOCKTAILGIRLIE for 10% off your purchase!
How to Make Your Own Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
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1 cup granulated sugar, coconut sugar, brown sugar or cane sugar
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1 cup water
Instructions:
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Combine: In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water.
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Heat: Place over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has fully dissolved.
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Cool: Remove from heat and let it cool completely.
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Store: Pour the syrup into a clean, airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Notes:
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For added flavor, infuse the syrup by adding herbs (like mint or rosemary), citrus peels, or spices (like cinnamon) to the mixture as it heats. Strain once the syrup has cooled.