The 17 best mocktail recipes to make in 2025

Are you looking to take a little break from alcohol but still want the sweet taste of a cocktail on a warm summer day (no judgment)? Then mix up some mocktails so you can still indulge in some creative cocktail recipes — but without the liquor.

Sure, a mocktail won’t give you the buzz that a cocktail would, but these non-alcoholic drink recipes also won’t make you feel as bad if you have too many of them (both in terms of a hangover and on the scale, if you’re watching your weight).

If you are leaning toward a mocktail rather than a cocktail, you aren’t alone. Younger people are drinking less than their older peers, with many people choosing to drink only occasionally or to intersperse their alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks on a night out. Then there are those who choose not to drink at all, whether that’s for religious, health, or personal reasons. These trends mean that bartenders are increasingly thinking about interesting ways to present non-alcoholic drinks, which are no longer the afterthought on bar menus that they once were.

These nondrinkers are looking for a memorable experience with a drink just as much as a cocktail drinker is, according to Michelle Houston, founder of the To Be Honest Beverage Company. “They don’t just want sugary, fake substitutes, but real products with real ingredients,” Houston said. “So, mocktails that include additional benefits are going to be where they gravitate.”

If you like to make drinks at home, then you can take a leaf out of these bartenders’ books by brushing up your mocktail skills. Even if you do drink alcohol yourself, it’s always a good idea to have a few of the best mocktail recipes up your sleeve for when you’re hosting guests who might prefer to avoid alcohol. A recent book, The Inclusive Event Planner, encourages people to think about how to make guests who don’t drink feel welcome at events — and having mocktails available is an important part of that.

“My goal with this book is to inspire event organizers to rethink traditional setups,” author Laura Nelson said in a press release. “Inclusivity is about creating spaces where everyone feels comfortable, valued, and part of the experience — without relying on alcohol.”

Below, you’ll find the best mocktail recipes that range in flavor from sweet and a little spicy to fresh, like a spring garden. Bottoms up!

Berry Burlesque

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce black currant puree
• 1/2 ounce lime juice
• 1/2 ounce honey syrup
• 4-6 mint leaves
• Q Ginger Beer

Method:

1. Shake all ingredients except Q Ginger Beer and strain over fresh ice.
2. Top with Q Ginger Beer.

Cardi Tea

(Created by Zachary Gross, Sen Sakana, New York City)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces steeped green tea
• 1/2 ounce agave syrup
• 1/2 ounce bergamot orange
• 1/2 ounce lime juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg white

Method:

1. Dry shake all ingredients, then shake with ice.
2. Double strain into a coupe.
3. Garnish with a seasoned lemon slice.

Kama’s Arrow

(Created by Tyson Buhler, Death & Co, Denver)

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce mango puree
• 1 ounce vanilla syrup
• 1/2 ounce Coco Lopez
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1 dash Scrappy’s Cardamom Bitters
• Seltzer

Method:

1. Shake ingredients together with ice, then strain into a glass.
2. Garnish with crushed pistachios.

Halcyon Days

(Created by Joanna Carpenter, Town Stages, New York City)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces homemade pineapple shrub
• 2 teaspoons fresh ginger
• Pinch of ground allspice
• Pinch of honey
• Q Ginger Ale to top

Method:

1. Muddle 2 teaspoons of fresh diced ginger with a pinch of allspice and honey.
2. Spoon into the bottom of a chalice or tulip glass.
3. Add 1 1/2 ounces of pineapple shrub.
4. Top with pebbled ice and Q Ginger Ale.
5. Add enough pebbled ice to make a dome.
6. Drizzle with honey and a sprinkle of allspice, and garnish with a pineapple leaf.

On the Hudson

(Created by Kieran Chavez, Boqueria, New York City)

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Seedlip Spice
• 2 ounces Fuji apple juice
• 1/3 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 ounce black pepper syrup
• Pinch of Maldon sea salt

Method:

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients.
2. Shake for at least 15 seconds to incorporate.
3. Strain into a glass.
4. Top w/a heavy splash of tonic (around 1 ounce).
5. Fill the glass with ice.
6. Garnish with 2 apple slices laid flat across the top of the cocktail.
7. Top with a turn of freshly cracked pepper.

Cucumber Quencher

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces club soda
• 3/4 ounce agave thyme syrup
• 1/4 ounce cucumber juice
• 1/4 ounce lemon Juice
• 6-8 mint sprigs
• Oval cucumber slice for garnish
• Thyme sprig for garnish

Method: 

1. Add all ingredients to a shaker.
2. Shake well, then double strain into a highball and top it off with club soda.
3. Garnish with an oval cucumber slice and a thyme sprig.

Classic Bubbly

(Created by Marnie Rae, National Mocktail Week)

Ingredients:

• 5 cups pomegranate juice
• 1 cup frozen raspberries
• 4 tablespoons vanilla bean paste
• 5 drops lemon extract
• 5 drops orange extract
• 2 pomegranates’ worth of pips

Method:

1. In a large saucepan, add all ingredients but the pomegranate seeds.
2. Bring to a light simmer over medium-low heat.
3. Simmer for approximately 25 minutes.
4. Let it cool.
5. Blend well in a blender to incorporate all ingredients.
6. Add soda/sparkling water to taste.
7. Garnish with pom seeds.

Verbena Virgin Mary

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces United Sodas lemon verbena
• 3 ounces tomato juice
• Several shakes of hot sauce
• Pepper and celery stick for garnish

Method:

1. Mix the soda, tomato juice, and hot sauce in a Collins glass and stir with a bar spoon.
2. Replace the celery stick with a dill pickle if you’d like.

Matcha Margarita

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces tonic water
• 2 ounces lime juice
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 1 ounce orange juice
• 1 tablespoon agave syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon Tenzo matcha
• Kosher salt
• Lime for garnish

Method:

1. Pour ice into a cocktail shaker and add 6 oz tonic water to the cocktail shaker.
2. Add in all the juice, 1 tablespoon of agave syrup, and a 1/2 teaspoon of Tenzo matcha into the cocktail shaker.
3. Shake well until everything has been combined. 
4. Squeeze a lime wedge over the rim of the cocktail glass to prepare the salted rim.
5. Next, place the rim of the cocktail glass on a plate of kosher salt.
6. Pour the margarita mixture into the salted cocktail glass, garnish with a lime, and enjoy.

Agrodolce

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Ghia
• 1/2 ounce date syrup
• 3 sprigs of thyme
• 3 dashes of orange bitters
• 1 small sprig of thyme
• Orange zest

Method:

1. Pour Ghia into a shaker.
2. Add date syrup, 3 thyme sprigs, and orange bitters.
3. Shake and strain into a lowball glass with a large ice cube.
4. Garnish with a small sprig of thyme and a dusting of orange zest for a kick of citrus.

Chill Warm Nighttime Tonic

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup Health-Ade Plus Chill
• 3/4 cup coconut milk (or non-dairy milk of choice)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried lavender
• 2 dashes cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Sweetener of your choice (optional but recommended)

Method:

1. In a small pot, add all the ingredients except the kombucha.
2. Bring the heat to low, stirring, letting the flavors merge, you’ll begin to smell the aromatics from the lavender and vanilla.
3. At this point, froth the warm liquid and slowly add the kombucha.
4. Froth one more time and pour into your favorite mug.

Mock Mint Julep

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces unsweetened tea
• 1 bar spoon of Woodford Reserve mint simple syrup
• Mint for garnish

Method:

1. Pour ingredients over crushed ice and garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.

Flower Power

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Ghia
• 2 ounces elderflower tonic
• Grapefruit or lemon zest for garnish

Method:

1. Pour Ghia and mix with elderflower tonic.
2. Serve in lowball glass on the rocks.
3. Garnish with the zest of fresh grapefruit and lemon.

Sweet Tea to Die For

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of either a peach or nectarine
• 4 ounces sweet tea (Pure Leaf Sweet Tea works great)
• 4 ounces DRY Blood Orange Botanical Bubbly
• Extra fruit and a lemon wedge for garnish

Method:

1. In a shaker, add two slices of either peach or nectarine, add crushed ice, and muddle.
2. Fill the shaker half-way with sweet tea and shake until mixed.
3. Dump into a tall glass and add more ice if needed.
4. Top with chilled DRY Blood Orange Botanical Bubbly.
5. Garnish with a lemon wedge and fruit slices.

Ginger and Lemon Mint Reset Mocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of Health-Ade Plus Belly Reset
• 1 whole juiced lemon
• 8 lemon slices (4 for muddling, 4 for garnish)
• 4 slices of fresh ginger (1/2 inch thick)
• 3 sprigs of fresh mint

Method:

1. Slice your lemons and juice your 1 lemon.
2. Slice your ginger and remove the skin.
3. Add your 4 lemon slices, ginger, and mint in your glass and muddle for about 2 minutes until the leaves are squished and the lemons are broken apart.
4. Pour kombucha into your muddled mixture.
5. Stir to combine and pour into a coupe glass.

Matcha Peach Daiquiri

Ingredients:

• 1 cup frozen peaches
• 1-2 tablespoons agave (depending on how much sweetness is desired)
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon Tenzo matcha
• 5 ice cubes

Method:

1. In a blender, combine frozen peaches, agave (or simple syrup), lime juice, water, and ice cubes.
2. Blend on high until a thick, frozen mixture has formed.
3. If the mixture is too thin, add in a few extra ice cubes and blend again. 
4. Pour the peach mixture into a cocktail glass. 
5. Prepare a matcha shot by whisking ½ tsp Tenzo matcha in a little bit of water. 
6. Pour the matcha shot over the peach mixture.
7. Using a straw or spoon, stir until the matcha has blended into the cup.

Cranberry Rosemary Sparkler

Ingredients:

For the rosemary simple syrup:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary

For the mocktail:

• 2 ounces rosemary simple syrup
• 4 ounces cranberry juice (low-sugar preferred)
• Splash of fresh lime juice (optional)
• Club soda or sparkling water
• Crushed ice
• Fresh cranberries and a rosemary sprig for garnish

Method:

For the rosemary simple syrup:

1. In a saucepan, combine water, sugar, and rosemary sprigs.
2. Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
3. Remove from heat and let steep for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
4. Strain out the rosemary and store the syrup in the refrigerator for up to a month.

For the mocktail:

1. Fill a glass with crushed ice.
2. Add rosemary simple syrup, cranberry juice, and a squeeze of lime juice (if using).
3. Stir gently to combine.
4. Gently pour in club soda or sparkling water, leaving some room at the top to avoid overflow.
5. Add a few fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.