29 Mocktails Worthy of a Second Round
This lineup of alcohol-free drinks—okay, fine, mocktail recipes—offers a colorful, creative route to festive zero-proof beverages. The boring old standards such as cranberry and apple juice, iced tea (although, to be fair, agua de jamaica is worth ordering a pound of dried hibiscus for), and even bitters and soda are out; these next-level nonalcoholic drink recipes are in.
Now, let’s deal with nomenclature for a moment. Bartender Julia Momosé votes to get rid of the word “mocktail,” arguing in her 2017 manifesto that “spiritfree” is a name “more befitting the care and the skill that goes into creating the beverage.” Since then, there have been many hot takes and think pieces on the topic, as well as awkward stabs at trying to come up with something new. (Writer Camper English has been cataloging them.) Then, earlier this year, cocktail book author John deBary said to call off the whole “mocktail” cancellation and get over ourselves. So that’s what we’re going to do—but, we agree that “virgin” is, as deBary so eloquently put it, “weird,” so maybe you’ve seen recipes for virgin piña coladas (or margaritas or mojitos or sangrias) trending elsewhere, but you won’t find any here. And that’s that on that.
On to the drinks themselves, because our best mocktail recipes are delicious, thoroughly adult, and a serious upgrade from what you’re used to thinking of as a nonalcoholic alternative.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi, Prop Styling by Alex Massillon1/29Vegan Coquito
This mocktail recipe, a dairy-free version of Puerto Rican coquito, is punched up with Jamaican aromatics. The finishing touch, though, is the same as the classic: a cinnamon stick garnish.
Photograph by Shawn Michael Jones, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams, Food Styling by Micah Morton2/29Watermelon Cucumber Slushy
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua3/29Cucumber Sekanjabin Sharbat
There’s simple syrup, which is just a combination of sugar and water, and then there’s sekanjabin, a mixture of sugar or honey, water, vinegar, and mint sprigs simmered into a sweet-tart concoction.
Photograph by Yudi Ela Echevarria, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Sean Dooley, Special thanks to Frank's House4/29Sparkling Tangawizi
This brunch-friendly soda—inspired by Stoney Tangawizi, a spicy ginger beer popular throughout East Africa—features fresh lime juice and salt to level out a heavy dose of fresh ginger.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams5/29Cardamom-Rose Bhang
Now here’s a mocktail idea: Add some cannabis. More for the California sober than the sober sober, this creamy, floral, and, yes, intoxicating drink is popular at Holi festivities.
Photograph by Justin J Wee, Food Styling by Christine Albano, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni6/29Pomegranate Spritzers
Covid taught us that Ina Garten really, really likes Cosmopolitans, but when the Barefoot Contessa feels like eschewing booze, she goes for this mixture of sparkling water, pomegranate juice, and lime—and she freezes her glass, a trick that makes the difference between a good mocktail a great mocktail.
Photograph by Doaa Elkady, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker7/29Spicy Lemon-Ginger Tonic, Two Ways
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca8/29Honey-Berry-Kombucha Spritzer
Fruity without being sugary, this shrub-like spritzer incorporates blackberries, mint leaves, honey, kombucha, and salt—yes, salt. Just like with food, salt can bring out certain flavors in a drink.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca9/29Salty Grapefruit Refresher
Tap into bitterness with a combination of preserved lemon purée (made from whole preserved lemons, rind and all) and grapefruit juice. It’s the ultimate summertime pitcher drink.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.10/29Citrus Slushy
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi11/29Hot Spiced Apple Cider
They call New York the Big Apple, but we say this warming drink, which starts with a gallon of apple cider and gets simmered with allspice, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and vanilla, is the real Big Apple—big apple flavor, that is.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.12/29Almost Aam Panna
This version of aam panna, a classic Indian summer drink, swaps green mangoes for a pantry staple: jarred applesauce. You must drink it to believe it.
Photograph by Rana Düzyol, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni13/29Strawberry-Ginger Limeade
The gentle heat of ginger and strawberries’ natural sweetness make this limeade fit for discerning palates. PS. Lemonade can be grown-up, too. In this Sparkling Lemonade recipe, the fizz and the brininess of preserved lemon make all the difference.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua14/29Chile-Cucumber Agua Fresca
Who needs to order a mojito mocktail when you can have this ultra-refreshing drink with ginger and habanero chile-infused syrup to help you dance the night away?
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Molly Baz, prop styling by Emily Eisen17/29Inflammation-Busting Pineapple Slushy
You don’t have to make or buy pineapple juice for this drink; you just throw frozen pineapple chunks, coconut water, ginger, salt, turmeric, and ice into a blender and blitz it all until the slushy is smooth.
Photo by Oriana Koren, food styling by Lillian Kang, prop styling by Jillian Knox18/29Grape-Tarragon Spritzer
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca19/29Peach and Mango Spritzer
You remember John deBary from the intro, right? Did you know he uses Gatorade in cocktails sometimes? And here’s something else he said: “For me, being queer is a lot like mixing cocktails.” You’ll have to click on this delightfully fizzy mocktail recipe to find out why.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.21/29Green Tea Arnold Palmer
Maybe the classic Arnold Palmer, a mixture of lemonade and iced black tea, is a tad simple for this list of mocktail recipes, but we think the aromatic twist courtesy of jasmine green tea makes this version worthy.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Sophie Strangio22/29Spicy Citrus Refresher
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca23/29Mango-Lime Spritzer
Oh, mango, let us count the ways... We love you sliced on a platter and topped with fried shallots, we love you on toast, and we love you puréed with mint leaves and mixed with honey and lime juice, like in this great mocktail.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Sophie Strangio25/29Tea-Totaler’s Toddy
This cold-weather mocktail idea is a good one when you want to serve both those who drink alcohol and those who don’t. Ladle it into mugs—no, it’s not exactly a punch recipe; you’re ladling straight from the pot—and, for those imbibing, just spike each with 1 ounce of mezcal.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Sophie Strangio27/29Better Than Celery Juice
Stephen Lewis28/29Summer Twang
Turns out, twangs are as fun to drink as they are to say. Cantaloupe meets apple cider vinegar in the sunset-tinted non-alcoholic cocktail, which features a garnish that you should absolutely eat when you’re finished.
29/29Chai Blossom