Want to skip the hangover? Try these refreshing mocktails and non-alcoholic mixed drinks at your next wine night or dinner party
What are Non-Alcoholic Drinks?
If you’re somebody who has woken up with a blistering hangover, or has dealt with that inevitable hangxiety spiral, it may be time to start looking into mocktails (also known as non-alcoholic beverages). No, these drinks aren’t just water with a lemon on the rim. They can emulate all the deliciousness of a regular drink on a night out without sacrificing the next morning of your life due to the alcohol in them. You can still use a shaker, still make delicious syrups at home, and still even taste the flavour of the specific alcohol that may be missing in them. You’ve probably even noticed your favourite restaurants using these recipes as alternatives to cocktails, or have found that making mocktails has become a newer, trendier option in the health and wellness space. Non-alcoholic beverages can still utilize all the creativity of mixology, without the drawbacks of consuming alcohol.
Mixed Drinks Without the Hangover
Sober-curiosity has become a space that discusses what it means to still drink occasionally, but thoughtfully. This means that while discovering a health and wellness journey that suits you, it’s okay to try new things. Choosing mocktails encourages intentional drinking and awareness of your habits. The benefits of non-alcoholic drinks are endless; supporting mental clarity, reducing anxiety, improving sleep quality, and saving you some money. Studies have even found that the placebo of a mocktail can emulate the initial relaxing feeling a real cocktail gives, making it beneficial to try at your next outing if you need to have a productive day the next morning. Whether you’re cutting back, driving home, or just want to feel fresh tomorrow, mocktails give you the freedom to sip socially without compromising your health or energy.
Mocktails 101: Essentials for a Non-Alcoholic Mixed Drink Setup
No, you do not have to sacrifice the creativity involved in mixology to choose an alcohol-free night. If you’re somebody who enjoys having a bar cart, but are on a journey to discovering what kind of mocktails are out there, here are a few essentials that you can use for your next hosting gig.
Simple syrup
How to Make: Add 1 cup of water to a pot, bring to boil. Add 1 cup of sugar, mix until diluted. Cool in a container.
- Simple syrup is the most versatile ingredient a mocktail can include. It is essentially the main element to making a drink sweet. You can also add countless ingredients to it during the boiling process to infuse the syrup (herbs, citrus, fruits and spices to name a few).
Sweet and Sour Mix
How to Make: Add 1 ½ cup of sugar to a container. Add 1 ½ cup of hot water to the same container, and mix until sugar is dissolved. Add 2 cups of lemon juice (add more or less depending on your taste), mix and cool in the fridge.
- Sweet and Sour Mix is a bartender's lemonade mix. It is the best option for making a drink sweet, but still has that sour tang of citrus a lot of delicious drinks call for.
A Variety of Fruit Purées
These are generally found at your local grocery store. First choices are generally going to be strawberry, mango, raspberry, cherry, or guava.
- These purées are going to be included in the base of most of your drinks, generally as an alternative to simple syrup.
Garnishes and Herbs
Also found at grocery stores, these ingredients (such as mint, limes, or lemons) are an essential part of taking your mocktails to the next level.
- Herbs and garnishes can be shaken, mixed, or muddled into your drinks to add that extra pop of flavor, adding a level of depth typically found in alcoholic drinks to mask the flavor of alcohol. Using these ingredients as a garnish will also elevate your non-alcoholic mixed drinks to look more beautiful and appetizing.
Must-Try Mocktails Recipes
The Fruity Mojito
In a shaker tin add:
- 1oz. Mango Puree
- 5-6 Mint Leaves
- 1 ½oz. Passionfruit Juice
- 1 ½oz. Sweet and Sour
- ½ Lime Juice
Shake with ice, add to a large glass. Top with soda water or sprite (depending on how sweet you like it). Garnish with mint sprig and a lime wheel.
Ms. Shirley 
In a shaker tin add:
- ½oz. Grenadine
- 2oz. Orange Juice
Shake with ice, add to a large glass. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and mix. Top with sprite or ginger ale. Garnish with a skewered cherry and orange slice.
Noquilla Sunrise
Get your favorite citrusy non-alcoholic beer. Empty (or drink) 4 sips until the liquid reaches the label. Add in the bottle:
- ½oz. Grenadine
- 1oz. Orange Juice
- Splash of Pineapple
Grab a lime wedge, squeeze into the neck of the bottle and flip the bottle upside down holding your finger to cover the hole. Drink straight from the bottle.
Blackberry Mule
In a shaker tin add:
- 1oz. Blackberry Puree or Syrup
- 1oz. Sweet and Sour
- ½oz. Lime Juice
Shake with ice, strain into a copper mug with fresh ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with skewered blackberry and lime wedge, along with a spring of mint leaves.
Why More People Are Choosing Mocktails Over Martinis
Choosing a mocktail at a restaurant or making your drink without alcohol at home doesn’t have to ruin your night. Finding alternatives will not only make you more mindful of your alcohol consumption, but can offer delicious and refreshing options to experiment with. Non-alcoholic drinks are one of the best ways to move toward a happier and healthier lifestyle, without sacrificing how you feel the next morning. So go ahead, raise a glass to feeling good, having fun, and waking up refreshed.
