Non Alcoholic Summer Mocktail Recipes
Everybody Can Enjoy Delicious Mocktails!
Summer is just around the corner! What’s your favorite summer beverage? Maybe you prefer the traditional lemonade or iced tea, or you opt for margaritas or daiquiris in the summertime. But what happens if you don’t like alcohol? What happens if you don’t drink?
Sobriety has become somewhat trendy in this day and age, and sober bars have started popping up. There’s no reason why a fun night with fun drinks has to include alcohol.
If you’re sitting outside with your friends while they enjoy a mixed drink, you shouldn’t have to feel left out. In fact, mocktails can be just as fun as an alcoholic beverage (and heck, maybe even more so—no chance of a headache the next day!).
For some, and especially for those in recovery, it is difficult to attend a get-together without a game-plan. But having a drink in hand helps. Who says a recovering alcoholic has to stick to plain old sparkling water and lemon? Who says we all have to drink, anyway?
Try out some of these mocktail recipes the next time you are craving something sweet, or if you want to avoid alcohol during a special occasion. Cheers!
1) Cran-Apple-Orange Mocktail
As simple as it sounds! A delicate, fruity combo. Maybe you already have these juices on hand–mix them up for a fruity delight that your little one will probably love, too.
Equal parts apple, cranberry, and orange juice, with crushed ice and orange slices (and a marachino cherry, if you’re fancy).
2) Moscow Mule Mocktail
A take on the traditional Moscow Mule. A pleasant, tangy, spicy blend, with fresh notes of ginger and lime. You won’t miss the usual vodka in this mocktail.
1/2 cup Ginger Beer (or Ginger Ale if you can’t find the Ginger Beer)
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons club soda.
3) Lemon Lavender Mocktail
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons Lavender Simple Syrup
1/4 tsp Grenadine
3 dashes bitters
Add these ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake, strain, and add club soda.
Now, for the Lavender Simple Syrup.
Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, and 1 tablespoon dried lavender in a sauce pan. When the mixture boils, turn off the heat and let it cool, then strain out the lavender.
4) Non-Alcoholic Julep
Now you can have the fun derby drink at any time of day!
Equal parts pineapple, orange, and freshly squeezed lime juice. Top off with some ginger ale. Add a teaspoon of crushed mint. Top off with a sprig of mint and a lime wedge for a garnish.
5) Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Here’s another fun excuse to make simple syrup, but this time with basil and strawberries!
Strawberry-Basil Simple Syrup:
-1.5 cups sugar
-1 cup water
-1 pound strawberries, sliced in half
-3/4 cup basil leavess
Lemonade:
-8 cups cold water
-2 cups lemon juice, chilled
Put sugar and water to boil in a saucepan until sugar dissolves and water boils. Add strawberries and basil, and simmer until softened. Pour water, lemon juice, and 1.5 cups of simple syrup into pitcher and stir. Add more simple syrup as necessary. Garnish with basil leaves and strawberry slices.
And perhaps the best part about mocktails? Anybody can drink one at any age, and it certainly doesn’t matter the time of day.
BIO: Leslie Sullivan blogs about substance abuseand addiction, mental health and wellness, as well as language and translation. A former ESL teacher, she keeps her grammar demons at bay, and is always looking for ways to bring together creativity and logic.
