Mocktails: Drinks Without the Booze

Summer cocktail with watermelon and strawberry on stone background

Whether it’s a renewed focus on health or just not wanting to consume alcohol, it doesn’t mean you and your guests are stuck sipping water. Add mocktails to your next gathering of friends — mock cocktails — without the booze.

Here are some recipes to help.

Dirty Tonic

From Real Simple

1 ounce olive brine

1/2 ounce lemon juice

4 ounces tonic water

3 dashes angostura bitters

Green olives, for garnish

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir until very cold, then strain into a glass. Garnish with olives.

Non-Alcoholic Sangria

From Plated

2 cups boiling water

2 black tea bags

2 cinnamon sticks

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups cranberry juice

2 cups orange juice

1 orange, sliced into rounds

1 lemon, sliced into rounds

1 lime, sliced into rounds

1 apple, cored and cut into chunks

3 cups sparkling water

1. Pour the boiling water over the tea bags and cinnamon sticks in a large pitcher. Steep for 5 minutes. Discard the tea bags and stir in sugar.
2. Add the cranberry juice, orange juice and cut fruit. Refrigerate for an hour or overnight.
3. Just before serving, add the carbonated water. Serve over ice.

Strawberry Watermelon Slush

From Taste of Home

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/3 cup sugar

2 cups cubed seedless watermelon

2 cups fresh strawberries, halved

2 cups ice cubes

Place first four ingredients in a blender and puree. Add the ice cubes and blend into a slush.