9 fun mocktails to mix up 🍸
sober-friendly options so good you won't even miss the alcohol (*that* much lol)
update: no baby yet! but we’re now talking days versus months until I can have the real margarita I’ve wanted since like january (but who’s counting).
however, that being said I’ve been pleasantly surprised how much I haven’t missed alcohol throughout my pregnancy. I did have some small sips of wine when we were in bordeaux over the summer, but that’s it and I credit sobriety not being a problem to a bevy of non-alc options on the market.
one thing I’ve come to really appreciate is a good mocktail—as in, not just juice—especially when out with friends or at a party. sometimes it’s not necessarily the alcohol you need to unwind or have fun, but the act of relaxing or mingling with a special drink to sip on (sometimes it’s the alcohol you need though let’s be real).
if you’re pregnant, generally sober-curious, or looking to *mix* things up for your next dinner party or brunch, girls night, or just a thursday, scroll on for a range of mocktails suitable for any occasion—hangover-free.
watermelon sour 🍉
the perfect blend of sweet and sour in a glass—plus it looks pretty. this mocktail relies on a faux herby alcohol reminiscent of gin for the bitter flavor that makes it feel like a real cocktail.
note that this requires a bit of pre-work to make the shrub but that keeps in the fridge for awhile and is also a nice drink on its own with some soda water so well worth the extra effort.
gather your ingredients
2 oz seedlip garden 108
1 egg white
let’s get mixing
add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker
shake vigorously
strain into a chilled glass
recipe from here
salty grapefruit refresher
mocktails can lean quite sweet because the antidote—bitterness—is tough to add without a spirit. this recipe solves that with a combo of preserved lemon purée (you can also fine at world market or whole foods) and grapefruit juice.
the result is a grown-up gatorade you’ll want to sip all summer (and fall) long.
gather your ingredients
1½ cups fresh grapefruit juice
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tsp preserved lemon purée (such as ny shuk)
club soda and grapefruit and lime wheels (for serving)
let’s get mixing
stir grapefruit juice, lime juice, and preserved lemon purée in a small pitcher to combine.
divide juice mixture among 4 highball glasses filled with ice; top off with club soda. stir gently and garnish each drink with a grapefruit wheel and a lime wheel.
recipe from here
sleepy girl mocktail
if you haven’t tried this viral nighttime drink yet—you’re missing out. the gist is this: swirl a spoonful of magnesium into a fizzing glass of seltzer and tart cherry juice, take a big sip, and get the best sleep of your life.
or, at the very least, it tastes good lol
gather your ingredients
½ cup tart cherry juice
1 tsp magnesium powder
3 oz soda water
let’s get mixing
in a cocktail shaker: combine ice, cherry juice, and magnesium powder
shake for 10-15 seconds until well-chilled
pour the mixture into your glass of choice
top with soda water
recipe from here
margarita
a margarita has been my one alcohol itch that’s been hard to adequately scratch. turns out it’s nearly impossible to replicate in the absence of tequila!
this recipe comes pretty close though thanks to a citrusy-spicy faux tequila from seedlip which is the closest thing I’ve found to the real thing.
gather your ingredients
50 ml seedlip grove 42
1 tbsp agave syrup
20 ml fresh lime juice
ice
salt rim + lime wheel for garnish
let’s get mixing
prepare your glass by running a lime wedge around the outside of the rim then roll the rim in salt.
add all the ingredients w/ ice to a cocktail shaker
shake & strain over fresh cubes of ice into a tumbler
garnish w/ a lime wheel
recipe from here
earl grey tea & mango mocktail 🥭
four ingredients make this incredibly refreshing and gently caffeinated drink the ideal afternoon or evening pick-me-up. simply blitz mango in the blender until smooth and then add to tea, top with soda water and enjoy :)
gather your ingredients
2 bags earl grey tea
1 mango
1oz honey syrup
sparkling water
let’s get mixing
at least 1 hour before drinking/serving, start by brewing your earl grey tea. place two tea bags in a heat-safe glass and pour in 1 cup of hot water followed by 2 cups of room temperature water.
let it steep for 20 minutes, then remove the tea bags and chill the tea in the fridge for at least an hour, or up to a couple of days.
while tea is chilling, slice your mango into chunks. then, add chunks to a blender along with the chilled tea.
blend until fully mixed, then strain the mixture twice to remove any sediment.
to serve, fill a glass with ice and pour in the earl grey mango tea. top it off with sparkling water and garnish with a slice of mango. enjoy!
recipe with video here
hot honey lemonade 🍋🍯🌶️
alexa, play lemonade by beyonce. this one’s for the spice lovers amongst us: it’s tart, sweet, with just the right amount of zing, and so so refreshing.
just mix lemon peels with hot honey + a splash of hot water, and then use that to sweeten your favorite lemonade recipe.
gather your ingredients
peels + juice from 3 lemons (or just the peels + your fave lemonade)
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp hot honey
splash of hot water
tajin + lemon slice for garnish
let’s get mixing
mix the lemon peels, hot honey with a splash of hot water and salt. mash to extract flavor and let sit
juice lemons (or pour lemonade) into a glass
combine syrup with lemon juice or lemonade
serve with tajin rim + lemon slice
recipe with video from here
cucumber elderflower spritz
we love a cumber moment over here almost as much as a 2-minute recipe (!). all about as close to instant gratification as we can get these days. btw don’t be put off by the cucumber juice step it really takes one of the two minutes and the other is mixing everything together.
gather your ingredients
2 oz cucumber juice
½ oz non-alcoholic elderflower cordial or syrup
1 oz lime juice
½ cup soda water
let’s get mixing
make the cucumber juice: blend 2 inches cucumber and 2 tbsp water in a small blender and strain
add all ingredients to a wine glass and stir gently
taste and add a little extra elderflower if you wish
garnish with an optional cucumber ribbon and edible flower
recipe with video here
pineapple jalapeño margarita
tell me you miss margaritas without telling me lol but this one sounded too good I had to include. plus, when you’re at the point of wanting your baby to get out of your body pineapple allegedly comes in handy so it’s a win-win.
gather your ingredients
2 oz. seedlip garden 108
½ oz agave syrup
1 oz pineapple juice
½ oz fresh lime juice
2 slices jalapeño
ice
dehydrated pineapple wheel for garnish
let’s get mixing
lightly muddle all ingredients in a shaker with add ice.
shake & strain in glass with ice.
garnish w/ a dehydrated pineapple wheel
recipe from here
virgin piña colada
essentially a tropical vacation in smoothie form which is great if you live somewhere it’s still in the 90s despite october coming in literally 2 days. the non-alc rum is totally optional as it’s far from the most important part.
gather your ingredients
½ cup coconut milk
¼ cup cream of coconut
3 tbsp light agave syrup
1 cup fresh or frozen pineapple chunks
2 pineapple wedges for garnish
iuice of ½ lime
1½ cups ice
3 oz non-alcoholic rum (optional it works without!)
let’s get mixing
add coconut milk, cream of coconut and agave to a blender and blend until well combined
add pineapple chunks and lime juice and blend until smooth, then add the ice and nonalcoholic rum (if using) and blend until smooth and creamy
divide between 2 tall or daiquiri glasses and garnish each with a pineapple wedge
recipe from here
okay that’s it! if you’re not in the mood for mixology but want something non-alcoholic here are a few of my ready-to-enjoy favorites:
ghia canned apertif - if you like aperol spritzes
athletic brewing - so many different varieties (the IPA tastes *exactly* like the real thing)
spindrift nojito - a water that’s basically a mocktail