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These summer mocktails are bubbly, fruity, and refreshing: from a virgin margarita to a non alcoholic spritz! Each one is alcohol-free and easy to make.
I’ve made hundreds of summer cocktails over the years, but lately I’ve started cutting back on my alcohol. Here’s the problem: summer drinks are so much fun and truly set the mood for any backyard BBQ or pool day.
So I’ve come up with a new collection of all my favorite summer mocktails! Every one in the list I’ve created and tested out on my real-life family, and they have all the bubbly, refreshing flavors of my standard cocktails. From non alcoholic spritzes to virgin frozen drinks, they use fresh ingredients like berries, lemon, lime, and bubbles to go big on flavor and get that care-free summer vibe.
My Favorite Summer Mocktails
This non-alcoholic Aperol spritz has all the herbal, citrusy flavor of the Italian classic without any alcohol: and there's no need to hunt down a special zero-proof spirit. It's bubbly, bright, and comes together in minutes with my homemade orange syrup.
My virgin spin on the classic Mexican Paloma is a mocktail starring fresh grapefruit and lime with a salted rim and bubbly sparkling water. It's tart, just a little sweet, and exactly what I want on hot afternoons.
Muddled fresh mint and lime over ice, topped with soda: this virgin spin on my classic Mojito is the most refreshing thing you can make in 5 minutes (plus, it uses all my garden mint!). It's my house drink all summer.
Here's one of my top frozen mocktails: blend frozen strawberries and lime into a frosty, slushie-like swirl! This virgin strawberry daiquiri tastes like summer and it's a huge hit with kids and adults alike. Serve it alongside my Strawberry Daiquiri for the rum version.)
Here's a fun one: this lemon blueberry mocktail has tart lemon, muddled fresh blueberries, and a little mint for a drink that's so pretty and refreshing. The color alone makes it feel like a party!
This one is just as fun as my classic margarita recipe, minus the tequila. This virgin margarita is my go-to, with a secret ingredient readers love! Serve it on the rocks with a salt rim that makes it feel like the real thing.
Here's a classic summer mocktail: a virgin spin on my classic piña colada! It's just coconut and pineapple blended with ice, and tastes like a tropical vacation that you can easily whip up in your blender.
This Pineapple Mint Slushie is the refreshing 3-ingredient summer drink you’ll be making on repeat this season! It’s got no added sugar, and it’s kid-friendly or great as a mocktail for adults: I call it a Pineapple Mojito Mocktail.
Tips for the Best Summer Mocktails
Here are a few things I’ve learned that make the best mocktail recipes:
- Use fresh citrus. Bottled juice can’t compete with the bright flavor of fresh lime, lemon, orange, or grapefruit.
- Keep simple syrup on hand. A jar of homemade simple syrup (or an herb-infused syrup like mint simple syrup) is perfect for whipping up drinks at moment’s notice.
- Use good ice. I love clear ice: the cubes melt slower and the big chunks look like the drink was made at a fancy bar.
- The garnish is important! A sprig of mint, a citrus slice, or a salted rim is what makes the drink: don’t leave it out!
- Batch it for a crowd. Each of the linked recipes have instructions for how to make a batched version. The basic rule: mix the base ahead in a pitcher and top each glass with soda water right before serving to preserve the bubbles.
Turn It Into a Party
Here are a few ways to add food and turn these mocktails into a party:
- Add a bowl of chips and guacamole, black bean and corn salad, or watermelon salsa
- Set out caprese skewers or antipasto skewers
- Add a next level sandwich like my best focaccia sandwich
- Pair any with tacos like grilled fish tacos or shrimp tacos
- Add any grilled meal like grilled chicken thighs, grilled salmon, or grilled tofu
- Pair the spritz or lemon blueberry mocktails with a Greek salad or tzatziki and vegetables
More Summer Drinks to Try
- 20 Easy Mocktail Recipes
- 20 Zesty Lemonade Recipes
- 15 Party Drinks for a Crowd
- Watermelon Slushies
- 50 Best Summer Cocktails
My Favorite Summer Mocktail
This virgin paloma mocktail is full of tart grapefruit, zingy lime, a salted rim – zero tequila required! It’s ready in 5 minutes and a refreshing non alcoholic drink.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice (see Notes for pitcher variation)
- 2 ounces fresh squeezed grapefruit juice (about ½ large grapefruit), plus 1 wedge for garnish
- ¼ teaspoon honey or simple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon pickle brine (juice from a pickle jar; see Notes)
- 3 ounces tonic water (or grapefruit soda; see Notes)
- Flaky sea salt and tajín, for the garnish
Instructions
- Cut a notch in the grapefruit wedge, then run the grapefruit around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of flaky sea salt and tajín (or you can wet the side of the glass, like in the photos).
- To the glass, add the lime juice, grapefruit juice, honey, and pickle brine, and stir until the honey is fully dissolved.
- Fill the glass with ice. Top with tonic water and serve immediately.
Notes
- Pitcher variation: For a pitcher of 8 drinks, mix 1 cup lime juice, 2 cups grapefruit juice, ¼ cup honey and ¼ cup pickle brine in a pitcher. Prep the glasses, then pour in about 3 oz of the mixture in each glass, then top with 3 oz tonic water.
- Substitutions: If you don’t have a jar of pickles, olive brine works too — or even caper brine. You can also substitute grapefruit soda for the tonic water to make a sweeter drink.
