Move over Shirley Temples, the mocktail food trend is here to stay! Whether you don’t drink, only drink occasionally, or are looking for more ways to spice up your drink repertoire, here are 3 mocktails that are easy to make and super tasty.
New Fashioned
A lot of mocktails are stereotyped to be sweet, fruit-forward drinks, but this mock Old Fashioned pays homage to the classic cocktail with emphasis on its bitter flavor profile. Grain roast tea such as barley tea provide a robust astringent and smokey flavor that pairs perfectly with orange, and really brings this mocktail to life! (Single Old Fashioned Glass, $15, William Sonoma)
Ingredients:
- 2 oz of Barley tea
- A few dashes of aromatic bitters
- 1 sugar cube
- Ice
- Orange peel (garnish)
Steps:
- Steep barley tea bag in a cup of water for 2 hours in the fridge, discard tea bag
- In an old fashioned glass add a sugar cube, and a few dashes of bitters. Muddle together until dissolved.
- Add large ice cube
- Add barley tea and stir
- Gently squeeze the orange peel over the drink and then add as garnish
Pro-tip: barley tea can easily be replaced with old-fashioned syrups and mixes, which are readily available at local grocery stores like The Fresh Market or Trader Joe’s!
No-Tequila Sunrise
This mocktail is perfect for brunch, or perfect for sipping in the warm weather. Not only is it colorful, it’s also fun to make! (Faceted Highball Glass, $16, William Sonoma | Lemon Hand Towel, $5, World Market)
Ingredients:
- 6-8 oz Orange juice (strained or pulp-free)
- ¼ oz Grenadine
- Ice
- Orange slice and maraschino cherry (for garnish)
Steps:
- Start by adding ice to a tall glass
- Fill the glass with orange juice
- Using the back of a spoon leaned against the side of the glass, slowly pour in the grenadine so it drips the side of the glass to the bottom of the mocktail
- Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry and enjoy
Pro-tip: this mocktail is best enjoyed in a taller glass such as a highball or Collins glass to enjoy the layers!
Grapefruit Lavender Fizz
Botanical flavor profiles are one of the stars of the mocktail trend, especially since they mimic the taste of liquors like gin without the alcohol. Tap into your inner mixologist by combining new herby and floral flavors! (Rempy Coup Glass, $16, Anthropologie)
Ingredients:
- ½ a Grapefruit
- 1 tablespoon of Lavender honey
- Ice
- Soda water (to taste)
- Grapefruit slices (garnish)
Steps:
- Slice half a grapefruit and remove the peel.
- In a shaker, add honey and grapefruit and muddle until mixed evenly
- Add ice and shake until cold
- Pour into glass and garnish with thin grapefruit slices
- Top off with some soda water for some bubbles and enjoy!
Pro-tip: lavender honey takes about 5 days to infuse and can be done ahead of time, or plain honey and lavender garnish can be used in a pinch!
I’m a scientist by trade, but a foodie at heart—based out of the DC Metropolitan area. I love to travel and am always looking to make connections over local food.
