Mocktails are alcohol-free cocktails that are just as festive as the real thing, and they’re easy to make lighter than shop-bought soft drinks by using sparkling water, fresh citrus, herbs and a little fruit juice. The main recipe here, a pomegranate and lime sparkler, takes 5 minutes, serves 4, and has about 45 calories a glass. Below it are four more easy mocktails for parties, barbecues and alcohol-free evenings. They’re a great choice for drivers, people who are pregnant, anyone cutting down on alcohol, and children.
- Serves: 4 (pomegranate and lime sparkler)
- Prep time: 5 minutes
- Cook time: none
- Total time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
Pomegranate and lime sparkler
- 240 ml (1 cup) unsweetened pomegranate juice, chilled
- Juice of 2 limes (about 40 ml), plus lime slices to serve
- 600 ml (2½ cups) chilled sparkling water or soda water
- A handful of fresh mint leaves
- 40 g (¼ cup) pomegranate seeds
- Plenty of ice
Method
- Put a few mint leaves in each of 4 tall glasses and gently press them with the back of a spoon to release their aroma.
- Fill the glasses with ice.
- Divide the pomegranate juice and lime juice between the glasses.
- Top up with sparkling water and stir gently.
- Add a spoonful of pomegranate seeds, a lime slice and a sprig of mint to each glass, and serve straight away.
Four more easy mocktails
Each makes 1 glass. Build them over ice.
- Cucumber and mint cooler: muddle 4 slices of cucumber and a few mint leaves, add the juice of half a lime, and top with sparkling water.
- Virgin mojito: muddle mint leaves with lime wedges and 1 teaspoon of honey or sugar syrup, then top with soda water. Use less sweetener than a traditional mojito.
- Ginger and orange fizz: 60 ml of orange juice, a few slices of fresh ginger, and sparkling water, with an orange slice.
- Berry and basil spritz: crush a few raspberries or strawberries with basil leaves, add a squeeze of lemon, and top with sparkling water.
For a pitcher, multiply the recipe and add the sparkling water just before serving so it stays fizzy.
Tips for lighter mocktails
- Use sparkling water as the base, and juice only for flavor and color.
- Get flavor from fresh ingredients: citrus, herbs, cucumber, ginger, berries and spices.
- Go easy on syrups and sugar. Add sweetness a little at a time, and taste first.
- Serve in nice glasses with plenty of ice and garnishes, which makes them feel special.
- Make ice cubes with fruit or herbs frozen inside.
- Check alcohol-free spirits and beers, which can be useful but may contain sugar. Choose those labeled 0.0% if you need to avoid alcohol completely.
Nutrition per serving (estimate)
One serving is a quarter of the pomegranate and lime sparkler. These figures were calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for bottled pomegranate juice, lime juice, club soda, spearmint and pomegranate seeds.
| Nutrient | Per serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 45 kcal |
| Protein | 0.3 g |
| Carbohydrate | 10.5 g |
| Fiber | 0.5 g |
| Sugars | 9 g |
| Fat | 0.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.1 g |
| Sodium | 40 mg |
Most of the sugar comes from the pomegranate juice, which counts as free sugar. The NHS recommends that adults have no more than 30 g of free sugars a day, so one glass provides less than a third of that, much less than many soft drinks and cocktails. Our guide to sugar in soda compares common drinks, and our flavored water ideas are even lower in sugar.
Contains: no major allergens.
Why choose alcohol-free drinks?
Mocktails let you join in a celebration without alcohol. The NHS advises not regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread over 3 or more days, and having several drink-free days. Alcohol-free drinks are also the safe choice for anyone driving, pregnant or taking medicines that interact with alcohol. Our guide to calories in alcohol shows how much energy alcoholic drinks contain.
Mocktails for children
These drinks are fun for children’s parties too. Keep juice amounts small and dilute well with sparkling water, serve them with food rather than between meals, and offer water as the main drink. The NHS advises that children avoid sugary fizzy drinks and juice drinks, as the added sugar can damage teeth. Our healthy party food ideas have more tips.
Storage
Mix the juices ahead and keep them in the fridge for up to a day, but add sparkling water and ice just before serving.
Common questions
Are mocktails healthy?
They can be, if they’re based on sparkling water with fresh fruit, herbs and a little juice. Some bar mocktails contain a lot of syrup and juice, so they can be as sugary as soft drinks.
What can I use instead of sugar syrup?
A little honey, a splash of fruit juice, or simply ripe fruit and fresh herbs for natural sweetness.
Can I make a frozen mocktail?
Yes. Blend frozen berries or mango with lime juice and ice, and add sparkling water to loosen.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Nutrition figures are estimates from USDA FoodData Central and will change with the brands and amounts you use. If you follow a diet for a medical reason, check the recipe with your doctor or dietitian.
