Mocktails have been around for a long time. Sometimes they’re known as “virgin” drinks; others call them non-alcoholic. We shouldn’t ignore the value of these drinks. We’ve discussed the health benefits of giving up alcohol before. Even if you still drink, mocktails allow a designated driver to be safe without feeling like they’re “missing out.” Or, you could be heading out for the night but don’t want to be hungover the next day; a mocktail can save you the headache.
Some classic mocktails are as simple as removing the alcohol. Others take a little mixology wizardry to replace the flavor. For the most part, we’re trying to keep these cocktails easy to make with ingredients that are easy to find.
Martini
Want to drink like James Bond without feeling shaken and stirred tomorrow? This “mocktini” mimics the taste and feel of a classic martini without the vodka or gin. If you’re familiar with a dry martini, you’ll know how difficult this can seem. Most traditional martinis are simply a liquor of your choice, a dry vermouth, and olives. If you want a dirty martini, you’d add a little olive juice.
Most traditional martinis are simply a liquor of your choice, a dry vermouth, and olives. How can you make one without alcohol?
This recipe takes a classic recipe for a martini and recreates everything you love about it. As you’ll see with many of these recipes, we’re swapping out the liquor for tonic water, which mimics the flavor well. Due to the carbonation, we can only stir this mocktail, though. Sorry, Bond fans.
Our Mocktini
Ingredients
- 2½ oz of tonic water
- ½ oz of simple syrup
- 2 dashes of aromatic bitters
- ½ oz of lemon juice
- 1 olive for garnish
- ½ oz of olive juice (optional)
Directions
- Add tonic water, simple syrup, lemon juice, and, optionally, the olive juice into a cocktail shaker.
- Lightly stir the mix until it’s thoroughly combined.
- Pour into a martini glass and drop in an olive for garnish.
- Save the world from Goldfinger.
Piña Colada
Piña coladas are synonymous with relaxing in the summer sun. So, if you want to enjoy this, but keep it sober, what are you to do? Luckily, unlike the martini, a piña colada has a bunch of ingredients in it, making it easier to cover the lack of liquor. In fact, many people already enjoy it virgin.
Luckily, unlike the martini, a piña colada has a bunch of ingredients ingredients in it, making it easier to cover the lack of liquor.
Much of the flavor in a piña colada comes from the pineapple juice and the coconut cream/milk. Most versions of this drink will include dark and white rum to give it a kick. If we’re kicking that kick to the curb, what’s left?
Medicaribbean Living Piña Colada
Ingredients
- ½ cup of pineapple juice
- ¼ cup of coconut milk
- ⅓ cup of coconut cream
- 1½ cups of ice cubes
- 1 slice of pineapple for garnish
Directions
- Add pineapple juice, coconut milk, coconut cream, and ice cubes into a blender.
- Blend until the mixture is at your preferred texture, usually until smooth.
- Cut a slit in the slice of pineapple.
- Pour into a glass and slide the slice of pineapple on as garnish.
- Escape to a tropical paradise.
“Virgin” Mary
The final mocktail we have for you usually accompanies breakfast. Bloody Marys tend to be a marmite-type drink. You either love it or you hate it. This spicy, savory concoction can act as a peppery wake-me-up or, as some claim, the hair of the dog that bit you (which is actually a hangover cure fallacy). Either way, if you’re a fan of this cocktail, you’ll appreciate the pick-me-up it’ll deliver without extending your hangover.
This spicy, savory concoction is popular as a peppery wake-me-up with breakfast.
Virgin Mary
Ingredients
- ½ cup of tomato juice
- 1 tsp of Tabasco sauce, or a hot sauce of your preference
- 1 tsp of Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp of horseradish
- 2 tsp of lemon juice
- 1 tsp of celery salt
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 celery stalk for garnish
Directions
- Add tomato juice, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice to a shaker.
- Mix well, either shaken or stirred.
- Stir in celery salt, pepper, and salt, as well as additional Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, and lemon juice if you desire.
- Serve with prayers to the Virgin Mary that your hangover goes away soon.
