7 Easy Mocktail Recipes That Are Perfect To Enjoy for Dry January

Whether you’re giving up alcohol for a dry January challenge, or you’ve never cared for the taste of booze anyway, you don’t have to stick to soda and water this month. Mocktails are a tasty and creative way to celebrate the winter season and join in on the fun of a mixed drink. Even if you’re not teetotaling this month, take note! Adding these bright, inclusive beverages to your drink menu will be appreciated by anyone who chooses not to drink alcohol, whatever the reason. Our promise to you? These mocktails will never be boring. The key is having a good balance of flavors. So, before you begin concocting mixtures in an attempt to find the best blend of flavors, check out these easy mocktail recipes.  

1. ‘Pearagon’ Lemonade 

The word I’d use to describe this “pearagon” lemonade is “complex”—and I mean that in the best way. I loved testing out this recipe designed by Q Mixers, and enjoyed the flavors of fresh lemonade with a twist of tonic and tarragon. I couldn’t find pear nectar or pear juice at my local grocery store, but I did find a can of guava juice, which worked perfectly. (Guava is reminiscent of pear, and added a delicious tropical zing.) 

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz. pear nectar or pear juice 
• 1 oz. fresh lemon juice 
• ¾ oz. simple syrup 
• Leaves from 2 sprigs fresh tarragon  
• 6 oz. Q Spectacular Tonic Water 

Directions:

1. Shake first 4 ingredients with ice and strain into tall glass with ice.
2. Top with tonic water and garnish with a pear slice and more fresh tarragon. 

2. Spiced Ginger Plum 

I opted out of testing this recipe, as I’m allergic to plums. However, the ingredients look delicious. If you’re searching for a mocktail that’s fresh and rich in flavor, this is the one to try. The ginger ale and brown sugar simple syrup will add just the right amount of sweetness, and the lemon juice and plum will give it bright and tangy notes. The spiced warmth of the ground cardamom is the perfect topper.  

Ingredients:  

• ½ fresh red plum
• ¾ oz. brown sugar simple syrup 
• ¾ oz. fresh lemon juice 
• Pinch of ground cardamom 
• 3 oz. Q Ginger Ale

Directions:

1. Add first 4 ingredients to shaker and muddle until smooth.
2. Shake with ice and strain into coupe or martini glass and top with ginger ale. Garnish with slice of fresh plum. 

3. Black Cherry Southside  

The Black Cherry Southside, designed by Waterloo Sparkling Water, reminded me of sweet Italian ice. This drink was tart and bright, and the black cherry flavor stood up to the lime juice. The mint leaves were such a delicious add-on that I left all of them in my glass. (If this recipe is a little too tart for you, try adding ¾ ounce of simple syrup or quick-dissolving cane sugar—it did the trick for me!) 

Ingredients: 

Directions:

1. In shaker, add lime juice, mint leaves and ice. Shake well to dilute citrus and wake up mint.
2. Then, strain into martini glass and top with sparkling water. Garnish with mint leaf and black cherry. 

4. Spicy Paloma 

If you’re the adventurous sort, a spicy paloma is an excellent choice. Waterloo’s grapefruit flavored sparkling water is strong enough to blend with the lime juice, all while letting the jalapeños shine. If you like a little zing but not a ton of spice, remove the seeds from your jalapeño slices before popping them in your drink.  

Ingredients: 

Directions:

1. In  shaker, muddle jalapeños then add lime juice, salt then ice. Shake well and strain over fresh ice in a glass.
2. Top with Waterloo Grapefruit and garnish with grapefruit wedge and jalapeño slice. 

Can’t get enough of mocktails? Try these 3 bonus recipes

Below, you can find three additional cocktail recipes from sober curious expert Hilary Sheinbaum‘s book Going Dry: A Workbook. Cheers!

1. Nogroni (Nonalcoholic Negroni)

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. In a rocks glass, combine the spirits over one large ice cube and stir.
2. Garnish with an orange peel.

2. Faux Mule

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. (59 ml) Fluère Spiced Cane
• 4 oz. (118 ml) ginger beer
• ½ oz. (15 ml) lime juice
• Lime wedge, for garnish

Directions:

1. Combine the spirits and lime juice in a glass over ice and stir.
2. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Mio Fresca

Ingredients:

Directions: 

1. Muddle four strawberry halves in a cocktail shaker.
2. Add lemon juice and agave syrup.
3. Fill ¾ of shaker with ice.
4. Shake vigorously.
5. Strain into a white wine glass over ice.
6. Top with nonalcoholic sparkling wine and garnish with remaining strawberry half and lemon wheel.