Three Delicious Summer Mocktails

It’s always great to have a few fancy non-alcoholic recipes up your sleeve. Although most of us enjoy a boozy cocktail every now and again, skipping alcohol is sometimes necessary. Be it for dietary reasons, a lifestyle change, pregnancy, or make the little ones feel included when mommy is having drink with friends, you deserve to have a fancy mocktail that is just as good as any bartender’s craft cocktail – possibly even better.

Here are a few delicious spring mocktail recipes that you’re sure to absolutely love!

Black Raspberry Mojitos

Few beverages are as refreshing as a mint mojito with fresh fruit. This twist on a classic beverage is so delicious that you won’t even miss the rum – or the calories!

Ingredients (makes 2 glasses):

• 1 lime, sliced
• 8 fresh mint leaves
• Mint for garnishing
• 10 fresh blackberries
• Raspberry flavored sparkling water
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Add two limes, four mint leaves, and four blackberries to each glass
2. Muddle until the mint is aromatic and the flavors are combined
3. Fill the glasses with ice
4. Top the ice with raspberry sparkling water
5. Garnish with remaining blackberries and mint leaves

Sparkling Cucumber Limeade

If you’ve never had a cucumber martini before, take it from us: it’s refreshing! This sparkling cucumber limeade mocktail will have you ordering “another!” and “another!”

Ingredients (makes 4-6 glasses):

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon lime zest
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup lime juice
• 1 medium English cucumber, halved and thinly sliced
• Sparkling water

Instructions:

1. Combine sugar, lime zest, and water in a saucepan
2. Bring water to a simmer and stir until sugar has completely dissolved
3. Remove from heat and add mint leaves. Stir and let sit for 30-minutes
4. Strain the simple syrup through a fine mesh sieve
5. Add lime juice and cucumber slices to the simple syrup and refrigerate until cold
6. When you’re ready to serve, fill a pitcher with ice, add the simple syrup, and fill with sparkling water
7. Garnish with cucumber slices, mint leaves, and a lime wedge

Grapefruit Lemonade Sparkler

This recipe for grapefruit lemonade sparklers is perfect for those days you’re sitting on the patio, soaking up the sun while reading a novel that’s as juicy as a ripe grapefruit.

Ingredients (makes 4 glasses):

• 3 pink grapefruits
• 2 lemons
• 4 springs of fresh rosemary
• 32 oz of sparkling water
• Sugar, agave or stevia (optional)

Instructions:

1. Juice the grapefruits and lemons
2. Pour juice through a fine mesh sieve to remove pulp and seeds
3. Combine fresh juice with 32 ounces of sparkling water
4. Fill 4 glasses with ice
5. Add sparking water-juice mixture
6. Garnish with a rosemary spring and grapefruit slice

We suggest buying yourself some fancy glassware to really kick these mocktails up a notch. Where do you see yourself sipping on one of these lovely beverages this spring? We’d love to hear your ideas!