A mocktail is a non-alcoholic drink, which many people drink when they don’t want to consume alcohol. This article looks at what mocktails are and what makes them different from cocktails. We’ve also included some of the most popular recipes for mocktails, so you can make your own at home.
What is a mocktail?
A mocktail is a mixture of drinks combined to create a specific taste, but it doesn’t include any alcohol. Non-alcoholic ingredients are combined in ideal proportions to provide a certain taste. They usually include juice, soft drinks and infused waters.
Modern mocktails at a bar are often more sophisticated than their alcoholic counterparts, thanks to the use of a range of fruits and spices that represent a variety of tastes. These flavour profiles are frequently mistaken for bourbon, gin, vermouth, bitters, and other bartender staples.
What is a virgin drink?
In the most basic terms, a virgin drink is one that does not include any alcohol. It’s also known as a mocktail.
When making mocktails and virgin drinks, people add a flavoured mixer like ginger ale, ginger beer, or tonic water to match the flavour to a cocktail. This gives you a similar taste to the original without requiring any alcohol.
There’s also a push to promote the notion of a “low-alcohol” drink that still includes alcoholic ingredients, but the emphasis is on drinks with a lower percentage of alcohol. Vermouth is one such example.
Tips for making a tasty mocktail
Carbonated water, fruit juice, and even ginger beer are all wonderful for adding lift to your mocktails with carbonated bubbles. When in doubt, add bubbles!
Consider a “mock” alcoholic beverage to enhance the complexity of your cocktail. A teaspoon or two of caper juice or pickle juice can mimic booze. It sounds strange, but it actually works. Our Virgin Margarita recipe includes a trace of pickle juice, which gives the drink an odd tequila finish.
Make your own flavour combinations. Mocktail recipes can also be layered to appear more interesting. Try adding a homemade syrup, like mint, ginger, rosemary, or lavender.
Famous mocktails
The most well-known and long-lived mocktails, all of which are named for celebrities. Examples include:
- A Shirley Temple. This is mixture of ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, lemonade, or other non-alcoholic drink combined with grenadine syrup and garnished with a maraschino cherry. It is named after the legendary child actress
- Mr Marvin. This is a cola-based drink, blended with grenadine syrup and garnished with a maraschino cherry. It is named after the famous Western film actor and entertainer
- Arnold Palmer. This drink is a combination of iced tea and lemonade. The ratio and type of tea, whether sweet, unsweetened or something else entirely, are open to interpretation and preferences. This drink was created by golfing legend Arnold Palmer. Ho used to to prepare this drink at home and order it at country clubs after completing a round
Working with mocktails
The oldest of the three drinks may be considered the forefathers of today’s mocktail. They are simple to make and extremely sweet.
The beauty of a mocktail is that you can enjoy a refreshing drink, without having to alcohol.
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