The Best Mocktails to Enjoy This Summer Season
Summer is a time for relaxation, carefree vacations, exotic beach trips, and wholesome family barbecues to commemorate the summer holidays. Of course, with so many activities to experience during the summer, it remains extremely important that everyone stays hydrated throughout the warmth of the new season.
While something positive should be said about traditional cocktails and other alcoholic libations, it’s also worth noting how many non-alcoholic mocktails there are to combat the summer heat. Whether sipping on a blended virgin margarita at the bar or sampling a mint “nojito” while sitting poolside, these refreshing mocktails have the potential to quench everyone’s thirst beneath the blazing summer sun.
Virgin Margarita

The go-to beverage order for millions of vacationers worldwide, there’s something magical about a margarita during summer. Whether you order it on the rocks or blend it into a frothing, icey treat, a few drinks go hand-in-hand with summer quite like a stiff margarita.
Fortunately, margaritas typically take various forms, be it a spicy jalapeño margarita, a strawberry margarita, or an alcohol-free virgin margarita that removes the potentially nauseating threat of tequila from the equation.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of lime juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 tablespoon agave syrup
- 1/2 cup club soda or sparkling water
- Lime wedge for garnish
- Rim glass with salt
Virgin Piña Colada

Next to margaritas, it’s hard to beat a Piña Colada while lazing around on a beach or beside a warm pool in July or August. Like margaritas, Piña Coladas also have plenty of recipes that avoid using rum, delivering the same tropical taste without the sharp alcoholic undertones in its flavor profile.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- 4 cups ice
- 3/4 cup coconut milk
- Pineapple wedges for garnish
- Maraschino cherries for garnish
Mint Nojito

Sure, everyone’s heard of a mojito–a rum cocktail made with sugar, soda water, lime juice, and plenty of fresh mint leaves. But what about a “nojito,” a non-alcoholic version of this traditional Cuban beverage that leaves out the rum entirely?
It’s quick, easy, and oh-so-delicious, especially if you happen to have a spearmint plant taking over your backyard garden.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon simple syrup
- At least 12 mint leaves
- Half a lime, sliced
- 3 oz club soda, sparkling water, ginger ale, or Sprite
Virgin Banana Daiquiri

No disrespect to strawberry daiquiris, but it’s safe to say that banana daiquiris remain the king of blended summer beverages. More of a smoothie than an outright cocktail, anyone craving the taste of creamy bananas can refer to this recipe for a non-alcoholic twist on rum-infused summer beverages.
Ingredients:
- 2 large bananas
- 6 cups ice
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 lime
- 1/2 cup sugar
Virgin Mudslide

A halfway point between a milkshake and a chocolate-based cocktail, chocolate mudslides can be described as dessert in a glass. Typically made with a mixture of ice cream, vodka, and coffee liqueur, mudslides can also be made without alcohol, swapping out Kahlua and vodka for a heavy dose of chilled coffee.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream
- 1/2 cup chilled coffee or cold brew
- Chocolate syrup for garnish
- Whipped cream and chocolate shavings for garnish
Berry Sangria

One major aspect of summer to look forward to is the arrival of freshly grown fruits and vegetables. Whether you prefer growing your own fruits and veggies or purchasing them at your local farmer’s market, we highly recommend taking advantage of either strawberry or blueberry season when it comes to your cocktails or mocktails.
More often than not, these berries can find their way into numerous recipes, including one for a mouthwatering berry sangria.
Ingredients:
- 6 cups of apple juice
- 15 strawberries, sliced
- 40 raspberries, sliced
- 40 blackberries, sliced
- 20 blueberries, sliced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 1 lime, sliced
Ginger Spritz

We don’t know what it is, but ginger and summer go together about as well as hot cocoa and a snowy day in winter. As the basis for countless worthwhile cocktail and mocktail recipes, ginger’s importance in the kitchen or at a bar cannot be overstated, allowing for all kinds of creative beverages like a non-alcoholic, sparkling ginger spritz.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups ginger ale
- 1 cup sparkling water
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup ginger syrup
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish
- Lemon slices for garnish
Spicy Margarita Mocktail

While some people are perfectly content with a traditional margarita, others prefer tossing in some heat to their flavored tropical beverage. If you’re one of these people, we recommend throwing in a few slices of jalapeño or other savory spices to your average margarita recipe, outfitting your drink with a much-needed kick.
Ingredients:
- 1 lime, sliced
- 4 slices of jalapeño
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of agave syrup
- 1 cup club soda or sparkling water
- Rim glass with salt (optional)
Agua de Fresa

A healthy (and scrumptious) alternative to the numerous booze-infused cocktails out there, Agua de Fresa is one of the absolute best thirst-quenching drinks to enjoy while perched on the back of a raft or pool floaty. Also known as Strawberry Water, this summertime beverage is packed with plenty of Vitamin C and relies heavily on a cadre of natural ingredients in lieu of alcohol and other sugary substances.
Ingredients:
- 8 cups cold water
- 4 cups strawberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 lime, sliced
- 8 mint leaves
Virgin Paloma

Much like grapefruits themselves, people either love Palomas or find them far too tart for their specific taste. A regional favorite of Mexico that has since migrated to almost every bar across the globe, Palomas might be something of an acquired taste, but anyone looking for an alternative to sweeter summer cocktails won’t be disappointed with this tangy citrus drink.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup grapefruit juice
- 1/2 cup club soda
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon honey