Enjoy refreshing mocktail recipes to ditch the hangover
Impress your friends with refreshing mocktails.
Image: prostooleh / Freepik
If you've committed to a sober month, one of the biggest hurdles isn't just craving for a drink but navigating social settings without feeling like the odd one out.
Who hasn't felt that moment of awkwardness when you’re asked what you're having and all you can think of is a glass of tap water?
Embracing an alcohol-free challenge doesn’t mean your glass has to be boring.
The secret to a successful Sober October is realising that the experience is the enjoyment.
You want the beautiful glass, the delicious layers of flavour, the festive bubbles, and the satisfying clink when you toast your friends.
That’s where the modern mocktail steps in. These aren't just sugary juices; they are thoughtfully crafted, non-alcoholic drinks that look and taste incredibly sophisticated.
By focusing on fresh ingredients, seasonal zest, and a touch of local flair, you can mix up a drink that is a statement in itself.
If you volunteer to be the designated mocktail mixer, you will impress your friends when serving them a gorgeous, unexpected drink that tastes like a five-star cocktail.
You’re friends will for sure come back for more and then thank you for waking up without a hangover.
To celebrate the vibrant weather we’re heading into, here are a few refreshing, easy-to-make mocktails.
Granadilla and mint fizz
A bright, tart, and bubbly drink that is an alcohol-free take on the classic Mojito.
- 30 ml granadilla pulp
- 15 ml fresh lime juice
- 6 mint leaves
- 15 ml simple syrup
- 120 ml chilled lemonade
How to make it
- In a highball glass, gently muddle the mint leaves, granadilla pulp, lime juice, and sweetener.
- Fill the glass with crushed ice.
- Top with chilled lemonade and stir
- Garnish with a lime wheel and a fresh mint sprig.
A non-alcoholic twist on a mojito.
Image: Freepik
Tropical sunset
Sweet and vibrant with a surprising kick from the chilli-lime rim.
- 90 ml chilled mango juice
- 30 ml pineapple juice
- 15ml grenadine syrup
- 60 ml soda water
- Pinch of chilli powder and salt for the rim
How to make it
- Mix a pinch of chilli powder with salt on a plate.
- Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a tall glass and dip it into the mixture.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Combine the mango and pineapple juices in the glass.
- Slowly pour the grenadine down the inside edge of the glass to create a layered "sunset" effect.
- Top with soda water and stir gently,
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry.
The chilli powder on the rim gives it a bit of a kick.
Image: IOL / AI
Rooibos and citrus refresher
This uses cold-brewed Rooibos tea as a complex, earthy base, balanced by bright citrus for a sophisticated flavour profile.
- 90 ml Strong cold Rooibos tea
- 60 ml orange juice
- 60 ml chilled ginger ale
- 5 ml honey (optional)
How to make it
- Brew a strong cup of Rooibos tea and let it chill completely.
- Fill a tumbler or wine glass with ice.
- Pour in the cold Rooibos tea, orange juice, and honey (if using) and stir well.
- Top with chilled ginger ale.
- Garnish with a large orange wheel and a sprig of thyme.
The Rooibos tea gives this drink a earthy base.
Image: IOL / AI