8 Mocktail Recipes to Kick Off Dry January

Dry January does not mean you have to drink boring beverages. These 8 Mediterranean inspired mocktail recipes bring all the flavor you crave without any alcohol. Zero proof drinks just got a whole lot better.

Why Mocktails Are Worth Making

Cutting out alcohol for Dry January, or even just cutting down, does not mean you need to give up on fun and flavor. You can still enjoy a delicious and beautiful drink.

Some of the best non alcoholic cocktail recipes are inspired by classic drinks. They balance sweetness with a little bitterness. They have mouthwatering acidity and bubbles. They also get amazing flavor from herbs and spices.

This January, we are adding variety to our usual lineup of herbal tea and green juice. We have created a whole new collection of mocktail recipes inspired by Mediterranean flavors and ingredients. There is something here for everyone to enjoy.

1. Sparkling Pear Ginger Beer Mocktail

Warmly spiced and not too sweet, ginger beer is a great non alcoholic option all by itself. But when you add juicy pear nectar and a splash of elderflower syrup, it becomes a sophisticated and easy mocktail. It looks beautiful in a fancy glass. The glassy candied pear chip garnish is an optional touch, but it makes the drink feel extra special.

Ready in: 5 minutes
Serves: 1

What You Need:

• 2 ounces pear nectar
• 1 ounce elderflower syrup
• 4 ounces ginger beer (non alcoholic)
• Ice
• Candied pear chip or fresh pear slice for garnish

How to Make It:

1. Fill a glass or coupe with ice.
2. Pour in the pear nectar and elderflower syrup.
3. Top with ginger beer and stir gently to combine.
4. Garnish with a candied pear chip or a thin slice of fresh pear.

Why everyone loves it: It is light, bubbly, and tastes like a fancy celebration in a glass.

Pro tip: The candied pear chip garnish is an optional flourish that makes it look extra impressive.

2. Pomegranate Fizz Mocktail

This drink is bright pink and bubbly. It has all the celebratory energy of a champagne cocktail. Tart pomegranate juice is the base. Sparkling water gives it lift and fizz. A cardamom spiced honey syrup adds just the right amount of sweetness and a lovely, unique aroma.

Ready in: 5 minutes
Serves: 1

What You Need:

• 2 ounces pomegranate juice
• 1 ounce cardamom honey syrup (see note)
• 3 ounces sparkling water or club soda
• Ice
• Pomegranate seeds and orange wedge for garnish

How to Make It:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Pour in the pomegranate juice and cardamom honey syrup.
3. Top with sparkling water and stir gently.
4. Garnish with a few pomegranate seeds and a wedge of orange.

Note on cardamom honey syrup: To make the syrup, combine ½ cup honey, ½ cup water, and 4 to 5 crushed cardamom pods in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring until the honey dissolves. Let it cool, then strain out the cardamom pods. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Why everyone loves it: It is festive, fizzy, and the cardamom adds a special touch.

Pro tip: This drink has all the celebratory energy of a champagne cocktail, but without the alcohol.

3. Non Alcoholic Sangria

Are you hosting a party? This alcohol free sangria is perfect when you need a big batch mocktail that does not feel like an afterthought. Dried hibiscus flowers steep with warming spices, fresh thyme, a touch of honey, and lots of citrus. The result is a deep red pitcher drink with just as much complexity as the original Spanish favorite.

Ready in: 15 minutes, plus chilling time
Serves: 6

What You Need:

• 4 cups water
• ½ cup dried hibiscus flowers
• ¼ cup honey
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 cups unsweetened pomegranate or cherry juice
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 apple, cored and sliced
• Sparkling water or club soda, for serving

How to Make It:

1. In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Remove from heat and add the dried hibiscus flowers, honey, cinnamon sticks, and fresh thyme. Stir until the honey dissolves.
2. Let the mixture steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Then strain it into a large pitcher. Discard the solids.
3. Add the pomegranate juice and stir to combine. Refrigerate until completely cold, at least 2 hours.
4. Just before serving, add the sliced orange, lemon, and apple to the pitcher.
5. To serve, fill glasses with ice. Fill the glass about two thirds full with the sangria mixture. Top with a splash of sparkling water for fizz.

Why everyone loves it: It is beautiful, fruity, and tastes like a real cocktail.

Pro tip: Dried hibiscus flowers are the same ones we use in our vibrant hibiscus iced tea.

4. Cranberry Rosemary Mocktail

Tart cranberry juice, homemade rosemary simple syrup, bubbly club soda, and a little lime come together in this refreshing drink. It is vibrant, easy to make, and looks so pretty with a sprig of fresh rosemary.

Ready in: 5 minutes (plus time to make syrup)
Serves: 1

What You Need:

• 2 ounces cranberry juice (unsweetened is best)
• 1 ounce rosemary simple syrup (see note)
• ½ ounce fresh lime juice
• 3 ounces club soda
• Ice
• Fresh rosemary sprig and fresh cranberries for garnish

How to Make It:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Pour in the cranberry juice, rosemary simple syrup, and fresh lime juice.
3. Top with club soda and stir gently.
4. Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a few fresh cranberries.

Note on rosemary simple syrup: To make the syrup, combine ½ cup water, ½ cup sugar, and 2 to 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool, then remove the rosemary sprigs. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Why everyone loves it: The rosemary adds an herby note that pairs perfectly with the tart cranberry.

Pro tip: This is a refreshing and vibrant mocktail that is very easy to make.

5. Grapefruit Mocktail with Sumac

This rosemary grapefruit tonic is all about brightness and a little bite. These are two qualities that are often missing in non alcoholic drinks. Fresh grapefruit juice brings sharp acidity. Sumac adds a subtle, tangy note that mimics the complexity of bitters found in cocktails. The result is crisp, refreshing, and completely alcohol free.

Ready in: 5 minutes
Serves: 1

What You Need:

• 3 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
• ½ ounce rosemary simple syrup (see recipe above)
• ¼ teaspoon sumac, plus more for the rim
• 2 ounces club soda
• Ice
• Grapefruit wheel and rosemary sprig for garnish

How to Make It:

1. To make a sumac rim, run a grapefruit wedge around the rim of your glass. Dip the rim in a small dish of sumac to coat.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. In a separate small glass or shaker, combine the grapefruit juice, rosemary simple syrup, and ¼ teaspoon of sumac. Stir well.
4. Pour the mixture into the prepared glass.
5. Top with club soda and stir gently.
6. Garnish with a grapefruit wheel and a fresh rosemary sprig.

Why everyone loves it: The sumac gives it a unique tangy flavor that you do not find in most mocktails.

Pro tip: The sumac rim adds a beautiful color and an extra pop of flavor with every sip.

6. Date Tahini Dairy Free Eggnog

Satisfy your sweet craving with this creamy, dairy free eggnog. Dates provide natural sweetness and a rich body. Tahini adds a nutty depth and creaminess. Serve it cold, dusted with warm spices, for slow after dinner sipping. You can also use chocolate tahini to make a naturally sweet, dairy free hot chocolate.

Ready in: 10 minutes
Serves: 2

What You Need:

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or oat milk
• 4 Medjool dates, pitted
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, plus more for garnish
• Pinch of nutmeg
• Ice for serving

How to Make It:

1. In a blender, combine the almond milk, pitted dates, tahini, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
2. Blend on high until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. The dates should be fully broken down.
3. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed. You can add another date if you want it sweeter.
4. Fill two glasses with ice. Pour the eggnog over the ice.
5. Garnish with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg.

Why everyone loves it: It is creamy, naturally sweet, and completely dairy free.

Pro tip: Use chocolate tahini to make a naturally sweet, dairy free hot chocolate.

7. Lemon Ginger Tea

Think of this fresh ginger citrus tea as a non alcoholic hot toddy. It has a bold, slightly spicy flavor from the fresh ginger root. Sweet honey balances it out perfectly. A touch of lemon and turmeric gives this soothing hot drink some immune boosting properties too.

Ready in: 15 minutes
Serves: 2

What You Need:

• 2 cups water
• 2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric (or 1 inch fresh turmeric, sliced)
• 2 tablespoons honey, or to taste
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Lemon slices for garnish

How to Make It:

1. In a small saucepan, combine the water, sliced ginger, and turmeric. Bring to a boil.
2. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Strain the tea into two mugs. Discard the ginger and turmeric pieces.
4. Stir honey into each mug until it dissolves. Start with 1 tablespoon per mug and add more to taste.
5. Stir in the fresh lemon juice.
6. Garnish each mug with a slice of lemon and serve warm.

Why everyone loves it: It is soothing, warming, and perfect for a cold winter day.

Pro tip: This is a great drink to make when you are feeling a little under the weather.

8. Tart Cherry Juice Mocktail with Thyme and Aleppo Pepper

If you love cocktails with herbal or savory notes, this mocktail is for you. Tart cherry juice provides a deep, wine like richness. Fresh thyme adds an aromatic complexity. Aleppo pepper introduces a gentle warmth that lingers on the finish.

Ready in: 5 minutes
Serves: 1

What You Need:

• 3 ounces tart cherry juice
• 1 ounce simple syrup or honey syrup
• ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
• 2 to 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• Pinch of Aleppo pepper flakes
• Ice
• Club soda (optional)
• Lemon twist and thyme sprig for garnish

How to Make It:

1. In a shaker or glass, combine the cherry juice, simple syrup, and fresh lemon juice.
2. Add the fresh thyme sprigs and a pinch of Aleppo pepper. Muddle gently to release the flavors of the thyme.
3. Fill a glass with ice. Strain the mixture into the glass.
4. If you want some fizz, top with a splash of club soda.
5. Garnish with a lemon twist and a fresh sprig of thyme.

Why everyone loves it: It is complex, savory, and has a lovely hint of warmth from the Aleppo pepper.

Pro tip: Tart cherry juice provides a deep, wine like richness that makes this feel extra special.

Pair Your Mocktails with Something Tasty

These mocktails are even better when you serve them with delicious food. Check out some of our favorite recipes for pairing.

• 10 Crowd-Pleasing Mediterranean Holiday Appetizers: Perfect for any gathering.
• 25+ Top Mediterranean Recipes of The Year: Our most popular dishes.
• 12 Irresistible Spanish Tapas Recipes Everyone Will Love: Small plates that are great for sharing.
• 15 Date Recipes We Can’t Stop Making: Sweet treats to enjoy alongside your drinks.

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