5 Refreshing Mocktail Recipes to Power Through Dry January and Beyond

As Dry January continues, more people are embracing the idea of giving their bodies a break from alcohol after the indulgence of the holiday season. Beyond the benefits of a reset, a recent advisory from the U.S. surgeon general offers an even stronger case for reconsidering alcohol consumption, highlighting its potential link to at least seven types of cancer. This sobering reminder underscores the importance of mindful drinking habits, or exploring alternatives altogether.

In the spirit of Dry January, we’ve created a selection of refreshing and delicious mocktail recipes that offer all the fun and flavor of cocktails without the alcohol. Whether you’re participating for health reasons, personal goals, or just a new experience, these mocktails are here to make your dry month anything but boring.

1. Matcha Made in Heaven

A calming matcha and lavender mocktail served over ice, garnished with a lavender sprig. (Photo: Jessica Gleman)

This mocktail is perfect for unwinding and letting go of the stresses of the day. It is a lightly floral concoction made with matcha and lavender. Matcha is high in polyphenols, which have been shown by health professionals in the Journal of Food Biochemistry to help boost mood and have a variety of other benefits such as reducing inflammation and aiding gut health.

Lavender has long been associated with promoting calmness and relaxation in terms of aromatherapy, so the addition of a lavender-infused syrup maximizes this mocktail’s stress-relieving potential. The floral scent combined with the uplifting matcha make for a fantastic respite in drink form. 

Ingredients

• 6 ounces of prepared matcha
• 2 ounces of lavender simple syrup 
• 1 ounce of lemon juice
• Optional: lavender sprig for garnish 

Instructions

Combine matcha, lavender syrup, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a glass over ice. Garnish with a lavender sprig or dried petals.

Lavender Honey Syrup Recipe

Ingredients

• ½ cup of raw honey
• ½ cup water
• 2 tablespoons food grade lavender buds

Instructions

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine honey and water. Stir until fully dissolved. Remove from heat, then add lavender buds and steep for 1 hour. Stir occasionally while cooling. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

2. Spicy Pineapple Mock-arita

This vibrant mocktail layers jalapeño heat and pineapple tang, finished with a tajín rim. (Photo: Jessica Gleman)

This is a great mocktail for those looking for a little more spice in their life. Taking center stage is a spicy jalapeño and pineapple shrub. A shrub is essentially an infused vinegar syrup also known as drinking vinegars and was a preservation technique used in the 17th century. The vinegar syrups are commonly used by bartenders to round out flavors while keeping a hit of acidity making for punching drinks that aren’t too tart. 

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of spicy pineapple shrub
• 1 ounce of lime juice
• 4 ounces of soda water
• Garnish: tajín or salt rim, pineapple wedge and a jalapeño slice 

Instructions

Rim a glass with salt or tajín depending on your preference. Next, combine shrub, lime juice, and soda water in a glass with ice and stir lightly. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a slice of jalapeño for a touch of added elegance. 

Quick Pineapple Jalepeño Shrub Recipe 

Ingredients

• 2 cups of diced fresh ripe pineapple 
• 2 jalapeños sliced (more or less depending on spice tolerance)
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup of water
• 1 cup of agave nectar

Instructions

Shrubs usually require a few days to make since they are fermented, but this version allows you to make a shrub in a much shorter amount of time.

Add the pineapple, jalapeños and agave to a saucepan on medium heat. Heat until the juices from the pineapple have released and the mixture is warm. Then, add the water and bring to a boil. After it reaches boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. After, remove from heat and let cool at room temp. Next, add the vinegar, stirring to combine. Pour into a lidded container and refrigerate overnight to let the flavors come together. Finally, strain into another airtight vessel for use in mocktails. Keep refrigerated.

3. No-groni Spritz

A bittersweet, zero-proof Negroni spritz served with a bright orange twist. (Photo: Jessica Gleman)

If you are a fan of an aperol spritz or negroni, then this mocktail will have you covered. It is so simple to make and uses some of the better non-alc spirits on the market. It contains Lapo’s Apertivo, which has a Raided Score® of 90, and Seedlip Spice 94 Aromatic Non-Alcoholic Spirit, which was scored an 86. 

Ingredients

• 1 ½ ounces Seedlip Spice 94 Aromatic Non-Alcoholic Spirit
• 1 ounce Lapo’s Apertivo
• 2-3 ounces of soda water (substitute with tonic if you prefer more bitter) 
• Garnish with an orange wheel or peel. 

Instructions

Add the Seedlip Spice 94 and the Lapo’s Apertivo to a glass with ice, then pour over the soda water or tonic. Garnish with an orange wheel. Enjoy!

4. Not So Dark N’ Stormy

A bold ginger and dark spirit mocktail that mimics the iconic Dark N’ Stormy—without the booze. (Photo: Jessica Gleman)

This mocktail is a play on the classic Dark N’ Stormy, which is a combination of ginger beer, rum, and lime. Don’t let the name fool you: Ginger beer is actually a ginger soda and usually doesn’t contain alcohol. Although, there are some that do, so it is best to check first. This mocktail uses the highly rated Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Dark Cane Spirit — which has achieved an impressive Raided Score® of 90 — to recreate the brown sugar notes commonly found in dark rums.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Dark Cane Spirit
• 1 ounce of lime juice 
• 3-4 ounces of ginger beer
• Garnish: lime wheel 

Instructions 

Add ginger beer and lime juice to a glass with ice, then slowly pour over Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Dark Cane Spirit to achieve a layered effect. Garnish with a lime wheel. 

Coconut No-jito

Mint, lime, and coconut water come together in this tropical-inspired, alcohol-free mojito. (Photo: Romet Tagobert/Unsplash)

Take a vacation to the Caribbean this winter with a refreshing, healthy take on a coconut mojito. This mocktail is incredibly easy to make and only contains a few easy-to-find ingredients. Mint, sugar, lime and coconut combine to make a hydrating mocktail that is sure to transport you somewhere tropical even if you’re surrounded by snow.

Ingredients 

• 8 ounces coconut water
• 2 teaspoons sugar 
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• 6-8 fresh mint leaves
• 2-3 ounces of soda water
• Garnish: mint leaves 

Instructions 

Add the sugar, lime juice and mint leaves to a glass and muddle until sugar is dissolved. Next, add ice and coconut water and top off with a splash of soda water to give it some fizz. Garnish with a bundle of mint.