Category: mocktail

mocktail

Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer | A Unique 4-Ingredient Sparkling Iced Coffee Drink for Craft Cocktail Lovers

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Revamp your afternoon pick-me-up with this Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer, a delicious & refreshing sparkling iced coffee drink with a layer of complexity and warmth thanks to the cardamom simple syrup.

This Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer recipe from Recipe Fiction is dang good. I was on the fence about all the sparkling iced coffee drinks I’ve been seeing but when Recipe Fiction’s recipe showed up in my Pinterest feed, I knew I had to give it a shot.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I’ve seen recipes* that claim to be “the cocktail for coffee lovers!” but this, my friends, is the sparkling iced coffee drink for cocktail lovers. It’s the perfect bridge to carry you from your morning coffee to your evening cocktail.

*It’s me. I’ve claimed it. Check out these coffee cocktails: the White Russian & the Colorado Bulldog.

This Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer has got the elements of a well-crafted cocktail– the citrus, the flavored simple syrup, the bubbles– plus the caffeine kick of java. It’s the best of both worlds. Well, it doesn’t have alcohol and I’m sure some folks would definitely include that in the category of “best”. That can easily be remedied by adding in some vodka and/or coffee liqueur.

For a lower ABV drink, just add 3/4 oz of coffee liqueur. If you want it ~actually~ boozy, add in an ounce of vodka in addition to the coffee liqueur.

Revamp your afternoon pick-me-up with this Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer, a delicious & refreshing sparkling iced coffee drink with a layer of complexity and warmth thanks to the cardamom simple syrup.

You could use this same recipe as an outline for other coffee spritzer variations but personally, I love this one. Cardamom is one of my favorite flavors and I’ve long loved it paired with coffee. I lived with a Mexican-American family in a Tibetan village (long story) for a time and one of my favorite memories is enjoying freshly roasted coffee with a few crushed cardamom pods tossed in. If you’ve never had cardamom before, it’s got a beautiful warm complexity to it. I’d describe it as a little fennel-y, a little clove-y, and even a little fruity. If you’ve ever had chai tea before, you’ve had cardamom. You can read more about this unique spice in this short post.

Purchasing pre-made cardamom simple syrup is an option, but if you’ve got the patience to wait for an Amazon Prime package, 5 spare minutes, and enjoy saving a few bucks, I highly recommend you make your own.

If you’re not into cardamom, you can still try making a delish coffee spritzer by using demerara simple syrup, honey simple syrup, or even lavender simple syrup instead.

Have you had a coffee spritzer? What flavors have you tried? If you try out this Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer, be sure to let me know in a comment or by tagging me on Instagram!

Revamp your afternoon pick-me-up with this Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer, a delicious & refreshing sparkling iced coffee drink with a layer of complexity and warmth thanks to the cardamom simple syrup.

Ingredients for a Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer

  • 4 oz cold brew coffee
  • 1/4 – 1/2 oz freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 oz cardamom simple syrup
  • sparkling water or club soda

How to Make a Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer

Add ice to a highball glass. Pour in the cold brew coffee, lemon juice, and cardamom syrup. Top off the rest of the glass with sparkling water. Stir gently to combine. Garnish with a fresh or dehydrated lemon wheel.

Cardamom Citrus Coffee Spritzer

Revamp your afternoon pick-me-up with this delicious & refreshing sparkling iced coffee drink with a layer of complexity and warmth thanks to the cardamom simple syrup.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 4 oz coldbrew coffee
  • ¼-½ oz freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 oz cardamom simple syrup*
  • sparkling water or club soda

Instructions
 

  • Add ice to a highball glass.
  • Pour in the cold brew coffee, lemon juice, and cardamom syrup.
  • Top off the rest of the glass with sparkling water.
  • Stir gently to combine.
  • Garnish with a fresh or dehydrated lemon wheel.

Notes

*Cardamom simple syrup: learn how to make it yourself in just a few minutes or purchase some from Amazon.
Keyword cardamom, cardamom simple syrup, coffee, coffee spritzer, cold brew coffee, lemon, lemon juice, sparkling iced coffee

Looking for other ways to use your cardamom simple syrup? Try it out in these recipes:

mocktail

Dirty Dr. Pepper | An Easy 3-Ingredient Alcohol-Free Drink Recipe That’s Perfect for Summer

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Looking for the perfect alcohol-free drink recipe for summer? The Dirty Dr. Pepper is it! It’s refreshing and totally gives off tropical vibes. And best of all, it only has three ingredients. This is one drink you’ll be making over and over again.

The Dirty Dr. Pepper is the perfect alcohol-free drink recipe for summer. It's refreshing and totally gives off tropical vibes. And best of all, it only has three ingredients. This is one drink you'll be making over and over again.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I can’t believe I waited so long to try this recipe. I actually think it was *the* first alcohol-free drink recipe I ever pinned on Pinterest. Back in the early 2010s. I’ve seen it floating around Pinterest several times since then and each time I’ve thought Man, that sounds so unique–I really need to try it. Here I am. Almost a decade later. I just hope YOU won’t waste a decade without trying a Dirty Dr. Pepper.

I think the name Dirty Dr. Pepper is a bit of a misnomer. After all, when I hear a drink referred to as “dirty” I automatically think it’s going to be alcoholic (hello, Dirty Shirley) or have espresso in it (like a dirty chai latte). The authentic Dirty Dr. Pepper recipe, whose origins are unknown, calls for neither. But, I think you could make this recipe extra dirty by adding 1½ oz of vodka or white rum. I’d say Tropical Paradise Dr. Pepper is a more fitting name, but I suppose it doesn’t roll off the tongue– or pique someone’s curiosity– as much as the original.

While surfing the internet to find the most common ingredient ratios, I also came across a recipe for a Muddy Dr. Pepper which adds a splash of half and half, too. That kiiinda weirds me out, but then again the Colorado Bulldog is delicious and it mixes Coke and half and half so it could be great. I’ll have to try it and report back.

The Dirty Dr. Pepper is the perfect alcohol-free drink recipe for summer. It's refreshing and totally gives off tropical vibes. And best of all, it only has three ingredients. This is one drink you'll be making over and over again.

Full disclosure: I actually used Dr. Thunder. A travesty? Perhaps. Just don’t tell Dr. Pepper. I figured a sign of a truly great recipe is if it works with the store-brand ingredients, too. Actually, nah. That wasn’t my motivation. Good ol’ Dr. T was 25% cheaper than his name-brand counterpart. Your girl can’t pass up a bargain.

If you’re trying to watch your calories, you can buy sugar-free coconut syrup (on Amazon or in the coffee section of your grocery store) and Diet Dr. Pepper. But you’re already skipping the alcohol so in my mind– enough calories saved. Just drink the full-sugar version.

If you’re interested in trying out another alcohol-free drink recipe, check these out:

I actually have a ton of alcohol-free drink recipes– just select the “mocktail” from the “Browse by Liquor” drop down bar on the right hand side of this blog.

If you try this Dirty Dr. Pepper recipe, LET ME KNOW! I wanna know if you love it as much as I do! If you try it with another soda variety, you’ve gotta let me know about that, too. You can comment down below or tag me on Instagram.

Ingredients for a Dirty Dr. Pepper – An Alcohol-Free Drink Recipe

  • juice from half a lime
  • 3/4 oz coconut syrup
  • 5+ oz Dr. Pepper

How to Make a Dirty Dr. Pepper – An Alcohol-Free Drink Recipe

Fill up a tall glass with ice. Add the juice from the lime and the coconut syrup. Pour in the Dr. Pepper. Stir with a paper straw to mix. Garnish with a lime wedge.

The Dirty Dr. Pepper is the perfect alcohol-free drink recipe for summer. It's refreshing and totally gives off tropical vibes. And best of all, it only has three ingredients. This is one drink you'll be making over and over again.
tequila

Salted Sage Paloma | An Easy & Unique Cocktail Recipe With A Delicious Alcohol-Free Option

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This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it's delicious with tequila, too. If you're looking for a refreshing drink that's unique and not overly sweet, this is the one for you.

This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it’s delicious with tequila, too. If you’re looking for a refreshing drink that’s not too sweet, this is the one for you.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I originally saw this recipe on my friend Jake’s Instagram page. A long time ago. And I’ve thought about it several times since then and finally got around to making it. Now I’m just kicking myself for waiting so dang long.

I think part of the reason I waited is that if I’m honest, the thought of salt in a cocktail–and not just around the rim of one– freaked me out. I’ve long seen a pinch of salt or # drops of saline as ingredients in fancy craft cocktails. And I knooowww that a smidgeon of salt really just enhances existing flavors instead of overruling them with saltiness. But I was still afraid. And if that’s you, too, I’m here to say Don’t worry, I promise you won’t feel like you’re licking a block of salt when you drink this recipe.

This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it's delicious with tequila, too. If you're looking for a refreshing drink that's unique and not overly sweet, this is the one for you.

The salt in the sage syrup is actually the perfect complement to the earthy sage and the bitter grapefruit. Ugh. Really, why didn’t I embrace this sooner? Now I wanna go around sprinkling sea salt in all my syrups.

Using herb simple syrups brings a lot of complexity to mocktails– you won’t miss the alcohol! This recipe is pretty similar to my Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer. Be sure to check that one out, too, if you’re down for mocktails that don’t only taste like juice. If you’re a big fan of sage, be sure to check out my Avendesora and Autumm in Tuscany recipes, too.

How to Make Salted Sage Simple Syrup

To make the salted sage simple syrup, add 3 tablespoons of water, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, and a handful of sage leaves to a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool. Remove the sage leaves. Store in an airtight container (these are perfect for small batch simple syrups) and place in the fridge until ready to use.

Ingredients for a Salted Sage Paloma (with Alcohol-Free Option)

  • 1 1/2 oz tequila reposado (omit for a 100% amazing mocktail)
  • 1/2 oz salted sage syrup*
  • 2 oz freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice
  • 1/2 oz freshly-squeezed lime juice
  • 1+ oz soda water

How to Make a Salted Sage Paloma Cocktail & Mocktail

Add all ingredients except the soda water into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into a lowball glass that has a couple large ice cubes in it. Top off the rest of the glass with your soda water. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit juice and a sprig of sage.

Salted Sage Paloma (w/ Mocktail Option)

This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it's delicious with tequila, too. If you're looking for a refreshing drink that's unique and not overly sweet, this is the one for you.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz tequila or tequila alternative (omit for a 100% amazing mocktail)
  • ½ oz salted sage simple syrup*
  • 2 oz grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed is best
  • ½ oz lime juice
  • 1+ oz club soda

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients except the soda water into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake well. Strain into a lowball glass that has a couple large ice cubes in it. Top
  • Top off the rest of the glass with your soda water.
  • Garnish with a slice of grapefruit juice and a sprig of sage.

Notes

*How to Make Salted Sage Simple Syrup
To make the salted sage simple syrup, add 3 tablespoons of water, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, and a handful of sage leaves to a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool. Remove the sage leaves. Store in an airtight container (these are perfect for small batch simple syrups) and place in the fridge until ready to use.
Keyword club soda, grapefruit, grapefruit juice, lime juice, paloma, sage, salted sage simple syrup
This Salted Sage Paloma was originally created as a no-ABV drink by Nanda Kampmark of Slow Mixology. She made it as a mocktail recipe and I enjoyed it as such, but it's delicious with tequila, too. If you're looking for a refreshing drink that's unique and not overly sweet, this is the one for you.
vodka

Blackberry Rose Mule | The Ultimate Springtime Cocktail and Mocktail Recipe

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Say hello to spring with this Blackberry Rose Mule. This drink recipe is the perfect blend of fruity, floral, and spicy. Enjoy it without vodka for a delicious & flavorful mocktail.

Say hello to spring with this Blackberry Rose Mule. This drink is the perfect blend of fruity, floral, and spicy. I actually enjoyed this as a mocktail (still pregnant) but it would be great with vodka, too. You could also add any other berries you have on hand, too.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

As you may or may not know, I’m expecting baby #2. Several weeks back, I reached out to a fellow cocktail lover (@da_gin_joint) on Instagram whose wife had just had a baby. I knew Eric must’ve been making mocktails for her throughout her pregnancy so I asked him for some mocktail recipes. Sure enough, he’d had a whole Mocktail Monday series going on that I totally missed. (Thanks, Instagram algorithms.)

He sent me a few different recipes but his Cool as a Mule really caught my eye. It’s a Blackberry Mule! I love mules of all kinds but had never had one with blackberry.

I’d also recently got some rose simple syrup in the mail and figured I’d try combining them. I wasn’t sure if the blackberry, rose, lime, mint, and ginger flavors would play nicely together or not but figured it was worth a try. And it worked! Honestly next time, I’d probably add a drop or two of rosewater for extra rose notes but it’s def good without.

If you’re a fan of ginger beer, I suggest you try this Blackberry Rose Mule. I enjoyed it without vodka but go ahead and add some to make it a true mule.

Say hello to spring with this Blackberry Rose Mule. This drink recipe is the perfect blend of fruity, floral, and spicy. Enjoy it without vodka for a delicious & flavorful mocktail.

Interested in other mule recipes? Check out my Green Tea Moscow Mule, Mother Mule (using a ginger honey shrub!), Orange Cassidy (a citrus & sage mule), and the classic Irish Mule. And if you haven’t had the OG, you’ve gotta try your hand at making a Moscow Mule at some point. It’s one of the easiest cocktails to make at home and you prob always have the ingredients on hand. Well, if you keep ginger beer on hand, which is an essential item around here.

If you make this Blackberry Rose Mule, be sure to tag me on Instagram and leave a comment below. Seeing your re-shakes of my recipes always makes my day!

Ingredients for a Blackberry Rose Mule

  • 1 1/2 oz vodka (omit for a truly delish mocktail)
  • 1/2 oz lime juice
  • 1/2 oz rose simple syrup (buy it or make your own)
  • 5 blackberries
  • 5-7 mint leaves
  • 3+ oz ginger beer

How to Make a Blackberry Rose Mule

Add the vodka, lime juice, rose simple syrup, mint leaves, and blackberries to a cocktail shaker. Muddle gently but muddle well. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain into a copper mug or glass that’s filled with crushed ice. Top off the rest of the glass with ginger beer. Stir to incorporate. Garnish with additional blackberries and mint.

Blackberry Rose Mule

Say hello to spring with this Blackberry Rose Mule. This drink recipe is the perfect blend of fruity, floral, and spicy. Enjoy it without vodka for a delicious & flavorful mocktail.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker
  • muddler

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz vodka (omit for a truly delish mocktail)
  • ½ oz lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • ½ oz rose simple syrup*
  • 5 blackberries
  • 5-7 mint leaves
  • 3+ oz ginger beer

Instructions
 

  • Add the vodka, lime juice, rose simple syrup, mint leaves, and blackberries to a cocktail shaker.
  • Muddle gently but muddle well.
  • Add ice to the cocktail shaker and shake well.
  • Strain into a copper mug or glass that's filled with crushed ice.
  • Top off the rest of the glass with ginger beer. Stir to incorporate.
  • Garnish with additional blackberries and mint.

Notes

You can buy some rose simple syrup on Amazon or you can learn how to make your own.
Keyword blackberries, cherry limeade, ginger beer, lime juice, mint, mocktail, moscow mule, rose, rose simple syrup
Say hello to spring with this Blackberry Rose Mule. This drink recipe is the perfect blend of fruity, floral, and spicy. Enjoy it without vodka for a delicious & flavorful mocktail. Blackberry Moscow Mule
mocktail

Tonic Rickey | An Effortless Alcohol-Free Cocktail Option You Can Make in 2 Minutes

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This Tonic Rickey mocktail is the perfect drink to make when you don't feel like imbibing but still want to sip on something special. It requires minimal effort, won't leave you hungover tomorrow, and you probably already have the ingredients at home. That's a win-win-win.

This Tonic Rickey mocktail is the perfect drink to make when you don’t feel like imbibing but still want to sip on something special. It requires minimal effort, won’t leave you hungover tomorrow, and you probably already have the ingredients at home. That’s a win-win-win.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I originally saw this Tonic Rickey mocktail recipe on my friend Camille’s Instagram. I’ve followed Camille long enough to know that anything she posts is gonna be good. You can find her original blog post here.

The Tonic Rickey is Camille’s version of a booze-less Gin Rickey, a classic cocktail made using gin, lime, and club soda or seltzer. It’s very similar to a classic Gin & Tonic so if you’re a fan of one, you’ll probably like the other, too.

A quick FYI in case you’re unaware (as I was at one point in life): tonic water and club soda are not the same. And while you can sometimes get away with using one in place of the other, there is a major taste difference between the two. I broke down the differences between all the clear sparkling liquids out there in my Americano cocktail post, but here’s a brief overview:

  • Club soda = water infused with carbon dioxide and minerals like salt
  • Tonic water = carbonated water with minerals and also quinine, a bitter essence derived from the cinchona tree; it’s got a distinct taste
  • Seltzer = carbonated water that usually does not contain any minerals
  • Sparkling mineral water = typically naturally carbonated and has naturally-present minerals
  • Sparkling water = carbonated water that can be flavored and sometimes sweetened

In my opinion, club soda, seltzer, mineral water, and sparkling water can all be used interchangeably. Tonic stands apart from them.

This Tonic Rickey mocktail is the perfect drink to make when you don't feel like imbibing but still want to sip on something special. It requires minimal effort, won't leave you hungover tomorrow, and you probably already have the ingredients at home. That's a win-win-win.

I really like Camille’s use of both club soda and tonic water. The reason being is that after the countless Gin & Tonic’s I’ve consumed over the years, my tastebuds now equate the taste of tonic with the taste of gin. And since this recipe is alcohol-free, it gives the drink some needed kick and flair.

Perhaps the best thing about this mocktail recipe is that if you typically keep a semi-well-stocked bar, you’ll always have the ingredients on hand. If you’re new to home bartending and what to know that products I recommend keeping on hand at all times, check out my Cocktails 101 article.

Another great thing about this recipe is that you could easily add some extra pizazz to it by adding a flavored simple syrup or a different variety of bitters. I think using lavender simple syrup with cardamom bitters would make for a killer Lavender & Cardamom Tonic Rickey.

If you make this Tonic Rickey mocktail recipe, be sure to tag both me (@girlandtonic_) and Camille (@thecocktailsnob_)!

Ingredients for a Tonic Rickey Mocktail

  • 1/2 oz fresh, fresh, fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup (click here to learn how to make your own)
  • 1 1/2 oz tonic water
  • 1 1/2 oz seltzer or club soda
  • 3 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters

How to Make a Tonic Rickey Mocktail

Fill a Collins or highball glass allllll the way up with ice. Add the freshly-squeezed lime juice and simple syrup. Stir with a bar spoon. Pour in the tonic water and club soda, stirring gently to combine. Add the bitters to the top of the glass. You can choose to stir them in or let them settle on their own in the drink. Garnish with a lime wheel or fresh herb.

Tonic Rickey Mocktail

This Tonic Rickey mocktail is the perfect drink to make when you don't feel like imbibing but still want to sip on something special. It requires minimal effort, won't leave you hungover tomorrow, and you probably already have the ingredients at home.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • ½ oz freshly-squeezed lime juice
  • ½ oz simple syrup*
  • 1 ½ oz tonic water
  • 1 ½ oz club soda
  • 3 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters

Instructions
 

  • Fill a Collins or highball glass all the way up with ice.
  • Add the freshly-squeezed lime juice and simple syrup. Stir with a bar spoon.
  • Pour in the tonic water and club soda, stirring gently to combine.
  • Add the bitters to the top of the glass. You can choose to stir them in or let them settle on their own in the drink.
  • Garnish with a lime wheel or fresh herb.

Notes

*To learn how to make your own simple syrup (it’s SO easy, I promise!), click here. 
Keyword angostura bitters, bitters, club soda, lime, lime juice, mocktail, simple syrup, tonic, tonic rickey
This Tonic Rickey mocktail is the perfect drink to make when you don't feel like imbibing but still want to sip on something special. It requires minimal effort, won't leave you hungover tomorrow, and you probably already have the ingredients at home. That's a win-win-win.