Mocktail recipes you need to try now

During this busy time in the academic year, some students choose to tie this period with a bit of a health kick: this could include exercising, sleeping more, and perhaps most prominently, drinking less alcohol. It’s so important to make time for your wellbeing, even when the workload increases. So, if you’re choosing to drink a little less in the hectic weeks ahead, I’ve picked out my four favourite mocktail recipes so that you can still enjoy a sweet pick-me-up, sans booze. Often, the enjoyment of cocktails comes from the mixing and decorating, the taste, and the social aspect of sharing a treat with friends. You can still enjoy all of this with these mocktail recipes and skip the headache in the morning after.

If you’re making this drink at Christmas, consider pomegranate seeds for a festive pop of red to your fizz

Grapefruit and elderflower spritz
The base and star of the show for this mocktail is Ting. The Caribbean-inspired grapefruit fizz is delicious and refreshing, and if you haven’t tried it before, you’re welcome. Since this drink recipe is a sparkling spritz, there’s no shaking needed, only stirring. Over ice, fill half the glass with Ting, half Nozeco, and add a dash of elderflower cordial. For a Hugo-style spritz, garnish with cucumber. To really draw on the grapefruit flavours, add a big circle of grapefruit. If you’re making this drink at Christmas, consider pomegranate seeds for a festive pop of red to your fizz.

Jam jar bramble
This mocktail doubles up as a no-waste recipe. The shaker to hold your ingredients is an ‘empty’ jam jar. Preferably, use a jar the remnants of blackberry jam for the authentic ‘bramble’ taste, but I imagine any flavour will set you up for a nice drink. Once you’ve finished with your jam, add a shot of lemon juice, a drizzle of honey or agave, and ice to the jar – then shake. Top up with soda water or lemonade for a virgin version of the classic British bramble.

A good virgin margarita
There seems to be a longstanding debate amongst online mixologists on whether to top up your virgin margarita with tonic or club soda. I think you should try both. Both should promise a nice drink, and whilst I like the bitter tang of tonic, apparently there’s lots to be said for all the minerals that club soda offers. Shake one shot of lime juice, one shot of fresh orange juice (as the Cointreau substitute) and a drizzle of agaze with lots of ice. If you’re feeling brave, add a slice of jalapeño to the shake for a spicy margarita. If you’re feeling even braver, some say that a dash of pickle juice can replicate that herbaceous tequila aftertaste. Strain into your glass and add a dash of your chosen mixer. For a longer, milder drink, just go heavier on the mixer.

Garnish the jug with orange wedges and cinnamon sticks for a perfect spicy and festive mocktail pitcher

Jamaican sorrel drink
It was my flatmate who introduced me to sorrel, and I feel as though I must share the love with my fellow herbal tea drinkers. Although not inherently classed as a mocktail, the brewing and garnishing ritual of this beverage makes it a true treat, where a bit of grafting and crafting pays off. This drink also needs to be prepped the night before you plan on drinking it, and since it takes a while, I recommend making a jug’s worth to share with friends, or just to keep as a stash in the fridge for yourself. Boil your sorrel (the hibiscus flower blossoms) in a big pan of water for eight minutes, before straining out the flowers and keeping the brew in the fridge overnight. The longer you leave the tea mix, the deeper the flavour. After it’s been left to steep in the fridge, you can stir in the other ingredients, which are: lime juice, simple syrup, and pimento bean powder. Garnish the jug with orange wedges and cinnamon sticks for a perfect spicy and festive mocktail pitcher.

Hopefully, these mocktails will provide you with a bit of light relief during the next few weeks as we work towards our hand-ins and exams. For those of you feeling extra adventurous in your alcohol-less endeavours, I’d like to propose taking a trip to your local health food shops and perusing the multitude of liquid supplements. These can turn your mocktail from a fruity treat to a health-boosting, relaxation-aiding experience.  My favourite choices are Lion’s Mane essence with its mind-focussing properties, and CBD (cannabidiol) drops for relaxation and even allegedly pain relieving qualities. Add a dose of these to your drinks, enjoy your concoctions, and never again be under the assumption that a mocktail has to be a lame lemonade and fruit juice afterthought.