Non-Alcoholic Summer Drinks That’ll Get Any Party Started

These mocktails, punches, and lemonades prove that you can’t throw a party without drinks. And for the rest of you, we’ve got five next-level summer cocktails you must try.

 

 Strawberry Lemonade

 

 The ideal summer beverage! For the perfect summer cocktail, combine freshly squeezed lemons with luscious strawberries. Remove the seeds and excess pulp from the strawberry puree by straining it. Mint gives a pleasant zing to the dish. However, it is completely optional! It’s tangy, sweet, and refreshing all over.

 

INGREDIENTS

1 c. granulated sugar

6 c. water, divided

1 lb. strawberries, hulled and halved

1 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice, from about 10 lemons

Ice

Mint leaves (optional)

 

DIRECTIONS

Mix sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to low heat and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Allow cooling.

 Mix strawberries with 1 cup water in a blender. Blend until smooth. Strain the purée through a fine-mesh strainer and discard the solids.

 Combine the simple syrup, strawberry puree, lemon juice, and the remaining 4 cups of water in a large pitcher. To taste, add extra water or lemon juice.

 

 If preferred, serve over ice with mint.

 

Virgin Cranberry Basil Sangria

 

What is Sangria if it isn’t made with wine? Please accept my request. Use whatever fruit is in season and get creative with the combination; for the holidays, try cranberries, orange slices, and rosemary; try mixed berries and mint for the summer.

 

INGREDIENTS

3 c. cranberry juice

Juice of 1 orange (about 1/2 c.)

1 (12-oz.) can seltzer

1 orange, sliced

1 apple, cored and sliced

1/3 c. frozen cranberries

1/4 c. packed basil leaves

Ice

 

DIRECTIONS

Combine the cranberry juice, orange juice, and seltzer in a big pitcher. Stir in the fruit and basil until everything is well combined.

To serve, pour over ice.

 

Virgin Piña Colada

 

Let a non-alcoholic pina colada, simply a tropical milkshake, wash away your worries. Although the classic form has a texture similar to a smoothie or ice cream, we like this significantly richer and creamier variant. It makes you question why pia Coladas were never served with ice cream in the first place! This cocktail is for you if you find yourself on a tropical vacation (or wish you were) during Dry January.

 

 It’s rich, tangy, and sweet, and it’s exactly what the doctor prescribed. After only one drink, you’ll be addicted.

 

If you wish to add liquor to this playful spin on the original, add a cup, a 1/2 of dark or light rum, or a combination of the two.

 

INGREDIENTS

1 (10-oz.) bag frozen pineapple chunks  

4 large scoops of ice cream (about 1 cup)

1 c. coconut milk

1/2 c. pineapple juice

Pineapple wedge, for serving

Maraschino cherry, for serving

 

DIRECTIONS

Blend frozen pineapple, ice cream, coconut milk, and pineapple juice in a blender until smooth.

Serve in glasses with a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry on top.

 

Virgin Mojito with Blackberries

 

With fresh mint and citrus, classic mojitos are always refreshing. With an easy minty simple syrup with fresh blackberries, this non-alcoholic alternative is just as pleasant. It’ll make you fantasize about carefree summer days. The simple syrup will produce more than you need, but it may be kept refrigerated for up to a week and used in other recipes, such as homemade lemonade.

 

INGREDIENTS

FOR MINT SYRUP

1/2 c. packed fresh mint leaves

1 c. granulated sugar

1 c. water

FOR MOJITO

1 c. blackberries

1 tsp. granulated sugar

1/2 c. lime juice

Ice

2 (12-oz.) cans seltzer

Fresh mint, for garnish

 

DIRECTIONS

Crush mint leaves in a small pot using a spoon or a mortar and pestle. Bring the sugar and water to a boil over medium heat, constantly stirring to dissolve the sugar. Allow 3 minutes for the water to boil. Allow cooling to room temperature before straining out the mint leaves with a wooden spoon to extract all of the liquid.

Add blackberries and sugar to a small bowl, then crush with a wooden spoon until the blackberries are broken down.

Pour 2 teaspoons of simple syrup and 2 tablespoons lime juice into each of 4 cups of blackberries. Fill glasses halfway with ice, then top with seltzer and mint.

 

These four drinks will be your next favorite whenever you are looking for a non-alcoholic drink. Let us know in the comments which one are you willing to try…