5 Christmas Mocktails That Look as Good as They Taste

A Christmas mocktail deserves a good glass, a colourful garnish and a proper place on the drinks menu.

Whether you’re hosting lunch, sharing a backyard barbecue or setting up a welcome-drink tray, these five recipes bring plenty of colour. They’re easy to mix, with simple ingredients and plenty of scope for a colourful garnish.

Each recipe makes one drink. Use a 350 ml glass to leave room for ice and garnishes, and keep your ingredients chilled. Check labels to choose alcohol-free mixers and add the bubbles just before serving.

1. Cranberry and orange Christmas fizz

Red cranberry, golden citrus and a little sparkle. This is an easy one to dress up for Christmas lunch.

You’ll need

• 60 ml cranberry juice drink
• 60 ml orange juice
• 90 ml soda water
• Ice
• 1 dehydrated orange wheel

Make it

Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the cranberry and orange juices, then slowly pour in the soda. Stir gently and rest the orange wheel against the ice.

Make it yours

Use a cranberry juice drink for a sweeter finish, or a tart cranberry juice if you prefer a sharper sip. Taste before serving and adjust with a little more orange juice if needed.

2. Pineapple and ginger cooler

A tropical serve with a gingery finish.

You’ll need

• 90 ml pineapple juice
• 15 ml fresh lemon juice
• 90 ml alcohol-free ginger ale
• Ice
• 1 dehydrated lime wheel

Make it

Pour the pineapple and lemon juices into an ice-filled glass. Add the ginger ale, stir once or twice and finish with lime.

Make it yours

For a gentler ginger flavour, replace half the ginger ale with soda water. If you’re stocking up for a party, browse our soda and mixers collection and check the individual labels for a suitable option.

3. Strawberry and lemon sparkle

Soft pink, bright citrus and a little strawberry texture make this a lovely welcome drink.

You’ll need

• 2 ripe strawberries, washed and hulled
• 20 ml fresh lemon juice
• 10 ml cooled 1:1 sugar syrup, made with equal weights of sugar and water
• 120 ml soda water
• Ice
• 1 dehydrated lemon wheel

Make it

Gently crush the strawberries with the lemon juice and syrup in a sturdy glass or small bowl. Spoon into your serving glass, add ice and top with soda. Stir gently and finish with lemon.

Make it yours

To make the syrup, stir 50 g white sugar into 50 g hot water until dissolved, then leave it to cool. Measure 10 ml into the recipe; you’ll have some syrup left over. This is a 1:1 ratio by weight.

Strain the crushed strawberry mixture before adding it to the glass if you prefer a smoother drink. After mixing, taste and adjust with a small amount of extra syrup if needed.

4. Peach and rosemary spritz

Peach nectar gives this mocktail a soft, fruity base, with rosemary adding a fresh aroma.

You’ll need

• 60 ml peach nectar
• 15 ml fresh lemon juice
• 120 ml soda water
• Ice
• 1 dehydrated orange wheel
• 1 small washed culinary rosemary sprig

Make it

Add the peach nectar and lemon juice to a wine glass filled with ice. Top with soda and gently stir. Tuck the orange wheel beside the ice and add the rosemary sprig, keeping the stem away from the drinking edge.

Make it yours

Try it in a tall glass for a casual barbecue or a stemmed glass for a Christmas lunch setting. The ingredients can stay the same.

5. Watermelon Christmas cooler

A summer favourite that brings its own cheerful colour.

You’ll need

• 120 ml seedless watermelon juice, strained
• 15 ml fresh lemon juice
• 60 ml soda water
• Ice
• A small amount of Watermelon Cocktail Sugar, optional
• 1 dehydrated lime wheel

Make it

If using sugar, moisten half the outside rim of your glass with lemon juice and press lightly into a shallow dish of sugar. Add ice, watermelon juice and lemon juice. Top with soda, stir gently and garnish with lime.

Make it yours

Taste the watermelon juice first. Ripe fruit may give you all the sweetness you need, so the rim can be a decorative extra rather than an essential step.

Make the whole tray feel special

Chill the glasses where practical, choose one garnish for each drink and keep napkins nearby. If you’re serving cocktails too, label the mocktails clearly and use separate jugs and utensils.

A small garnish station lets guests finish their own glass. For a few layout ideas, read our guide to building a cocktail garnish station.

For a batch, multiply the still ingredients by your number of serves and refrigerate. Add soda, ice and garnishes to individual glasses when you’re ready to pour.

Give the Christmas mocktails their moment. Shop dehydrated citrus garnishes and put a little festive colour on the drinks tray.