While some artists swear by alcohol to grease the wheels of their creativity, it isn’t always the right ingredient for your unique project or circumstance. Mocktails, on the other hand, can be a great way to boost creativity and get in the mood to make something magical. Here are some of our top mocktail recipes, complete with suggestions for music to set the ambiance for your creative process.
1. Mango Ginger Mocktail
Spice things up with this refreshing warm weather beverage! This recipe is a quick and easy way to refresh your energy. The sweet orange mango juice and spicy ginger and mint leaves give your immune system a boost and may help your body relax with their anti-inflammatory properties.
The ingredients for a single serving are:
- ½ cup of orange mango juice
- ½ tablespoon of freshly grated ginger
- 1-2 fresh mint leaves
- 2 teaspoons of honey
- ½ cup of ginger beer
Simply muddle the ginger, mint leaves, and honey together to release the flavor from the ginger and mint, then mix that with your juice and ginger beer. Serve over ice and enjoy the sweet-and-spicy flavor!
To further set the tone, put on some upbeat, old-fashioned rock and roll music like Ritchie Valens’ version of “La Bamba” and “The Twist” by Chubby Checker.
2. Brazilian Lemonade
Brazilian lemonade is a deliciously citrusy drink that is perfect for a quick pick-me-up. This recipe has a unique texture and offers a creamy twist on this fan favorite mocktail. The tart lime juice and zest lend your heart health a hand and can help you feel a new zest for the day.
To make one serving, you’ll need:
- ½ washed lime
- ¾ cups water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons sweetened condensed milk
- ice cubes
Slice your half lime into quarters, removing the ends if necessary. Add all your ingredients to a blender and pulse until smooth. Be careful not to overblend, as that can create a more bitter flavor. Strain the blend through a fine mesh strainer and serve over ice.
Complete the fun, fresh vibe of this mocktail with some modern Brazilian pop artists, like Any Gabrielly or IZA. Their latest hits are perfect for kicking back and getting together the energy to start again.
3. Butterfly Pea Tea Lemonade
For a fun color-changing mocktail, look no further! Butterfly pea tea shifts from a deep blue into a vibrant violet when acidic ingredients, like lemon juice, are added. This tea contains acetylcholine, which can help with working memory and thinking.
For one serving of this recipe, you need:
- 1 cup water
- 5 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons dried butterfly pea flower
- 5 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 cup of soda water
- Ice
The first step in this process is making the butterfly pea tea. Heat your water to a boil, add the butterfly pea flower tea leaves, and steep for 3-5 minutes. Strain the pea flower out with a mesh strainer or your preferred tea strainer and, while the water is still hot, add the sugar and stir until it’s fully dissolved. Add the lemon juice in advance or as part of serving this mocktail to put on a show! Then, mix half and half with soda water and serve over ice.
To lean into the pensive, thoughtful side of this recipe, pair it with “Colors” by Halsey or “True Colors” by Zedd. If you’re aiming for a more peppy energy, MAX’s “Blueberry Eyes” featuring SUGA or Taylor Swift’s “Lavender Haze” might be a better fit.
4. Watermelon Coconut Cooler
If you need some extra rehydration from your mocktail, this is the recipe for you! Coconut water is a key ingredient that includes electrolytes and a subtly sweet, refreshing flavor. These electrolytes can boost your hydration levels, which may help you think clearly and feel more energetic.
The ingredients for one watermelon coconut cooler are:
- 1 cup watermelon, chilled and cubed
- ½ cup coconut water
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
This recipe couldn’t be much simpler to make: simply put your ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth, and serve over ice.
There’s no way we could discuss music to go with this watermelon cooler without at least mentioning “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles, but why stop there? Enjoy the rest of his Fine Line album to be transported to a warm spot on a summery afternoon.
5. Tamarind Pineapple Quencher
Tamarind syrup is a delightful ingredient that plays a key role in this recipe, but could be a great addition to nearly any drink. The sweet diced pineapple can also aid in digestion, helping to counteract any negative effects of stress on your stomach.
To make a serving of this quencher, including from-scratch tamarind syrup, you’ll need:
- ¼ cup finely diced pineapple
- 6 oz coconut water
- Tamarind Coriander Syrup
Tamarind Coriander Syrup Recipe
For this syrup, you’ll need:
- 14-16 tamarind pods
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
Crack each tamarind pod to remove the pulp, which is what we’ll add to the syrup, then discard the rest. Combine the pulp with your brown sugar, coriander seeds, and 2 cups of water and bring to a boil in a small saucepan. Once you have a solid boil, lower the heat and keep it at a rapid simmer for about half an hour, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. Then, strain out the solids, and you have a delicious tamarind syrup!
Assembling Your Tamarind Pineapple Quencher
To get from that syrup to the full mocktail, muddle your diced pineapple until it reaches a pulp-like consistency. Then, top with ice, coconut water, and tamarind coriander syrup and stir.
This mocktail pairs well with reflective, introspective songs like “My Attic” by P!nk or “In My Life” by The Beatles. Let your mind wander and enjoy the surprise of the thoughts you come across.
6. Mint Berry Smash
If you’d rather lighten up the mood than dwell on it, this mint berry smash recipe is a great way to reinvigorate the rest of your day! Mint can help improve brain function, helping you focus on the task ahead.
For this recipe, you’ll need:
- 1 handful of raspberries
- 1 handful of blueberries
- 1 sprig of fresh mint
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- Seltzer water
To prepare, simply muddle the berries and mint together in a cocktail shaker, then add your lime juice, honey, and ice. Shake until well combined and strain over ice, adding a splash of water for a final sparkling touch. If you have berries or mint left over, those make a great garnish!
Get a little pep in your step as you sip this mocktail with your favorite Fitz and The Tantrums hits! If you’re unfamiliar with this band, a couple of great songs to start with are “Out of My League” and “I Just Wanna Shine.”
7. Tart Cherry-Hibiscus Refresher
If you prefer your mocktails on the tart side, you’re sure to love this refreshing recipe. The most time-consuming part is the hibiscus-mint syrup, but once you’ve made a batch of that, you can pour yourself glass after glass. In addition to its sweet floral taste, hibiscus can help reduce blood pressure.
The ingredients you need are:
- 2 tablespoons hibiscus-mint syrup
- 1 cup of seltzer water
- ¼ cup tart cherry juice
- 1 tablespoon of lime juice
Hibiscus-Mint Syrup Recipe
To make this syrup from scratch, you’ll need:
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ tablespoon dried hibiscus
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves
Simply combine your sugar and dried hibiscus in a saucepan with 2 tablespoons of water and bring to a light simmer. Keep it simmering until the sugar has completely dissolved, then remove from the heat and add your mint. Steep for 10 minutes, strain, and it’s ready to go!
Assembling Your Tart Cherry-Hibiscus Refresher
To make your mocktail, pour 1 cup seltzer water, ¼ cup cherry juice, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, and 2 tablespoons of your hibiscus-mint syrup over ice.
This sweet and tart mocktail is a great mix to wake up your senses if you’ve been feeling a bit uninspired. Keep that energy going with some top workout tracks, like “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, and “One More Time” by Daft Punk.
8. Raspberry Fizz Mocktail
If you love a good smoked cocktail, you’ll definitely want to try this mocktail! Enjoy its fruity, herbal flavor profile with a smoky aftertaste from your smoke chips or smoke dust of choice. In addition to the sweet, earthy flavor that honey offers, it may also help to reduce anxiety.
To make this recipe, you’ll need:
- ½ cup raspberries
- 1oz lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Soda water
- Smoke dust or smoke chips
Muddle your raspberries in the bottom of a cocktail shaker, then add your lime juice and honey before shaking to combine. If you prefer to smoke your glass before adding your mocktail, now is the time to light up your smoke chips and let their smoke fill the glass. Strain the mixture over ice, then fill your glass most of the rest of the way with soda water. If you prefer a smoke top option, use that now to add a smoky finishing touch to your drink.
What pairs better with a smoked mocktail than jazz? Put on some jazz classics from Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald as you lean back for that rewarding first sip.
9. Lavender Lemonade
For a floral twist on your classic lemonade, look no further! Lavender syrup adds a hint of sophistication and calm, perfect for helping you manage stress when you’re on a deadline.
For this recipe, you’ll need:
- ¼ cup lavender syrup
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 and ½ cups water
Because the sugar in this recipe is already dissolved into the syrup, you can just add the ingredients to a pitcher and stir to combine. Then, serve over ice!
This laid-back mocktail is great for unwinding, so pair it with some acoustic covers or Ed Sheeran’s + album to take the edge off your day.
10. Matcha Tonic
We couldn’t leave this article without at least one matcha mocktail in it! Caffeinate your creativity with this quick-and-easy drink. You may also experience increased focus from the amino acid L-theanine, which is naturally present in matcha powder.
To make it, you need:
- ½ cup chopped fruit for muddling, such as berries or sweet citrus
- ½ cup tonic water
- 2 teaspoons matcha powder
- ½ cup hot water
In a glass cup, muddle your fruit and top it with ice and tonic water. In a small bowl, whisk together your matcha with the hot water until it’s frothy, then pour it on top of the tonic water mixture.
Enjoy the smooth taste and slowly building energy of this drink with some lo-fi beats to get your creative juices flowing. If you’re newer to this scene, Potsu’s tracks are a great place to start!
Marketing with Mocktails
These mocktails are a great way to take a break, but they can also be a great way to lean into marketing. Showing you or your team working together to make a fan-favorite mocktail is a great way to display your teamwork, creativity, and ability to roll with the punches. Add some snapshots or clips of your process to your stories or film a vlog about it to let your clients see behind the scenes!
Another way to use mocktails to boost your creative marketing strategy is to lean into their colorful blends as inspiration. What industries come to mind when you look into your glass? How could the shifting, subtler colors as the ice melts change that perspective?
Whether you’re in the middle of a project that requires all your creativity or just want to give yourself a boost, we hope these recipes give you a nudge in the right direction. If you need help with creative marketing for your business or clients, get in touch with us.
