For some, the new year represents a new opportunity to bring about change. It’s a chance to test out new routines and trends, try something new, and better yourself.
One of those growing trends that has been picking up steam is the Sober Curious movement. To be Sober Curious is to question your relationship with alcohol, consider alternatives, and push back on the stereotype that less drinks = less fun.
If 2025 has welcomed your Sober Curious era, or maybe you just don’t want to drink – for whatever reason, we’ve got some amazing mocktail recipes you need to try. From the comfort of your own home, you’ll be blown away at just how delicious, beautiful, and extravagant a homemade mocktail can really be…
Sparkling Tangawizi
The Tangawizi is a refreshing mocktail packed with vitamins and natural healing properties. This mocktail is inspired by Stoney Tangawizi, the wildly popular ginger-based soda from East Africa. The ginger provides a big bite, but the salt, lime juice and sugar balances it out nicely.
Ingredients (makes 4):
- 8 oz of ginger
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 24 oz sparkling water
- Lime wedges (garnish)
Instructions:
- The ginger syrup is the star of this show, which is where we’ll start. Crush, mince, or finely chop your ginger until it’s as fine as possible. Then boil the ginger, sugar, salt, and ¾ cup of water in a saucepan. Stirring occasionally, leave the syrup on the heat until it’s fully dissolved and a little bit reduced.
- When the syrup is done, let it sit off the heat for 15 minutes.
- Strain your syrup through a sieve and discard the solids.
- Stir your lime juice into the smooth ginger syrup.
- Pour your syrupy mixture into 4 glasses along with ice, roughly 6 oz of carbonated water, and a lime wedge.
Recipe inspiration from Bon Appetit
Rosemary Paloma
Inspired by one of the world’s greatest bars, Dante NYC, this Rosemary Paloma will be sure to turn heads at your next get-together. Decadent in the glass, this beverage needs no booze thanks to the bursting flavour of sweet, tart grapefruit and refined salted rosemary syrup. This recipe revolves around the salted rosemary syrup – a delicate dance that achieves the perfect balance to the grapefruit.
Ingredients (makes 2):
- 1 oz rosemary syrup (instructions below)
- 5 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 6 oz soda water
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- Rosemary sprigs
- Grapefruit slices (garnish)
Instructions:
- Once again, we’ll start with the syrup. In your saucepan, mix the sugar, salt, some rosemary and 3 oz of warm water. No need to boil – just keep things over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.
- Cool the syrup at room temp for at least 15 minutes.
- Use a fine strain to separate the solids and store your syrup in glass for later use.
- Finish off the mocktail by filling your 2 glasses with ice before adding the syrup, grapefruit juice and soda water. Then give it a gentle stir and top with a grapefruit slice and a sprig of rosemary.
Recipe inspiration from Cup of Jo
Whiskey Sour Mocktail
The Whiskey Sour is a drink that’s bound to impress at a social gathering, with the delicate foam and rich texture to the sweet, sour and bitter flavours. The mocktail version is no different – in this recipe we’ll sub out the whiskey for Assam tea, which certainly holds its own.
Ingredients (makes 2):
- 1.5 oz lemon juice
- 1 egg white
- 1½ tbsp simple syrup
- Ice
- Lemon slice (garnish)
- Cocktail cherry (garnish)
- 2 tsp Assam tea leaves
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- The first step is to extract the flavours from the Assam tea, which will help mimic the whiskey. Tip the tea leaves into a teapot or jug and pour over boiling water from your kettle.
- Strain your tea through a sieve and discard the solids.
- Add the vanilla extract and let it cool.
- After your tea has been cooled, pour some into a cocktail shaker along with the lemon juice, egg white, simple syrup and ice.
- Give it a good shake until the shaker is ice cold. Then pour into glasses filled with ice, and top with a lemon slice and cherries.
Recipe inspiration from Good Food
Vanilla Plum Shrub
The shrub is like a cocktail, but with the kick coming from vinegar rather than alcohol. Don’t knock it till you try it! This Vanilla Plum Shrub is great for sipping on with a little club soda. Plus, kids will love it, and your alcohol-drinking guests can always add a spirit.
Ingredients (makes 4):
- 6 plums
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 vanilla bean
- 1 cup unfiltered apple cider vinegar
- Soda water
Instructions:
- First, we’ll create the flavour base of plumb, sugar and vanilla in a jar. Make sure the plums have been skinned, pitted and roughly chopped, and the vanilla bean scraped of seeds with the pod still intact.
- Go at it with a muddler or spoon until the mash is fully incorporated.
- Over medium-high heat, bring the vinegar to a gentle simmer.
- Then, pour the vinegar over the plum mixture and shake thoroughly in the jar.
- For the best possible taste, leave the jar in the fridge for at least 24 hours before serving. This allows the flavour to fully develop.
- When you’re ready to serve, strain your mixture into glasses over ice and add equal parts club soda.
Recipe inspiration from The Modern Proper
Ca Phe Muoi
If you’ve travelled around southeast Asia, you’ve probably come across Cà phê muối, the Vietnamese coffee drink. If not, all espresso martini lovers should pay close attention. The Cà phê muối is rich, sweet, and truly decadent.
Ingredients (makes 2):
- 2 cups of chilled coffee
- 12 tbsp heavy cream
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup milk
- 4 tbsp cocoa powder
- Ice
Instructions:
- To start, remove your chilled coffee from the fridge, plus a chilled glass if you have one.
- Then in a tall cup of mixing container, add the heavy cream, sugar, and salt. Whisk together with a hand mixer or whisk until thickened.
- Fill your glass with ice and pour in the milk and chilled coffee. Then go crazy with the salted cream, adding as much as you want on top.
- To finish it off, dust your cocoa powder over the heavy cream. Enjoy!
Recipe inspiration from Tasty
Taking a break from alcohol or just don’t feel like drinking? Springs Group liquor stores are stocked with a wide (and growing) range of non-alcoholic options, from spirits to beers, wine and cider. Drop by one of our 15 locations today and ask our friendly staff for a hand.
