Summer Mocktails For People Who Are Tired Of Hangovers

Do you hear that? That roaring sound? It’s the sound of invites. Invites to parties. Invites to summer parties, in the form of blanket messages or new WhatsApp group notifications, travelling towards you at high speed. Summer is here, and with it, drinking season – and honestly, it can all get a bit much sometimes, can’t it?

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Well, if you’re anything like me, and you’ve grown tired of losing full days to hangovers, you might take the executive decision to skip the booze at a few of these functions. And if you don’t want to stand there with a Coke or a lime and soda in your hand (both nice, but samey), there are a few summer mocktails out there that you can either make yourself or buy versions of, which will see you right. And we’ve got our favorites here.

Arnold Palmer

One of the most famous summer mocktails, and for good reason: It’s easy to make, tastes good, and goes down a treat in the heat. Arnold Palmers are half iced tea, half lemonade, served long and with lots of ice. Doesn’t get much simpler than that.

You can mix up your own, but if you want to make your life easier, AriZona’s Half and Half is one of the best bottled Arnold Palmers out there. We also love Good Spirits’ Austin Palmer, which is made with hemp and adaptogens, and contains 15mg CBD and 10mg CBG.

Non-Alcoholic Kentucky Mule

Yes, you can make a non-alcoholic Moscow Mule easily, by taking out the vodka – but all you’re left with is ginger beer and lime, and honestly, is that really a mocktail? A lot of the time, we still want something that feels (and tastes) like it could contain alcohol, without the fuzzy head in the morning.

Enter the non-alcoholic Kentucky Mule. Free Spirits makes a quality version of this mocktail, and you can also grab yourself an alcohol-free bourbon (again from Free Spirits, or Lyre’s) and make one yourself. It’ll have all that smokiness and woodiness, without the booze. 

Phony Negroni

Phony negronis can take a bit of investment, but if you want a mocktail that really feels like it could be boozy, it’s worth it. To put it together, purchase Lyre’s Aperitif Rosso, Wilfred’s Aperitif, and your favorite alcohol-free gin, and mix. Adding a dash of non-alcoholic bitters will make all the difference. 

That can be a lot of work, though (and be expensive) – so if you’d prefer to keep things easy, St. Agrestis Phony Negroni is your best bet. Grab ice, pour, and enjoy. 

Non-Alcoholic Spritzes

If you’re investing in your mocktail game, though, it might be worth purchasing Wilfred’s Aperitif, as it’s not just a phony negroni you can make with it. It can also serve as the base of a non-alcoholic spritz, another mocktail that can be so boring when made badly, but so good when done right. 

The point of a non-alcoholic spritz is that it shouldn’t taste like soda, but have the bitter, tart fruitiness of an Aperol or Campari spritz. So, you’ll need a non-alcoholic aperitif (Lyre’s Italian Spritz is also a good choice) and a non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Mix the two, add a dash of soda water, and serve over ice.