10 Mocktail Recipes From Around The World

After many years behind bars, I’ve learned a thing or two. Relax; I’m talking about doing time as a bartender.

In addition to making drinks, I also write about them. I’ve combined my passion for spirits and travel as a regular contributor to Cigar & Spirits Magazine and of course my blog.

I’ve found that drinks are a great way to learn about history and culture. They not only enhance your travel experience, but can help you create a travel experience at home.

I know that not everyone drinks alcohol and I’m all about including the kids, so that is way I want to share with you my favour mocktail recipes from around the world, as well as the cocktails that inspired them.

1. The Mexican Martini

Viva la Mexico! Viva la Texas! Viva la New York!

Inspired by the Mexican Martini, which combines tequila with lime juice, simple syrup and salty olives, the Mexican Martini Mocktail maintains same the delicious balance of flavors as its cocktail inspiration.

Although Mexico is the name, it was actually developed in the 1970’s when a restaurant owner in Austin was served a margarita in Mexico in a martini glass. She took that idea home to Texas and expanded upon it, creating The Mexican Martini.

Now this drink has become an Austin signature cocktail and its popularity is spreading all the way to New York City! It can even be enjoyed in your own home and since cocktail hour is a family occasion in my world, here is my mocktail version to keep your sombrero from spinning.

Mexican Martini Mocktail Recipe:
1 ½ oz. Lime Juice
1 ½ oz. Simple Syrup
½ oz. Olive Juice

Rim a martini glass with chili/salt. I really like Tejin seasoning, because of the lime flavor and it is milder for kids’ palettes. Shake ingredients with ice and strain into rimmed martini glass and garnish with olives. For kids, I’d garnish with a lime wheel or wedge.

Mexican Martini Cocktail Recipe:
1 ½ oz. Lime Juice
1 ½ oz. Simple Syrup
3 oz. Tequila
½ oz. Olive Juice

Rim the martini glass with a chili-salt combo. Then shake all ingredients with ice and pour into the martini glass. Garnish with olives and enjoy!

2. French 75

The original French 75 dates back to 1915 in Paris during World War I, hence yielding the name French 75 after the French field gun used in the war. After the war the cocktail grew in popularity throughout the 1920’s. This glamorous little cocktail even appeared in films such as Casablanca and A Man Betrayed.

French 75 Mocktail Recipe:
1 oz Simple Syrup
1 oz. Lemon Juice
Top with Fre Sparkling Brut

Add Simple Syrup and Lemon Juice to shaker and shake with ice. Strain into Champagne flute, top with Fre Sparkling Brut, and garnish with a Lemon Twist.

French 75 Cocktail Recipe:
1 oz. Gin or Cognac
½ oz. Simple Syrup
½ oz. Lemon Juice
Top with Champagne

In a shaker add Simple Syrup and Lemon Juice and shake with ice. Strain into Champagne Flute and top with Champagne. Garnish with a Lemon Twist.

3. Sakura Martini

This mocktail are inspired by Japanese Cherry Blossom and the famous Spring Festival in O-Hanami. It is a symbol of what is pure, simple and beautiful, which I think encompasses the essences of female travelers. The cocktail inspiration comes from the Sakura Martini, which is perfect example of Japanese precision and dedication to bartending techniques.

Sakura Martini Mocktail Recipe:

1 oz. Cherry Blossom Syrup by Monin (light floral scent and pink in color)
½ oz. Lemon Juice (just enough in enhance flavor of syrup)
Top with sparkling water

In a Highball/Collin’s glass add Cherry Blossom Syrup, then Lemon Juice. Add ice and top with sparkling water. Garnish with a Cherry Blossom or Lemon Twist. This is light and refreshing beverage, perfect for spring.

Sakura Martini from Bar Goto:
2 ½ oz. Sake
1 oz Dry Gin
¼ oz. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and stir with ice. Strain slowly into coupe glass and garnish with a salted Cherry Blossom or olive.

4. Caipirinha

Pretty much the national drink of Brazil, the Caipirinha is a light and refreshing cocktail made with Brazilian Rhum aka. Cachaca. It also inspired this light and fruity summer mocktail.

Caipirinha Mocktail Recipe:
2 slices of Lime
2 slices of Lemon
2 slices of Orange
¼ oz. Simple Syrup
Ginger Beer (substitutes the spice of alcohol)

First muddle the fruits with the Simple Syrup and a splash of the Ginger Beer. Strain juice off into a lowball/bucket glass and add crushed ice and top with Ginger Beer. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Caipirinha Cocktail Recipe:
2 slices a Lime
2 Slices of Lemon
½ oz. Simple Syrup
2 oz. Cachaca

Muddle the Lime and Simple Syrup in lowball/bucket glass. Add crushed ice and pour over the Cachaca. Garnish with a lime wedge.

5. Moroccan Mint Tea

Arab, Berber, Roman, African, French and Spanish, all influences in Moroccan culture. There are so many fun flavors that inspire many exciting cocktails, despite that fact the Morocco is an Islamic state and many do not consume alcohol. So, Morocco yields some great options for non-alcohol beverages. The mocktail I’ll show you is actually pretty funny, because instead of being influenced by a cocktail, there are cocktails inspired by it!

Moroccan Mint Tea Recipe:
1 Tablespoon of Chinese Gunpowder Green Tea
2 Tablespoons of sugar
Large handful of Spearmint Leaves
5 cups of boiling water

Add loose tea to tea pot. Bring water to a boil in separate kettle or pot. Once boiling, pour one cup of water into teapot containing the loose tea and let steep for 30 seconds. Then pour the tea into a glass and set it aside. Add another cup of boiling water to teapot and swish it around for a few seconds. Pour that tea off into another glass and discard. Add mint, sugar, the first cup of tea you poured, and the rest of the boiling water into the teapot.

Place teapot on stove and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes. Lastly, pour a cup of tea and then pour it back into the teapot. Repeat this process and couple of times before serving. To serve pour high to create froth.

Moroccan Mint Tea Cocktail Recipe:
8 Spearmint Leaves
½ oz. Simple Syrup
2 oz. Gin
2 oz. Sweetened Green Iced Tea or Sweetened Black Iced Tea

Add mint leaves and simple syrup to shaker and muddle. Pour in Gin and Iced Tea to shaker and shake with ice. Strain into Highball/Collins glass and fill with fresh ice. Garnish with a mint spring.

6. Pina Colada

Everyone knows about a Pina Colada, but did you know that is it the official drink of Puerto Rico? Luckily, this drink tastes good with or without rum. This mocktail is sure to put you on island time!

Pina Colada Mocktail Recipe:
7 oz. Pineapple Juice
2oz. Coconut Cream
1 cup of ice

Add all ingredients to blender and blend high to make it smooth. Pour into highball/Collin’s glass (or a pineapple or coconut glass, real or not) and garnish with a cherry and pineapple wedge.

Pina Colada Cocktail Recipe:
1 oz. Dark Rum
1 ½ oz. White Rum
2 oz. Coconut Cream
2 ½ oz. Pineapple Juice
1 ½ cups of ice

Simple, just add all ingredients to blender and blend high until smooth. Pour into highball/Collin’s glass and garnish with a cherry and pineapple wedge.

7. Pimm’s Cup

The Pimm’s Cup cocktail, which inspires this mocktail, first made the scene in London during the 1820’s and is one of Wimdledon’s signature drinks.

Pimm’s Cup Mocktail Recipe:
1 slice of Lemon
1 slice of cucumber
2 oz. of soda water or spirit
2 oz. of Lemonade
5 oz. Ginger Ale

Super simple, just fill highball/Collin’s glass with ice and add all the ingredients. Stir and sip!

Pimm’s Cup Cocktail Recipe:
1 slice of Lemon
1 slice of cucumber
2 oz. of soda water or spirit
2 oz. of Lemonade
5 oz. of Pimm’s No.1

Fill highball glass with ice. Then add all the ingredients. Stir and sip!
Ginger Ale

8. Sangria

You may automatically think Spain when you hear Sangria, but is it also very popular in Mexico, Portugal and Argentina. However, only Spain and Portugal can use the term Sangria for labeling. This fruity fun wine cocktail can be easily transitioned into a fruity fun iced tea mocktail for those who prefer a non-alcoholic libation.

Sangria Mocktail Recipe:
5 oz. Black Iced Tea
1 slices of Orange
1 slice1 of Lemon
1 slice of red apple
1 slice of lime
2 oz. Orange Juice
1 oz. Honey Syrup
Soda water

First add all liquid ingredients to a shaker and shake with ice. Strain into a highball/Collin’s glass. Add fruit slices and fill with ice. Top with soda water.

Sangria Cocktail Recipe:
3 oz. of dry red Spanish wine (Rioja)
1 oz. Orange Curacao
1 oz. Brandy
½ oz. Simple Syruo
1 Slice Orange, Lemon, Lime, and Apple
Soda water

Add all liquid ingredients to shaker and shake with ice. Strain into highball/Collin’s glass and add fruit. Fill with ice and top with soda water.

9. Singapore Sling

Said to be created in Singapore in 1915, by Ngiam Tong Boon, it could have been around as early as 1890’s. This mocktail cools you down on those hot humid Singapore days.

Singapore Sling Mocktail Recipe:
½ oz. Grenadine
1 ½ oz. Pineapple Juice
1 ½ oz. Orange Juice
Top with Sparkling ICE Cherry Limade

Add all ingredients, except the Sparkling ICE, into a shaker and shake with ice. Strain into highball or Hurricane glass. Fill with fresh ice, top with Sparkling ICE and garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

Singapore Sling Cocktail Recipe:
¾ oz. Gin
¼ oz. Cherry Liqueur or cherry brandy
¼ oz. Cointreau or Orange Curacao
¼ oz. Benedictine
1 oz. Pineapple Juice
½ oz. Lime Juice
Dash of Angostura Bitters
Top with soda water

Add all ingredients, except soda water, to shaker and shake with ice. Strain into Highball or Hurricane glass, fill with ice, and top with soda water. Garnish with orange slice and cherry.

10. Bellini

Created in Venice, the Bellini was named after Italian artist Giovanni Bellini. Apparently, the color of the cocktail remind the creator and founder of Harry’s Bar, Giuseppe Cipriani, of the color of the togas in Bellini’s 15-century painting. The Bellini has been an Italian favorite since the 1930’s, an IBA Official Cocktail, and the inspiration for this dazzling mocktail!

Bellini Mocktail Recipe:
1 ½ oz. of Peach Puree (or peach syrup)
3 oz. Fre Sparkling Brut

In a Champagne Flute add the Peach Puree and top with Fre Sparkling Brut.

Bellini Cocktail Recipe:
1 ½ oz. Peach Puree (or peach syrup)
3 oz. Prosecco

In a Champagne Flute add the Peach Puree and top with Prosecco.

There you have it – I present to you the world in a glass. Hope you enjoy these delicious mocktail recipes from around world  and the cocktails that inspired them. Cheers to travel!

What are your favourite cocktails and mocktails? Do you have any mocktail recipes of your own? Let us know in the comments below!