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As things warm up this summer, you’re going to find yourself whipping up refreshing drinks to help you beat the heat. It can be tough to keep things fresh and try out new recipes. This is especially true if you’re living a sober lifestyle or want to make drinks the whole family can enjoy. But, it just got a whole lot easier - because you’ve found our guide to the best non-alcoholic summer drink recipes!
In this in-depth guide, you’ll find your new favorite alcohol-free summer drink recipes. These are refreshing, flavor-packed drinks the whole family can enjoy - regardless of age, regardless of lifestyle. Whether you’re feeling tropical and want to craft a virgin pina colada or you are craving something a bit more out-of-the-box like a blueberry ginger cooler, we’ve got recipes you’re going to want to make again, and again, and again. We’ll even explain what you need to make each of these amazing drinks. Let’s get started!
Why Go With Alcohol-Free Summer Drinks This Season?
Wondering why we decided to compile our list of the best summer alcohol-free drinks? Well, there are actually a few reasons.
First and foremost, there are a ton of reasons to try non-alcoholic beverages in the first place. A few of the most noteworthy include staving off hangovers, keeping your wits about you, never worrying about how you’re going to drive home from that pool party, to improved mental health. We even wrote a complete guide on the 10 health benefits of non-alcoholic wine you have to see yourself to believe.
But, besides all the benefits of living a sober lifestyle (or simply cutting back on the liquor a bit), we love these refreshing non-alcoholic summer drinks because the whole family can enjoy them together! The kids are out of school for summer, and they want to be just like you. By sticking with these non-alcoholic summer drink recipes we share below, everyone can relax by the pool, on the beach, or inside with the A/C enjoying the same refreshments. Keep things simple for yourself rather than whipping up different batches to satisfy all the different ages and preferences!
So, What Are The Best Non-Alcoholic Summer Drinks This Year?
Now, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. What are the most refreshing non-alcoholic summer drinks this year? We’re excited to share our top picks with you. We wish we could see the look on your face for those first sips! Nevertheless, we’re going to kick things off with a tropical classic on those hot summer days: the virgin pina colada.
Virgin Pina Colada
Why We Love it: Not everyone is fortunate enough to live in a tropical paradise year-round. But when the sun starts shining, you can transport yourself to a tropical oasis with a virgin pina colada! This classic cocktail is just as great with a rum replacement and will have you soaking up the sun as if you were in Hawaii or the Bahamas - right from your backyard. And, it’s simple! Here are the ingredients you’ll need to whip up this alcohol free summer drink recipe:
What You Need To Make It:
- Alcohol free rum
- Pineapple juice
- Coconut milk
- Lime juice
- Ice
- Cherry (as a garnish)
Non-Alcoholic Blueberry Ginger Cooler
Why We Love it: Another great choice for those seeking a delicious, refreshing non alcoholic summer drinks is a zero-proof blueberry ginger cooler. The weather is getting hot, and as the name suggests, this Blueberry Ginger Cooler is sure to help you beat the heat! It tastes great and you can even freeze the blueberries to use as ice. This is great for adding flavor & flair, and preventing dilution as the summer heat melts your ice! Better yet, this drink doesn’t require any alcohol or alcohol replacement - it’s non alcoholic by nature.
What You Need To Make It:
- Water
- Fresh blueberries
- Grated ginger
- Sugar
Raspberry Lemonade Virgin Mojito
Why We Love it: Nothing says summertime like mojitos by the pool - and if you want to let the whole family in on the fun, keep it virgin with this Raspberry Lemonade Virgin Mojito! One of our favorite alcohol free summer drink recipes, this version requires just a few simple ingredients. And the end result doesn’t just taste amazing - it looks like something you ordered at a beach resort or poolside bar. Let yourself drift into a tropical oasis with this simple alcohol-free cocktail!
What You Need To Make It:
- Mint leaves
- Simple syrup
- Freshly squeezed lime juice
- Sparkling raspberry lemonade (we prefer Dasani, but any will work)
- Raspberries
- Lime Wedge
- Alcohol-free rum (if you want that authentic mojito taste without the liquor!)
Alcohol-Free Honey Blackberry Mint Cocktail
Why We Love it: Those of us with a sweet tooth love adding some sweetness to our drinks - and honey serves as the star of the show in this incredible blackberry mint cocktail! And because it’s virgin, it’s far healthier than the traditional cocktail while tasting just as amazing - if not better. The best part? No need to worry about refined sugar. This guilt-free, alcohol free summer drink will quickly become one of your go-to’s once you see how simple it is to make and how great it tastes. Here’s the ingredients list:
What You Need To Make It:
- Honey
- Fresh blackberries
- Fresh mint leaves
- Fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- Water
- Seltzer
Virgin Mimosas
Why We Love it: Picture this - you wake up on a hot summer morning with no plans on your schedule. What better way to kick things off for the day than with some virgin mimosas out on the patio with the whole family? Even if you have items on your agenda that afternoon, these are a great alternative to traditional mimosas because you won’t have to worry about being slowed down by booze - or worse, not making it to your commitments. This alcohol free, kid-friendly mimosa is going to become your most requested drink order from the little ones this summer. Here are the ingredients you need for this summer alcohol free drink:
What You Need To Make It:
- Orange juice
- Lemonade
- Sprite (or sparkling water)
- Tangerines (garnish)
- Sugar (garnish)
Mango Meyer Lemon Alcohol-Free Margarita
Why We Love it: Perhaps the most classic choice for hot summer days spent outside under an umbrella - or out in the sun working on your tan - is a margarita. Everyone has their personal favorite flavor - raspberry, lime, mango, you name it. Our personal favorite? Lemon! Sounds a bit weird, we know…but hear us out. This Mango Meyer Lemon Alcohol Free Margarita recipe is to die for. It is packed with sweet, tangy, fruity flavors. Want to create that authentic margarita taste and feel? Add some salt or sugar to the rims of your glasses and enjoy!
What You Need To Make It:
- Non alcoholic tequila
- Fresh mango puree
- Simple syrup
- Fresh-squeezed Meyer lemon juice
- Bubbly water
- Ice
- Meyer lemon wedge
- Sugar (for glasses)
Non-Alcoholic Tropical Fizz
Why We Love it: There’s no doubt about it - one of the best summer alcohol free drinks on this list is the non-alcoholic tropical fizz. Why? Not only is it the perfect thirst quencher no matter how you serve it up, but you also get to add your own personal touch to it. This refreshing non alcoholic summer drink recipe calls for tropical fruit juice, and the specific fruit juice you choose is entirely up to you. Just be sure to make this drink in batches - as you and the rest of the family will definitely want seconds!
What You Need To Make It:
- Strawberries
- Kiwi
- Pineapple rings
- Sparkling apple juice
- Tropical fruit juice (dealers choice)
- Soda water
Alcohol-Free Passion Fruit Martini
Why We Love it: Got friends and family over on a warm summer night? You can keep things alcohol-free while adding a bit of formality to the occasion with this remarkable Alcohol-Free Passion Fruit Martini recipe. It’s fizzy and fruity - two of the requirements we have when it comes to picking the perfect refreshing non alcoholic summer drink recipe! And when you add an alcohol free spirit to the equation, you still get that spicy, complex, and notoriously tasty authentic martini flavor. Here are the essential ingredients you need to gather up:
What You Need To Make It:
- Non-alcoholic gin
- Passionfruit
- Lemon
- Egg white
- Simple sugar
- Ice
- Sparkling grape juice
Non-Alcoholic Summer Spritz
Why We Love it: One thing is missing so far from our compilation of the best summer alcohol free drinks list - sour. Most of the alcohol cocktails we’ve listed thus far as sweet and refreshing - but we all want something that makes our faces pucker up a bit every once in a while. And when that craving comes for you, try out our non alcoholic summer spritz recipe! This delicious, easy-to-make cocktail requires just five simple ingredients. And the flavor is off the charts - you’ll love the fruity, tart complexion it boasts!
What You Need To Make It:
- Passion fruit pulp
- Lime juice
- Sugar syrup
- Ice
- Sparkling water
Alcohol-Free Punch
Why We Love it: We’ve shared quite a few awesome, refreshing non alcoholic summer drinks you have to try. And we’re going to bring this list to a close - wrapping up with a classic: alcohol-free punch. This is a beverage the kiddos in particular will love - but let’s face it, we all have a weak spot for the punch bowl on a hot day! It’s just so refreshing. In terms of the type of punch you go with, the choice is yours. We personally love fruit punch - so that’s what we’ll recommend you try, too, in this summer alcohol free drink:
What You Need To Make It:
- Strawberries
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Mint leaves
- Ice
- Pineapple juice
- Orange juice
- Lemon juice (or lemonade for less tartness)
Tips For Crafting The Best Summer Alcohol-Free Drinks To Perfection
We’ve shared our 10 favorite alcohol free summer drink recipes - and now, it’s time to put your bartending skills to the test.
But before we wrap things up, we want to provide you with a few tips to ensure you end up with delicious drinks you’re proud to share with friends and family.
- Use quality ingredients: when creating any type of drink or food, the quality of your ingredients directly influence the final product. If you use cheap, frozen fruit, off-brand juices, and other cheap additives, you can’t expect a bold, flavorful drink. Quality in, quality out! And since Boisson is the best non-alcoholic liquor store online, you can head over to the site and stock up on the essentials.
- Give yourself time to perfect the recipe: Once you’ve determined which recipe you want to try first, make sure you find a quality guide to crafting the drink. And, follow the recipe closely for the best results. Remember to give yourself time to perfect the recipe. Your first go-around may leave a bit to be desired - but each additional batch you make will be better than the last. You can eventually start tweaking the recipe with new ratios of ingredients or ingredient substitutions. This is the fun part of crafting these drinks - making them your very own.
- Set your expectations: Don’t expect these recipes to taste indistinguishable from their traditionally-boozy counterpart. While you can still whip up some delicious sumer alcohol free drinks, you need to remember that they won’t have that “warmth” or “bite” that traditional cocktails with an ABV rating do. Nevertheless, you’ll find that the alcohol-free spirits we’ve recommended throughout this guide still get you that taste you’ve come to know and love.
Final Thoughts On The Best Non Alcoholic Summer Drinks This Year
We’ve shared our list of the most refreshing non alcoholic summer drink recipes with you - and provided a few tips to help you craft them to perfection. This summer, you’ll be ready to entertain the kids and any guests with these delicious virgin recipes - we hope you enjoy them as much as we do. Let us know in the comments which are your favorite after trying them all - we’re interested to see if our tastes align. Want to explore other recipes, including our compilation of the best Kentucky 74 Recipes? Explore our blog to keep things fresh in your home!
