A refreshing margarita mocktail recipe served on the rocks! This drink is made with fresh lime juice and lemon juice, giving it a delicious and refreshing flavor. It also has a touch of sparkling water, which provides it with some light carbonation. And the best part? The salted rim makes it taste just like a margarita without the alcohol!
If you love spirit-free cocktails, you’ll want to learn how to make the best mocktail or try my creamy lemon mocktail and aperol spritz mocktail!
Margarita Mocktail Recipe
You will truly enjoy how delicious, light, and easy this is to make. It also has the perfect balance of citrus and sweetness. I created this recipe to be a lemon-lime spitz, but as soon as we tasted it with the salted rim, we all screamed, it tasted like a margarita! So, the margarita mocktail it became! It’s a fun drink that I know you’ll love!
Mocktails are a great option for any who are avoiding alcohol for any reason or even designated drivers. They can be lighter and more refreshing than cocktails, making them an excellent choice for sipping any time of the year.
So if you’re looking for a refreshing non-alcoholic option for a drink, this recipe is perfect!
Why You’ll Love This Margarita Mocktail
Fancy and Spirit-Free: You don’t have to indulge in alcohol to have a pretty grown-up drink! Skip the soda and juices and pour this mocktail in a low ball glass for a fancy drink without the buzz.
Customizable: Add other fruits to change up the flavor, or try a sugar or Tajin rim for a twist – make it your own!
Simple ingredients: With just 4 ingredients, this margarita mocktail could not be more simple!
Margarita Mocktail Ingredients
Lemon Juice – Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor. Meyer lemons will give it a hint of sweetness.
Lime Juice – Use freshly squeezed lime juice for the freshest flavor.
Simple Syrup – A liquid sweetener that is made by simmering equal parts sugar and water. Make your own, or buy it at the grocery store.
Carbonated Water – We add a little club soda or topo chico to give it some bubbles and to dilute the juice.
Coarse Salt – A salted rim is a must for getting that margarita flavor! Use coarse salt or pink salt.
How to Make a Margarita Mocktail
This is an easy drink to make. Here’s everything you’ll need to make this mocktail. The full recipe is in the recipe card below.
Prep Glass: Salt the rim of the glass.
Fill Shaker: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Add Juices & Syrup: Pour in the lemon juice, lime juice, and simple syrup and shake for 20 seconds.
Strain: Strain into the rimmed glass filled with ice.
Add Soda: Top with soda water.
Garnish: Garnish with a lime wheel.
Recipe Variations
When making a margarita mocktail, there are a few recipe tips and variations to consider that can enhance the flavor and presentation of the drink. Here are some ideas to try:
Fruity Options: Add fresh fruit purees to create different flavors. Try strawberry or raspberry puree, watermelon juice, or mango nectar with a dash of tajin on the rim for a tropical version.
Herb & Spice: Experiment with herbs and spices to make your mocktail a bit more complex. Muddle thin jalapeño slices for a spicy kick, cucumber slices for a cooling effect, or fresh basil leaves for an herbal twist before shaking your ingredients.
Sweet & Tropical: Create vacation-worthy variations with coconut water instead of club soda plus a splash of coconut cream, blue curaçao syrup for color and a hint of orange flavor, or substitute pineapple juice for half the citrus.
Frozen Version: Blend all ingredients with a cup of ice for a slushy texture perfect for hot days.
Mocktail Pitcher: Multiply the recipe by 8 and serve in a pitcher for parties, adding club soda individually to each glass to maintain the fizz.
Rim Variations: Try a chili-lime salt like Tajin rim for a Mexican-inspired flavor, or a sugar rim for a sweeter experience.
Eden’s Tips
For the best flavor, fresh juices are a must! Using fresh citrus will add much more flavor and freshness to the drink.
Fresh Juices: For the best flavor, fresh juices are a must! Using fresh citrus will add much more flavor and freshness to the drink.
Flavored Simple Syrup: Make a different flavor of simple syrup for a fun twist. Try infusing with herbs, spices, or fruits.
Citrus Substitutions: Use orange juice instead of lemon juice to give it more of an orange flavor.
Flavored Seltzer: Use a flavored seltzer like lemon or lime instead of plain club soda.
Alternative Sweeteners: Instead of simple syrup, sweeten this drink with agave nectar for a different flavor profile.
Non-Alcoholic Spirits: If you want the aromas and flavor in tequila, add in 1 ounce of Ritual Tequila Alternative.
How to Make A Classic Salt Rim
A salted rim is a must for this margarita mocktail! It’s what gives it that delicious margarita flavor.
To make a salted rim, simply run a lime wedge around the edge of your glass. Then dip the rim of your glass into a plate of coarse salt or pink salt.
And that’s it! Now you have the perfect margarita mocktail to enjoy!
Margarita Salt
Margarita salt is a type of coarse salt that is used to rim Margarita glasses. It’s usually clear or white in color but you can also find it infused with other ingredients like chili-lime salt. The salt adds flavor and texture to the drink.
You can find it at grocery stores or specialty liquor stores. I also love to buy it at Williams Sonoma as they have great flavors and it comes in a flat round tin that’s perfect for dipping your glass!
Mocktail Garnishes
Adding a garnish to your mocktail is optional, but it does make it look pretty! Here are some ideas:
Dehydrated Lime Wheel – I make these for my cocktails. It’s the same process that I do when dehydrating oranges.
Lime Wedge – A fresh lime wedge or wheel looks beautiful in a cocktail.
Fresh Mint Leaves – If you have fresh herbs use them, I love the way mint smells with every sip.
When to Serve a Margarita Mocktail
This mocktail is perfect for any time of day! Serve it as a refreshing drink on a hot summer day, or enjoy it as a light cocktail alternative.
It’s also a great non-alcoholic option for Margarita Monday! Here are some fun occasions to serve this lime drink:
- Summer Gatherings
- Happy Hour
- Holiday Gatherings
More Virgin Cocktails You’ll Love
Here are more non-alcoholic cocktail recipes that you can try:
Let us know what you think!
Whether you’re calling it a margarita mocktail or a lemon-lime spritz, I know you’re going to enjoy this super refreshing drink! Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below!
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Margarita Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 3 ounces club soda
- salted rim
Instructions
- Salt the rim of the glass.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Pour in the lemon juice, lime juice, and simple syrup and shake for 20 seconds.
- Strain into the rimmed glass filled with ice.
- Top with soda water.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
This is so refreshing! This mocktail is highly recommended for any occasion.
Mocktails are so fun!! This one is so refreshing & tasty!!
This was so tasty and I didn’t even miss the alcohol!