I love a good spring cocktail - but sometimes the situation calls for a mocktail. I can’t stand a mocktail that is all juice based, too sugary or is just clearly designed for kids. A mocktail should be made for grown-ups too - everyone deserves something to sip on regardless of if they want the booze.

This one is SO SPRINGY and it made me desperate for my roses to bloom. They are waiting for some sun, and I have a feeling this weekend’s heat will do the trick. I cannot wait.

The trick with rose water is to be careful - it’s a lot like any other flavoring and going easy is your best bet. The tiniest amount of rose water makes a huge flavor impact. I like to start with 1/4 teaspoon per cocktail and you can increase after that if you’d like to - I don’t think more is needed, things get a little too much with more!

Grapefruit Rose Seltzer

makes two

4 ounces fresh squeezed grapefruit juice

1/2 teaspoon rose water

seltzer

fresh grapefruit to garnish

Squeeze the grapefruit into a glass and stir in rose water. Add ice and top with seltzer water. Serve with a grapefruit garnish.

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I cannot believe I didn’t think of this before. It’s so simple. And so delicious! It tastes just like a boat drink, but without the booze. My kids love this one - and depending on your kids - you can you spicy ginger beer or the version that’s a little more sugary. I choose the spicy one because we like the zip of it all!

This would make an amazing pitcher cocktail too! Fill all of the ingredients in a pitcher, pop it on the counter (do not add ice) and let guests pour their own. I highly recommend this for Easter.

Pineapple Ginger Mocktail

serves 4

4 ounces pineapple juice

8 ounces ginger beer

lime wedge garnish

fresh ginger root

Divide the juice and ginger beer across four glasses filled with ice. Top with a garnish of fresh ginger and a squeeze of lime!

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A few nights a week we decide we aren’t drinking. Not for any big reason, just because we don’t need to/want to/feel like it. But sometimes, it’s nice to have something a little more special than bubbly water. This is that.

I’ve also found it’s kind of nice to go through the process of “mixing a drink,” with the muddling, and the shaking and the straining, this is that.

The flavors are perfect for right now, it’s light and refreshing. The coconut water adds a depth that is so delish. If you don’t have it, you can always muddle the cucumber and mint and just top it with bubbly water - it’s also good, but not AS good.

Coconut Cucumber Mocktail

makes two

12 slices of cucumber

3 sprigs of mint

1 lime

2 cups coconut water

mint, cucumber slices and lime wedges for garnish

STEP 1

Drop the cucumbers and mint into a cocktail shaker. With a muddler or the handle end of a table knife, muddle together the cucumber and mint until it’s completely smashed.

STEP 2

Pour in the coconut water and squeeze half a lime - add ice. Shake well.

STEP 3

Strain into glasses filled with fresh ice. Garnish with cucumbers, limes and a spring of mint.

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It’s Fourth of July weekend! My favorite weekend of the year. Clearly it calls for a special beverage. I made this one booze free because it’s the perfect drink for a shot of vodka, if you so choose, but also then my kids will stop bugging me that I make all these fancy drinks that they can’t drink. Annoying.

Watermelon Lemonade

4 cups watermelon, cubed

2 cups lemonade

The zest of one lemon

Put everything in a blender together and blend until smooth! Serve over ice. Vodka or rum is optional.

Usually I would post a boozy punch, but there have been loads of reasons why we need a punch with no booze recently. Mostly because I have children who feel the need to participate in every party. It would be so much easier if they didn’t think I was cool. We’ll get there soon - my 10 year old is already starting to be embarrassed by me.

If you aren’t looking for a booze free situation, then add 1 cup of whiskey and 1 teaspoon of bitters. Cheers!

GINGER CHRISTMAS PUNCH

4 cups orange juice

1 cup pomegranate juice

1 bottle DRY Sparkling Ginger

Mix everything together in a punch bowl or a pitcher and serve iced.

Whenever we host a fun dinner night we make sure there is a fun 'mock-tail' for the children.  {full disclosure :: my children get a glass of tonic or a chocolate milk-tail almost nightly}  

For St. Patrick's Day I kicked things up a notch with lemon sorbet and fizzy soda.  If your child is like Pearl and is not a fan of bubbles in their drink, then regular juice works too.  

A cookie cutter shamrock apple looked adorable but also subbed as an impromptu appetizer.  

Buy the Shamrock Cookie Cutter on Etsy

{here's a hot tip  ::  a shot of Citron Vodka is AWESOME in this for a grown up version}