Dry July is an excellent way to introduce an alcohol-free approach to your diet while contributing to a great cause that raises funds for people affected by cancer. Not only is this a great initiative to help those battling with cancer, but also an opportunity for you to benefit your own health by; improving sleep, having more energy and of course no hangovers!
To get you through to the end of Dry July, we’ve put together a five different mocktails (alcohol-free cocktails) for you to get creative with. Check them out below.
Cranberry Sangria
Who doesn’t love Sangria? Try this non-alocholic summer punch like mocktail that will put you in the mood for some salsa dancing.
Ingredients
1 cup of ice cubes
¼ of fresh pineapple, peeled and cut into thin wedges
1 passionfruit, pulped
½ orange, thinly sliced
500ml (2 cups) of low-sugar cranberry juice
500ml (2 cups) of low-sugar ginger beer
½ cup of fresh mint leaves
(optional) pomegranate arils to serve
Method
Place ice cubs in a serving jug, along with cranberry juice and ginger beer. Place pineapple, orange and passionfruit in mixture and stir. Pour into serving glasses and top with pomegranate arils and fresh mint leaves.
Hibiscus Fizz
Enjoy this quick fizzy treat over ice.
Ingredients
Hibiscus syrup
Lime juice
Mint
Soda
Australian Bitters
Method
Mix all ingredients together over ice and garnish with mint.
Watermelon ‘nojitos’
If you don’t have watermelon in Summer, are you even doing it right? Try out this mocktail recipe to harbour those watermelon cravings.
Ingredients
1.5kg watermelon, peeled, chopped
2 limes, sliced
2 cups chilled soda water
1/3 cup lime juice
1 small bunch fresh mint, sprigs picked
1 tablespoon stevia
2 teaspoons finely grated lime rind
1 tablespoon of sugar to serve
Ice-cubes, to serve
Method
Using a blender, blend watermelon until smooth.
Place lime slices in a serving jug. Add soda water, watermelon and lime juice and stevia to jug and stir to combine. Add mint.
Dip rim of glasses in water. Sprinkle serving sugar and lime ring on plate. Dip the wet glass rims in the sugar and lime mixture.
Pour the watermelon mixture into each glass. Serve with an extra sprig of mint on top.
Ginger punch
This one is super simple if you’re looking for a quick refreshment.
Ingredients
1 cup orange juice
1 cup apple juice
2 tablespoons ginger beer cordial
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
4 strawberries, hulled, roughly chopped
2 cups lemonade
Ice cubes, to serve
Method
Combine orange juice, apple juice and cordial in a large bowl. Top with chopped mint, strawberries, lemonade and ice. Stir to combine and serve.
Non-alcoholic and chilled mulled wine
If you’re craving this international favorite, try this chilled version for Summer instead.
Ingredients
500ml pomegranate juice
25g golden caster sugar
handful of frozen blackberries
250ml apple juice
1 cinnamon stick
1 star anise
4 cloves
3 black peppercorns
1 orange, quartered
Method
Put the pomegranate juice, sugar, blackberries and apple juice in a saucepan.
Add cinnamon, star anise, cloves, peppercorns and orange. Heat gently until simmering. Taste for sweetness, then strain into heatproof bowl or jug. Chill in the refrigerator. Serve with ice.