Dry January Mocktails: No-Alcohol Drink Recipes for 2026

Dry January only requires you to be sober, not somber. You don’t have to miserably sip nothing but water just because you want to emerge victorious once January ends. Alcohol withdrawal can be tough, so give yourself something that holds back the cravings and still satisfies your taste buds.

Why settle for only plain, flavorless water when there are a lot of other beverages with no drop of alcohol in them? As you participate in this month-long campaign, we’ll give you mocktail and non-alcoholic cocktail options to make the start of your New Year refreshing, even without the booze.

Can You Drink Non-alcoholic Drinks in Dry January?

Yes, of course! Non-alcoholic drinks are allowed for Dry January. Only alcoholic beverages aren’t permitted.

According to Alcohol Change UK, the charity that came up with Dry January, you can still consume drinks under 0.5% ABV. As long as your beverage doesn’t go over that ABV threshold, you can take a sip of it, and you won’t break the “no alcohol for a month” rule.

This lets you experiment with various beverages and flavors until you find a few that can get you through January. The zero-proof alternatives you like can fill your glass for a whole month instead of liquor, dissolving your thirst for alcohol and letting you savor the ritual of drinking while giving your body a break from booze.

Best Mocktails for Dry January: Classic and Creative Ideas

If you want drinks similar to your favorite cocktails, then mocktails can keep you hydrated during Dry January. With fresh fruits, herbs, and playful flavor twists minus the alcohol, we’ve listed Dry January mocktail recipes that can turn non-alcoholic sips into sensory delights:

Virgin Nojito

This classic no-alcohol version of a mojito captures the herbaceous taste of the original even without spirits.

Pour some lime juice and simple syrup into a glass, and then muddle fresh mint in the mix. Top it with club soda and crushed ice for a cold, crisp refreshment. You can even add a mint sprig garnish to elevate the drink’s aroma and presentation. 

Coconut Dryquiri

If you’re a beginner to mocktails, this simple, zero-proof daiquiri will suit your palate.

Shake coconut water, lime juice, and simple syrup with ice until the mixture is chilled. Double-strain the blend into a glass for a smooth, creamy texture. The resulting beverage has a light, tropical sweetness that keeps calories low and the vibes high.

Cranberry Rosemary Mocktail

Love a sip of gin? This quick-to-make mocktail has a similar flavor.

All you have to do is combine tart cranberry juice with rosemary-infused syrup, lime, and club soda. You get an antioxidant-rich, festive drink with herbal notes that are sophisticated enough to serve at parties.

Bee’s Knees Zero-Alcohol Spritz

Another alternative to a classic gin is this no-liquor spritz that’s both tangy and sweet.

In a glass, mix lemon juice, honey syrup, and club soda. The natural sweetness of the honey balances the acidity of the lemon juice to create a bright, bubbly spritz rendition. To enhance the aroma, top the glass with a lemon twist, and your Bee’s Knees is ready for serving.

Grapefruit Sumac Mocktail

For those who want their drinks rich in vitamin C, this mocktail is a great choice.

Just blend grapefruit juice with simple syrup, club soda, and a pinch of sumac. Sumac brings a lemony zing that gives the beverage a tangy, spiced profile.  Shake the mixture with ice, and you can sip on a revitalizing drink without any alcohol.

Dry January Cocktails You Can Actually Make at Home

You don’t have to visit the bar just to grab liquor-infused cocktails because you can whip up healthier, non-alcoholic variants in the comfort of your own kitchen. With simple ingredients and easy steps, you can create these Dry January cocktails that rival those classic party drinks you’re craving for:

Mule Mocktail

This is a zesty, spicy refresher that has the ginger kick of a Moscow Mule but with no vodka added to the mix.

Ingredients: ½–1 oz lime juice, 6+ oz ginger beer, ice, lime slice for garnish

Steps:

1. Fill a copper mug or Collins glass with ice.
2. Pour in fresh lime juice.
3. Top with ginger beer and stir gently.
4. Garnish with a lime slice.

For a No-Alcohol Buzz: Substitute lime juice with Wunder Lemon Lime.

SoCal Soda

Evoke a mojito without the rum when you prepare this tropical, fizzy beverage.

Ingredients: 3 mint leaves, ¾ oz passionfruit syrup, ¼ oz lime juice, 4 oz soda water, ice, mint sprig, lime wheel

Steps:

1. Muddle mint leaves in a Collins glass.
2. Add passionfruit syrup and lime juice.
3. Stir in soda water and fill the glass with ice.
4. Garnish with a mint sprig and a lime wheel.

For a No-Alcohol Buzz: Substitute lime juice with Wunder Lemon Lime.

Cuke & Tonic

This crisp, herbaceous blend is refreshingly sophisticated like a gin tonic.

Ingredients: 5 cucumber slices, ½ oz elderflower syrup, ½ oz lemon juice, 4 oz tonic water, ice, basil leaves

Steps:

1. Muddle 3 cucumber slices in a shaker.
2. Add elderflower syrup and lemon juice.
3. Lightly shake and double-strain into a Collins glass.
4. Top with tonic water and ice.
5. Garnish with basil leaves and remaining cucumber slices.

For a No-Alcohol Buzz: Substitute lime juice with Wunder Lemon Lime.

Cranberry Fizz

Bring vibrance to your gatherings with this festive, effervescent drink.

Ingredients: 2 oz cranberry juice, 2 oz orange juice, 1 oz grapefruit juice, 3 oz ginger ale, ice, frozen cranberries, rosemary sprigs

Steps:

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Pour in all the fruit juices and ginger ale.
3. Stir gently to combine.
4. Add frozen cranberries and rosemary sprigs for garnish.

For a No-Alcohol Buzz: Substitute grapefruit juice with Wunder Grapefruit Hibiscus.

Strawberry-Basil Mocktail

Sweet, tart, and herbal, this mocktail is suitable for elegant at-home sipping.

Ingredients: 6 fresh strawberries, 4-5 basil leaves, ¾ oz lime juice, ½ oz simple syrup, 3 oz club soda, ice, basil sprig

Steps:

1. Blend 4-5 strawberries with basil leaves, lime juice, and simple syrup.
2. Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice.
3. Top with club soda.
4. Garnish with a basil sprig and remaining strawberries.

For a No-Alcohol Buzz: Add Wunder Watermelon Basil.

Making Dry January Social: Sharing Mocktails with Friends

Solo sipping can only take you so far. To reinforce your Dry January commitment, involve your buddies for support and accountability. Even better, share mocktails with them to turn your month of no alcohol into a vibrant, social experience.

Batch-prepare pitchers ahead

When you host an event or a get-together, craft large batches of mocktails in pitchers and chill them before your guests arrive. Label each pitcher with the name of the mocktail it contains and a brief description of the blend. This creates awareness, sparks curiosity, and encourages tasting.

When you have your pitchers lined and ready, everyone can simply grab their own glass and come back for refills, keeping the mocktails flowing. This method reduces hosting stress because your friends can drink whichever available beverage they want whenever they want to, without your assistance.

Set up a DIY mocktail station

If you don’t have the energy to mix huge batches of different mocktails, let your buddies create their mocktails themselves. Set up a self-serve bar with club soda, tonic, juices, and an array of fruits, herbs, and syrups. You can include recipe cards to guide them or prop up a recipe book they can flip through.

This interactive station brings out creativity, encourages mingling, and lets guests personalize their drinks. You keep everyone engaged while saving yourself the time and effort of making mocktails.

Communicate openly with hosts

If you’re not the one hosting the gathering and you’re planning on bringing mocktails to the party, let your host know in advance that you’ll offer drinks to share with everybody. Be clear about what kinds of beverages they are, so your host knows what to expect. Frame your contribution as a gesture of goodwill and as a way to keep the vibe inclusive and relaxed.

If you get the go signal, inform your friends what’s in each bottle before you pour and pass the glasses around. If the host says no, respect their decision and find another time to share your mocktails. 

Garnish and present elegantly

Presentation matters when it comes to convincing your friends to take a sip. After all, some people immediately decline when they’re told that the drinks don’t have any booze in them. A stunning array of mocktails may just change their minds.

To mimic actual cocktails, serve your mocktails in stylish glassware. Add garnishes like edible flowers, fruit slices, or herb leaves for bursts of color and aroma. If you have sour or bitter drinks, rim the glasses with salt, not only to balance the flavor but also to create visual appeal. You can even pair your beverages with snacks for a full sensory experience.

Follow up on preferences

Before you prepare anything, you may want to ask guests first about their favorite drink ingredients and flavor profiles, so you can incorporate them in your mocktails. If they’re not undecided or unfamiliar with mixed beverages, share some recipes via group chats to see what they like or are interested in trying.

When you gather your friends’ opinions, they’ll likely enjoy the drinks you’ll serve rather than simply taking a sip or two just to make you happy. This makes the drinking experience fun for all those involved.

What Gives You a Buzz But No Alcohol?

There are plenty of non-alcoholic beverages you can add to your mocktails for Dry January, but only a few of them can give you the same buzz that alcohol offers. This is the reason why many Dry January challengers fail despite having tried many alternatives within their reach. They need to feel that distinct rush.

If you’re seeking the same euphoric effect without the drawbacks of booze, cannabis-infused drinks are your go-to. These THC beverages give you a heady feeling reminiscent of drinking alcohol. However, you won’t feel a crash, get drunk, or succumb to mental blackouts. You only experience a steady, clear-headed lift that’s both relaxing and focused. 
Skip the hangovers and the metabolic toll of alcohol today by mixing THC drinks in your mocktails. If you’re uncertain how to integrate them in your blends, you can read the book Cannabis Drinks: Secrets to Crafting CBD and THC Beverages at Home by The Herb Somm founder, Jamie Evans. It’s a trove of tasty CBD and THC drink recipes you can make for yourself this Dry January.