Six Desert-Inspired Mocktail Recipes
Embark on a sensory journey through the Southwest with our curated collection of desert-inspired mocktails. Each drink is a tribute to the desert’s unique wonders and charms—from the vibrant hues of its sunsets, to the local flora (such as sage, juniper, and prickly pear) that dot its landscape. Sip and savor these mocktail recipes and add a revitalizing desert twist to alcohol-free cocktails.
1. Good Eye Mocktail
Drawing inspiration from the land in and around Moab, the Good Eye is a homage to the desert's clear skies and vibrant colors. Packed with carrot juice, known for benefiting eye health, and lemon juice for a vitamin C boost, this mocktail delights the senses and nourishes the body. Find this hand-crafted libation on the menu at ULUM Moab .
Ingredients:
- 1 oz juniper simple syrup (see below for recipe)
- 3 oz carrot juice
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 6 dashes of fee foam, 1 tsp aquafaba, or 1 egg white
- 2 dashes of celery bitters
- Ice
Instructions:
- Shake all ingredients with ice for 30 seconds.
- Strain into a wine or coupe cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Juniper Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar, honey, or agave
- 2 tbsp juniper berries, roughly ground or substitute ½ tsp juniper extract
Instructions:
- With a spice grinder, mortar, and pestle, or using the flat side of a broad knife, roughly grind juniper berries.
- In a saucepan, bring water up to boil.
- Remove from heat and combine with sweetener and juniper.
- Allow it to cool to room temperature and place it covered in the refrigerator for 12 hours.
- Strain out all of the particles.
- Keep it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or frozen for six months. Try it in your morning coffee!
2. Desert Sunset Mocktail
Imagine a desert sunset, with its spectacular orange and red hues, captured in a glass. This mocktail combines the refreshing qualities of watermelon and the immune-boosting power of orange juice, reminiscent of the sun dipping below the horizon in a burst of color and vitality. Add a splash of coconut water to this drink for a burst of electrolytes.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup Sprite or sweetened club soda
- ¼ cup fresh watermelon juice
- Orange wheel & mint leaves for garnishing
- Ice
Instructions:
- Muddle mint in lemon juice in a glass.
- Add lemon slices.
- Pour in orange juice, and add ice cubes.
- Top with sprite.
- Carefully spoon watermelon juice over the top to maintain separate colors.
- Garnish with orange wheel and mint leaves.
3. Prickly Pear Margarita Mocktail
Embrace the spirit of the Southwest with our Prickly Pear Margarita Mocktail, a tribute to the prickly pear cactus, renowned for its vivid pink blooms. This mocktail, infused with the essence of the prickly pear, is not just a visual delight but also a treasure trove of antioxidants and nutrients. Savor this healthful and refreshing concoction, perfect for basking in the warmth of sunny days.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup limeade
- ¼ cup simple syrup
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp prickly pear syrup
- Club soda
- Lime wedges
- Sugar and salt for the rim
- Ice
Instructions:
- Rim glasses with lime, sugar, and salt.
- Mix limeade, simple syrup, lime juice, and prickly pear syrup.
- Fill glasses with ice.
- Pour mixture into glasses and top with club soda.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
4. Starry Night Mocktail
Sip on this cosmic elixir inspired by the beauty of dark desert skies shimmering with stars. Not only is this mocktail an homage to the night sky’s splendor, with its blue hue from spirulina, but it’s also rich in antioxidant properties and immune-boosting effects. Sparkling mineral water adds a gentle fizz reminiscent of the twinkling stars, providing hydration and essential minerals. Together, these elements create a drink that’s as good for the body as it is enchanting for the senses, capturing the awe of gazing into the night sky.
Ingredients:
- ½ tsp blue spirulina powder
- 1 ½ tsp lemon-lavender simple syrup (see below for recipe)
- Sparkling mineral water
- 2 fresh mint leaves
- Lemon
- 1 tsp water
- Ice
Instructions:
- Mix the blue spirulina powder with water and set aside.
- Add four ice cubes to a glass.
- Pour the lemon-lavender simple syrup over the ice, followed by the blue spirulina mixture.
- Top with sparkling water.
- Garnish with mint leaves and a fresh lemon wheel.
Lemon-Lavender Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
- 3 lemons, juiced
- ½ cup of Demerara (raw cane) sugar
- 1 ½ tsp dried lavender flowers
Instructions:
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the lemon juice, Demerara sugar, and lavender flowers.
- Stir until sugar dissolves (about 5 minutes)
- Once the mixture is boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let sit for 20 minutes.
- Store your syrup in an airtight container for up to a month.
5. Mojito Mocktail
Sip on a cooling oasis with flavors of zesty lime and fresh mint, bringing a burst of refreshment while providing vitamins for overall health and well-being. Fresh mint, basil, and lime add flavor and phytonutrients, while green tea offers gut-friendly polyphenols. Adding a dash of coconut water makes this drink slightly sweeter and provides replenishing electrolytes on a hot day.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup lime juice
- ½ cup green iced tea (optional)
- ⅓ cup coconut water (optional)
- 10 fresh mint leaves
- 3 fresh basil leaves
- ¼ cup simple syrup
- 2 cups sparkling water
- Lime wedge
- Ice
Instructions:
- Muddle the mint, basil, lime, simple syrup, and shake.
- Add the iced tea, coconut water, half of the ice, and shake or stir to combine.
- Pour into glasses, add ice.
- Top with sparkling water.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
6. Desert Nectar Refresher
This mocktail captures the essence of the Southwest's desert gardens, blending sweet blackberries and aromatic sage with a touch of honey. It's not just a treat for the taste buds; blackberries offer antioxidant benefits, while sage is known for its memory-enhancing and anti-inflammatory properties. Enjoy this delightful and healthful concoction that brings the flavors of the desert to your glass.
Ingredients:
- Fresh blackberries
- Honey simple syrup (see below for recipe)
- 2 sage leaves
- Lime juice
- 1 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- 2 oz ginger beer or substitute sparkling water
Instructions:
- Muddle blackberries and sage leaves into the bottom of a cocktail shaker.
- Add honey simple syrup, lime juice, ginger beer, and ice to a shaker half-filled with ice.
- Shake for 20 seconds and strain into glasses.
- Garnish with blackberries and sage leaves.
Honey Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup water
- ⅓ cup honey
Instructions:
- Combine water and honey in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Stir the honey into the water until they blend together, about 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Each of these mocktails is more than just a drink; they're a celebration of the Southwest's unique beauty and bounty. They bring the essence of the desert to your glass, offering health benefits that cater to both body and spirit. So, raise a glass to wellness, flavor, and the enchanting allure of the desert!
Elevate Your Mixology Skills at ULUM Moab
Discover the art of crafting mocktails during your stay. This 45-minute mocktology class, offered as a complimentary experience, is designed to transform you into a mixologist. Learn the fundamentals of mixology, from measurements, blends, and the flavor profiles that make up the delicious mocktails featured on our menu. Join us and add a dash of expertise to your beverage crafting skills.
