This tasty mocktail recipe pairs apple cider vinegar with pure fruit juice and herbs for a tangy, refreshing flavor profile.

a few glasses of mocktails and slices of grapefruitShare on Pinterest
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Spring is the perfect time for a light, fresh-tasting mocktail bursting with herb-y, fruity notes.

Fresh citrus is often a go-to ingredient in cocktails and mocktails alike. Don’t have a whole lemon on hand? Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a suitable substitute that pairs well with common mocktail ingredients.

You can make this simple, refreshing, fizzy mocktail in just a few minutes with a base of your favorite tonic water, fresh herbs, store-bought grapefruit juice, and the star ingredient: ACV. Don’t love cilantro? You can skip it or sub in basil.

Drink it alone while you enjoy a bit of sunshine, or serve your spring-forward mocktail with your favorite Mexican fare.

For this recipe, all you need is a cocktail shaker, a muddler (or wooden spoon), and your favorite glassware for serving.

RECIPE

Fizzy Cilantro-Mint Grapefruit Mocktail

Serves 1

Drink

Prep Time: 5min

About this recipe:

A simple, sweet-and-sour mocktail infused with cilantro and mint. This recipe uses apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice for a tangy, complex resulting flavor.

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup pure, red grapefruit juice
  • 5 oz of tonic water
  • 1 tablespoon Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Handful of cilantro leaves
  • Handful of mint leaves (plus extra for garnish)
  • 1 oz of nonalcoholic gin (optional)
  • Ice
Instructions:
  1. Prepare glassware with ice. A lowball glass is a good choice for this mocktail.
  2. Remove the mint and cilantro leaves from the stems. Reserve a sprig of mint for garnish.
  3. Add mint, cilantro, and apple cider vinegar to a cocktail shaker and gently muddle. If you don't have a muddler, you can use the rounded end of a wooden spoon. Avoid mashing the herbs. Instead, gently press to release the aromatic oils.
  4. Add ice to cocktail shaker then add grapefruit juice.
  5. Close the shaker lid tightly and shake vigorously to mix the ingredients.
  6. Strain the drink into your glass, filling it about halfway.
  7. Top up your glass with the tonic water of your choice.
  8. Garnish with mint and enjoy!

No citrus? No problem! You can still make a tasty mocktail using an ingredient you probably have right in your pantry. Apple cider vinegar makes a great substitute for lemon juice, plus it has potential health benefits, like blood sugar and cholesterol control.

Research suggests that ACV may help regulate blood sugar. There’s also evidence that ACV may help promote healthy cholesterol levels.

Alcohol is a known carcinogen. The more you drink, the higher your risk of developing alcohol-related cancers — even just one drink a day can have negative health effects.

Since mocktails don’t contain alcohol, they’re a healthier alternative to typical cocktails.

A mocktail isn’t just a nonalcoholic juice drink. It’s all about bringing complex flavors together, without the alcohol.

ACV has a tart flavor with notes of apple that pair well with many mocktail ingredients, and it doesn’t take a lot of added sweeteners to bring out those deeper flavors.