Ginger ale is a staple mixer for cocktails but don't sleep on it for non alcoholic drinks! This balanced and simple ginger ale mocktail recipe only requires four easy ingredients and five minutes to make.
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my refreshing zero proof coconut water mocktail!
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Why You'll Love this Recipe
Nostalgic - Ginger ale is practically considered medicine in African American communities most often paired with parental orders to "Go lay down for while!" I developed this ginger ale mocktail with lime thinking about childhood sick days home from school watching soap operas and drinking ginger ale to settle my stomach.
Quick & Easy - No fancy cocktail tools or hard to find ingredients are necessary for this beginner mocktail recipe.
Flavor - This ginger ale based mocktail actually tastes more sophisticated than sipping plain ol' soda. The flavor is more like a ginger ale mojito or mule mocktail.
We LOVE flavorful mocktail recipes around here, like my sparkling honey hibiscus mocktail, antioxidant turmeric ginger mocktail, and festive pomegranate grapefruit holiday mocktail!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Ginger Ale - Use whichever brand you enjoy drinking or mixing like Schweppes, Canada Dry, Seagram's, etc. I like to use a prebiotic ginger ale soda made with real ginger for to support digestion, microbiome, and metabolic health (NIH) which is also great in my sleepy girl tart cherry mocktail!
Apple Cider Vinegar balances out the sweetness to make this more of a dry ginger ale mocktail. I recommend ACV with the mother for better blood sugar balance (NIH).
Fresh Mint adds cooling and refreshing flavor. Grab whichever variety of mint you like, including spearmint and peppermint.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Garnishes - Mock-tail garnishes can be just as fun as cocktail garnishes. For this drink, sprigs of fresh mint, twists of lime, and crystallized ginger are great options!
Citrus - I make this as a ginger ale and lime mocktail but you could substitute in the citrus of your choice, including lemon or orange juice.
Ginger Ale Bitters Mocktail - If you want to make this more of a functional mocktail for digestion, try adding digestive bitters, which will also make the taste more complex!
How to Make a Mocktail with Ginger Ale
Step One: Muddle the mint to express the oils and aroma.
Step Two: Fill glass halfway with ice then pour in lime juice, apple cider vinegar, and ginger ale.
Pro Tip: If you don't have a muddler for the mint, the blunt end of a kitchen spoon (preferably wooden) can work just as well.
Step Three: Stir to combine the ingredients for a consistent sip from start to finish.
Step Four: Add an optional but fun garnish of a lime slice and candied ginger.
Pro Tip: Making a lime twist is easy and takes under one minute! Here's a great visual on how to make a lime twist.
I make this beverage very similarly to my grapefruit shrub, which I think you'll like, too!
Quick Virgin Ginger Ale Drink Video
Frequently Asked Questions
Because of the carbonation in the ginger ale, I don't recommend making in advance as the bubbles will fall flat over time.
To large batch this recipe for a crowd, muddle about 30 leaves of fresh mint in a pitcher or other beverage serving container. Fill halfway with ice then stir in juice of two limes, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, and 28 ounces of chilled ginger ale. Serves four.
More Favorite Ginger Recipes
I hope you'll enjoy a round of easy ginger ale mocktails with loved ones soon and very soon. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Easy Ginger Ale Mocktail
Ingredients
- 8 fresh mint leaves
- ice
- ½ lime
- ½ ounce apple cider vinegar
- 7 ounces ginger ale chilled
- 1 lime wheel optional garnish
- 1 crystallized ginger optional garnish
- 1 sprig of mint optional garnish
Instructions
- Add mint leaves to rocks glass and press with a muddler to express their oils and flavor.
- Fill glass halfway with ice then squeeze in lime juice and pour in apple cider.
- Top up glass with ginger ale and stir to combine.
- Optional: garnish with a twist of lime, piece of candied ginger, and/or a sprig of fresh mint.
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