10 mouth-watering mocktails for a cheap and cheerful Dry January

We all know that feeling, it happens every January – you’re checking your account with one eye closed, frantically searching for ways to find your financial footing again. Sound familiar? Well, here’s an easy way to better your balance, and your health for that matter: good old dry January. Trust us, it doesn’t have to be as boring as it sounds. Even if you’re locking up the drinks cabinet for the month, you can still beat those January blues by getting creative with some delicious mocktails. And yes, you have full permission to be smug about it. Especially when it’s saving you some precious dollars.

We’ve gathered 10 of our favourite affordable mocktail recipes, made with simple, easily-sourced ingredients that won’t worry your wallet. But before we get down to it, here’s a few tips for making affordable mocktails that are still the GOAT:

1. When it comes to adding soda or sparkling water, never add it to the shaker, just to the glass with a light stir to keep in that sweet, sweet fizz.

2. A well presented mocktail is half the battle – use things like fruit, herbs, orange peels, lime wedges, or frozen fruits as ice cubes to jazz up your drink up to the next level.

3. Rim the glass of your mocktail with something like sugar, or salt. Or if you’re feeling a little crazy, some crushed candy, sprinkles, cocoa powder, or crushed chocolate always goes down nicely.

4. Pop your glass in the fridge for a bit before you get started for a truly brrr-illiant mocktail (sorry, not sorry).

5. Get fancy with your glassware. Break out those bougie champagne flutes, or the special occasion wine glasses. Go hard or go home, right?

6. Take your mocktails up a notch by using fresh juice. Your taste buds will thank us!

Ok, now onto the good stuff. Here’s some of the weird, wonderful, and downright delicious mocktails that we have to insist you try:

1. Hot Buttered Pineapple Mocktail

Yep, we know, this one sounds a little strange, but boy is it tasty.  And it’s a winter drink double whammy. With pineapple juice having natural anti-inflammatory properties, it’ll help with coughs or sore throats too. So there’s really no excuse not to make this one.

Check out the full recipe here.

2. Cranberry Ginger Fizz Mocktail

Ok, ok, we know this seems more like something for sipping poolside, but we all need a little taste of summer to get us through the long winter days, right? This cheap, cheerful, and easy drink has that little extra kick that every good mocktail needs.

Find the full recipe here.

3. Rosemary Honey Mocktail

If you’re someone who still wants to hold onto that festive holiday feeling, even in January, this one’s for you. Use up your last sprigs of rosemary for this oh-so-simple, and ridiculously yummy mocktail.

Get the full recipe here.

4. Coconut Coolers

Here’s another to bring that tropical vacation feeling into even the dullest of January evenings. It doesn’t get much easier (or creamier) than this one. And when February rolls around, you can try some rum in there too. Ssshhh.

Find the full recipe here.

5. Cucumber Limeade

If you still have a sore head after all the holiday parties, this is sure to refresh and revive you back to life. And anything with that much cucumber just has to be healthy. We’re almost sure of it!

Get the recipe here.

6. Blackberry Mocktail

What mocktail list would be complete without one bursting with berries? This blackberry recipe is brimming with flavour, like every non-alcoholic mojito should be.

Check out the recipe here.

7. Grapefruit Lime Spritzer

Grapefruit? More like great-fruit (we couldn’t help ourselves). With such a gorgeous pink hue, this one will look as pretty as it tastes, so doll it up, and drink it down.

Find the recipe right here.

8. Mulled Apple Cider

Ok, back to winter reality with this mocktail. Nothing like some mulled apple cider to warm your shackles when you’re cozying up on the coach. This one takes about 2-2.5 hours, so you can make a movie night of it.

Get the full recipe here.

9. Strawberry Kombucha Mocktail

Healthy? Check. Tasty? Check. Could you really ask for more from your mocktail? Prepare to feel totally refreshed by this one.

Check out the recipe here.

10. Sparkling Blood Orange Mocktail

We don’t know about you, but anything with blood orange and we are signed up. This sparkling spritzer is the kind of thing that’ll impress your guests, without reaching too far into your wallet.

The full recipe is all yours here.

Seriously, is there really any way you could not do dry January when you’ve got this lineup? We hope you’ve found something to make your tastebuds sing . Oh, and your account balance.

Happy sipping!