Looking for a refreshing non-alcoholic citrus drink? Try this Sparkling Citrus Mocktail. It combines three citrus elements with sparkling water for a bright, fizzy beverage.
Ideal in peak citrus season and perfect for holiday gatherings, showers, brunches, or any time you want a festive alcohol-free option. If desired, add a splash of champagne to convert it into a cocktail.
Hosting someone who is pregnant or observing Dry January? This mocktail is a great way to offer something celebratory without alcohol. It’s simple to scale for a crowd and can be made quickly with store-bought ingredients, though fresh components will always taste better.
These drinks also look lovely on a brunch table and pair well with savory or sweet morning dishes. Serve alongside egg bakes, muffins, avocado toast, or a cheese board for an attractive and balanced spread.
Ingredients
- Unsweetened lime sparkling water – any brand will work; lemon-lime or citrus-flavored sparkling water is fine if available.
- Grapefruit juice – fresh squeezed from about 2 medium grapefruits (preferred) or bottled unsweetened juice to save time.
- Lemon simple syrup – homemade or store-bought.
- Fresh raspberries and lime wedges – for garnish and color.
- Ice cubes – 1 to 2 cups, optional if the drink will sit out.
How to make citrus mocktails
- Juice the grapefruits until you have about 8 ounces of fresh juice. Strain or remove any seeds, then pour the juice into a pitcher.
- Add 4 ounces of lemon simple syrup to the pitcher and stir to combine.
- Pour in 32 ounces (about four cans or bottles) of unsweetened lime-flavored sparkling water and stir gently to preserve the fizz.
- If the mocktail will be left on the table, add 1–2 cups of ice to keep it chilled without diluting it too much. Otherwise, pour directly into chilled glasses.
- Place two raspberries in each glass and garnish with a small lime wedge before serving.
Tips for this brunch mocktail
- Juice your own grapefruit when possible. Fresh juice is less sweet, more flavorful, and often more economical than pre-bottled juice.
- Mix the drink right before serving. The sparkling water holds its fizz best when added at the last minute, so combine ingredients just before guests arrive.
- If the beverage will sit out, add only a cup or two of ice so the drink stays cool without becoming watered down.
- To make a boozy version, add 1–2 ounces of champagne, prosecco, or cava per serving. The citrus flavors remain dominant, so an inexpensive sparkling wine works fine.
- This recipe yields roughly 8 servings of 5–6 ounces each. It scales easily—double or triple for larger groups.
Save this citrus mocktail idea for later
These mocktails are an effortless, attractive option for brunches, showers, or holiday gatherings. They’re quick to prepare, easy to scale, and adaptable if you want to add alcohol. Serve with your favorite brunch dishes for a bright, inviting spread.
If you make this mocktail, consider leaving a star rating and a comment describing how it turned out.
Sparkling Citrus Mocktail for a Brunch Crowd
Ingredients
- 32 ounces unsweetened sparkling lime-flavored water
- 8 ounces grapefruit juice (fresh squeezed preferred, about 2 medium grapefruits)
- 4 ounces lemon simple syrup
- 16 raspberries
- Lime wedges for garnish
- 1–2 cups ice cubes (optional)
Instructions
- Juice the grapefruits until you have 8 ounces of juice. Pour the juice into a pitcher.
- Pour the unsweetened sparkling lime-flavored water into the pitcher.
- Add 4 ounces of lemon simple syrup and stir gently to combine the liquids.
- If the drink will sit out, add 1–2 cups of ice to keep it cool without over-diluting.
- When serving, pour into glasses, add two raspberries to each, and garnish with a lime wedge.
Notes
- Fresh grapefruit juice tastes best and is usually less sweet than bottled varieties.
- Mix this drink right before serving to keep the sparkling water fizzy.
- Add only a small amount of ice if the drink will sit out to avoid watering it down.
- To make a cocktail, add 1–2 ounces of sparkling wine per serving.
- This recipe makes about eight 5–6 ounce servings and can be easily scaled up.