Cocktail & Other Recipes Cocktail Type Nonalcoholic

Mint-Basil Limeade

By
Liquor.com
Liquor.com

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Updated 09/29/22
Mint-Basil Limeade with ice in a Collins glass, garnished with a lime wheel

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

The rise of nonalcoholic cocktails—aka mocktails—is a welcome change in the drinks world, as those who choose to abstain for the night, the month or permanently are provided with more interesting options than the usual water, tea or soda. These days, it’s common to find mocktail menus at bars and restaurants and bartenders who put the same level of thought and care into their nonalcoholic drinks. That means you can get all the flavor of a refreshing cocktail, but minus the hangover.

The Mint-Basil Limeade is essentially a Mojito without the rum. Fresh mint and basil are muddled in a shaker with simple syrup before joining lime juice and ice for a quick shake. The contents are then poured into a Collins glass and topped with a good sparkling water: Fever-Tree, Q Mixers or Topo Chico are all great options. The resulting drink is refreshing, herbal and bubbly and an excellent way to lift your spirits without the addition of, well, spirits.

The point of this drink is to provide a nonalcoholic alternative to those who want one, but the Mint-Basil Limeade is a good candidate for booze, should you want to leave the option open for yourself or others. The lime juice, simple syrup, mint and club soda channel the Mojito, while they’re also reminiscent of a Tom Collins and South Side. So, if you do want to make this mocktail a cocktail, try adding clear liquors like rum, vodka or gin.

Ingredients

  • 4 large basil leaves

  • 4 mint leaves

  • 1 ounce simple syrup

  • 1 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed

  • Club soda, chilled, to top

  • Garnish: lime wheel

Steps

  1. Gently muddle the basil, mint and simple syrup in a shaker tin.

  2. Add the lime juice and ice, and shake until well-chilled.

  3. Double-strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice.

  4. Top with the club soda.

  5. Garnish with a lime wheel.