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This ginger beer mocktail is incredibly refreshing with just 5 main ingredients and comes together in only 5 minutes. A bright blend of ginger, fresh lemon and mint is topped with sparkling ginger beer for a sweet, citrusy drink with a gentle spicy kick. Best of all – no simple syrup is required!
A Quick Look: Ginger Beer Mocktail
- Cooking time: Only 5 minutes.
- Servings – This will make 2-3 drinks.
- Main ingredients: Ginger beer, lemon juice, mint leaves, and sparkling water.
- When to serve: Perfect for warm summer days as a refreshing non-alcoholic drink. I also call this my “cough drop mocktail” because I often make this recipe for cold relief or migraine days.
- Dietary information: This recipe fits a Mediterranean diet, gluten free, and dairy free, as well as vegetarian. To adapt for migraine-friendly or low histamine needs, try this ginger mocktail with mint.
- Why you’ll love it: This simple ginger beer mocktail with lemon and mint is quick, customizable, and incredibly refreshing. I also include tips for adding electrolyte ice cubes, making it especially helpful for migraine symptoms or sick days.
For a similar drink with a more mild ginger flavor, you can try this homemade ginger ale.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Ginger beer – I’ve done a taste test on the best ginger beers, and a few favorites include Betty Buzz for the simplest ingredients, Fever Tree, which is widely available and strong ginger flavor, and Regatta Ginger Beer. You want to make sure you’re buying a non-alcoholic ginger beer and not a “hard ginger beer”. Ginger beer has a stronger ginger flavor and more cloudy appearance than ginger ale, but either can be used for this recipe.
- Lemon – Compliments the ginger and adds a bright citrus flavor. Fresh squeezed lemon juice is best for this drink, but if you’re making the electrolyte ice cubes, you can use bottled for a short cut.
- Mint leaves – Fresh mint enhances the ginger and lemon flavors. Find this packaged with other fresh herbs (it’s also very easy to grow in an herb garden!).
- Sparkling water – My favorite sparkling water for mocktails is Topo Chico because it has a stronger carbonation that holds up very well in mixed mocktails like this. The carbonation also seems to last longer compared to Perrier or San Pellegrino. Gerolsteiner is another option that is similar.
- Ginger juice – This is an optional add in for a burst of fresh ginger flavor. Add in a store-bought ginger juice shot or this homemade ginger juice as a topper. This works well if you are using ginger ale for the base, which tends to have a more mild flavor.
Variations
- Electrolyte Ice Cubes – This requires a little planning ahead, but if you want to make this drink for a sick day, you can mix together lemon juice with coconut water for a great natural electrolyte combo that slowly melts into this ginger beer mocktail.
- Honey mocktail – Add 2 teaspoons of honey to the lemon and mint when you muddle everything together.
- Less sugar – Opt for ginger beers that have lower sugar content like Regatta Lite, diet Bundaberg ginger beer soda, or Betty Buzz.
How to Make
Step 1: Add lemon juice to the bottom of a tall glass and lightly muddle with the mint leaves. A simple wooden muddler works or a wood spoon.
Step 2: Add ice cubes to the glass. Pour the ginger beer and sparkling water over the ice and stir. Top with a ginger juice floater and mint leaves for garnish
Step 3: If using, pour the ginger juice on top of the mocktail and stir in to combine.
Lemon Electrolyte Ice
This step is completely optional, but adds a punch of lemon flavor with some natural electrolytes.
Step 1: Add lemon juice to the bottom of a glass and lightly muddle with the mint leaves.
Step 2: Add ice cubes to the glass. Pour the ginger beer and sparkling water over the ice and stir. Top with a ginger juice floater and mint leaves for garnish.
Recipe Tip
If you don’t have a muddler or wood spoon, another option is to “smack” the mint between your hands to release the scent and flavor before combining it with the drink.
Make Ahead
This drink is very easy to assemble within a few minutes, but lemon ice cubes, if using, can be made at any point and stored in the freezer.
For ginger ice – If you’d like to prep this whole drink ahead, you can combine all the ingredients into a large bowl and pour into ice cube molds. Then freeze up to 12 hours or overnight. Add the ice to a tall glass with extra ginger beer or sparkling water.
Fresh mint may discolor or turn darker when frozen, so you can always omit this and add it as you assemble the drink if that’s important to you.
Recipe FAQ
Ginger beer is a non-alcoholic carbonated drink usually made with fresh ginger and other spices like cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, or black pepper. It is stronger than ginger ale in flavor and spice, making it great for mocktails like this one. Ginger ale tends to be more mild and sweet.
This drink will stay fresh up to 1 hour, but will begin to lose it’s carbonation after a while. To keep it fresh, avoid adding ice till you’re ready to drink it.
Yes, regular ice cubes will work for this recipe or crushed ice. Use crushed ice if you’re looking to mellow the strong ginger flavor a little bit more.
Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient used to prevent colds or provide natural pain relief. It can also be helpful for nausea. Lemon is high in vitamin c and can help with immune function, while mint has been shown to be helpful for both nausea and pain. I personally enjoyed this recipe many times while dealing with a recent cold!
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Ginger Beer Mocktail with Lemon
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed preferred
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves
- 2 cups non-alcoholic ginger beer, see brand recommendations in notes
- 1 cup sparkling water
- 1 ounce ginger juice shot, optional, for a stronger ginger flavor. Can be store-bought or homemade.
Optional: Electrolyte Lemon Ice Cubes
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup coconut water
Instructions
- Add lemon juice to the bottom of a glass and lightly muddle with the mint leaves. Add ice cubes to the glass. Pour the ginger beer and sparkling water over the ice and stir. Top with ginger juice, if using, and mint leaves for garnish.
For the ice cubes:
- Mix together lemon juice and coconut water and freeze in an ice cube mold for 12 hours.
Notes
- Recommended brands for ginger beer – Betty Buzz is my favorite for simple ingredients, but Fever Tree, Q, Regatta, and Bundaberg can be more widely found. Choose a low sugar option if you plan to add honey.
- Sick day variation – Electrolyte ice isn’t necessary for the cocktail, but great if you’re using this recipe for a sick day. Same with the extra ginger shot!
- Honey variation – Use 1-2 teaspoons of honey when muddling the mint and lemon juice together, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
So good! I loved the strong ginger flavor and it really helped with nausea.