Mocktails: Drink With Intention

Lemon Lavender Spritz & Hibiscus Ginger Fizz Mocktails.

Let’s be honest. Sometimes we just want a drink in our hand.Something chilled, special, maybe a little bubbly — and definitely not boring. A glass that feels like a ritual, a moment, a pause in the noise. Something that says, “I’m here. I’m allowed to enjoy this.”

But here’s the truth: you don’t need alcohol to have a good time — or to feel grounded, relaxed, celebratory, or connected. In fact, sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is choose clarity. To show up exactly as you are, and still honor yourself with something that feels indulgent and intentional.

Whether you’re at a summer gathering, hosting friends, sharing a sunset, or simply taking a breath between life’s busy moments, these mocktails were made to do more than just taste good.

They were made to support your body, spark joy, and remind you that choosing presence over escapism is a form of power. They were made for those of us who crave ritual, beauty, and flavor without needing to disconnect from ourselves to get there.

Below, I’m sharing two of my favorite creations — both carefully crafted with homemade botanical syrups, deeply flavorful, and rooted in ingredients with natural healing properties. These aren’t just “mocktails.” They’re nourishing drinks meant to ground you, delight you, and help you reconnect with yourself, your community, and the present moment.

Lavender Lemon Spritz garnished with a lemon wedge and lavender sprig

🌿🍋 Lavender Lemon Spritz 🍋🌿

Elegant, calming, and refreshingly tart

This one came together as a nod to the slower moments — the quiet mornings before the day starts or the golden hour glow when you finally exhale. I wanted something that felt soothing but bright. Lavender for calm. Lemon for clarity. Honey for warmth. The result is a floral-forward spritz that’s anything but ordinary.

Medicinal Benefits:

• Lavender is known to support relaxation, reduce anxiety, and ease tension. Its calming effects can even help with mild insomnia.

• Lemon is rich in vitamin C and supports digestion and liver detoxification.

• Raw honey brings antimicrobial benefits and soothes the throat, while also rounding out strong herbal flavors.

  
  

Recipe (Yields ~12 Servings):

Lavender Lemon Syrup

2.5 tbsp dried culinary lavender (toast gently for more depth)

Zest of 2 lemons

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

3/4 cup honey or cane sugar

1.5 cups water

Instructions:

1. Toast lavender in a dry pan for ~30 seconds (optional). This really brings our the flavors and releases it's natural oils.

2. Simmer lavender and zest in water for 15 minutes.

3. Let steep off heat another 15 minutes.

4. Strain through fine mesh or cheesecloth.

5. Stir in lemon juice and sweetener while still warm. Chill.

To serve (per drink):

Combine 1 ounce of lavender lemon syrup with 4 to 6 ounces of sparkling water or plain tonic over ice. Stir gently and garnish with a lemon wheel or a sprig of lavender for a refreshing, floral touch.

Want it stronger?

You can intensify the lavender flavor by:

• Increasing to 3 or even 4 tbsp of dried lavender

• Reducing water to 1–1.25 cups

• Steeping an extra 5–10 minutes after simmeringAlways taste before bottling to find your ideal strength.

Hibiscus Ginger Fizz garnished with a fresh slice of ginger.

🌺🔥 Hibiscus Ginger Fizz 🔥🌺

Bold, tart, spicy, and deeply alive

This mocktail came from the part of me that’s had to burn through old habits, the part that needed something with a bit more kick. I was thinking: what could match the boldness of a mezcal cocktail — but nourish the body instead of numbing it? This is it. Hibiscus for the heart. Ginger for the fire. Honey for the grounding sweetness.

Medicinal Benefits:

• Hibiscus is packed with antioxidants, supports heart health, and helps lower blood pressure naturally.

• Ginger aids digestion, reduces inflammation, and boosts circulation — it brings heat and energy to the system.

• Honey, again, adds sweetness with healing — soothing, mineral-rich, and antimicrobial.

Recipe (Yields ~12 Servings):

Hibiscus Ginger Syrup

• 3/4 cup dried hibiscus petals

• 3/4 cup sliced fresh ginger

• Zest of 1 orange or lemon (optional)

• 3/4 cup honey or cane sugar

• 1.5 cups water

Instructions:

1. Simmer hibiscus, ginger, and zest in water for 20 minutes.

2. Let steep another 15 minutes off heat.

3. Strain well.

4. Stir in honey or sugar while still warm. Chill.

To serve (per drink):

Mix 1 ounce of hibiscus ginger syrup with 4 to 6 ounces of sparkling water or citrus tonic over ice. Stir well and garnish with a slice of orange or a piece of candied ginger for a bright, zesty finish.

Want it stronger?

You can amplify the intensity of this one by:

• Using up to 1 full cup each of hibiscus and ginger

• Reducing water to 1–1.25 cups

• Simmering 25–30 minutes and steeping longerIt should taste bold, tangy, and spicy — not thin or overly sweet.

Why I Make These...

I’ve been around people in recovery. Warriors rebuilding from the inside out.

Healing isn’t neat. It’s not linear. It’s raw, it’s hard, and it demands everything you’ve got. One of the toughest battles? Being the only one not drinking. Walking into a room where alcohol flows freely and choosing to stand your ground. Not because you’re better, but because you’ve finally stopped betraying yourself.

That moment. Holding a soda water while everyone else toasts with something stronger. That’s exactly who these mocktails are for. They don’t hide or pretend. They don’t fill silence with empty noise. They say, loud and clear: I’m here. Fully present. Fully me. And that alone deserves a toast.

Long ago, the chalice was a symbol of transformation — a powerful ritual marking a turning point. For many, alcohol was that ritual. A false promise of courage, connection, escape. But it always came with a price. Now, we raise a different glass — one that returns you to yourself, clear-headed and whole. These mocktails aren’t just drinks; they’re a reclaiming of joy, clarity, and connection without the haze.

If you’ve ever stood out in a crowd, if you’ve felt the pressure to give in but chose to say no. This is for you. For your strength. For your clarity. For the fierce, sacred act of choosing yourself again and again.

You don’t need to check out to feel joy. You don’t need a drink to honor ritual. You can taste something real, something beautiful. Fully awake.

So raise your glass. To showing up. To being present. To owning your power. Because being here. Fully here. Is revolutionary. And it’s worth celebrating.

ENJOY!

ENJOY!