The 3-Ingredient Mocktail I’m Drinking All January Long

The first year I did Dry January, I had big dreams of making multi-step 10-ingredient mocktails every day of the month featuring a different fruit and syrup in each. But what I quickly learned is that the easiest way to stick to a full month of no booze is to keep things as simple as possible, which is how this 3-ingredient mocktail was born!

Mocktails can get just as elaborate as cocktails, and before I decided to make simpler drinks, I was constantly running to the grocery store and specialty shops hunting down elaborate ingredients I might only use once or twice. These days, I prefer to keep staples on hand so the drinks feel like a treat instead of more work after a long day.

Since I prefer mocktails over cocktails year-round, I stay stocked up on classic mocktail ingredients like fresh lime and ginger beer. One of the reasons I love this easy, three-ingredient mocktail so much is because the only “special” ingredient it requires is an English cucumber to create a complex, layered mocktail. And even if you’re just sober curious, having a simple, but impressive option available for yourself and anyone who may stop by is a good idea.

January is my favorite time to make this drink because the refreshing cucumber and vibrant ginger brighten up my palate after all the rich holiday meals and desserts. But I drink this one year-round, too, and it’s especially hydrating and refreshing on a hot summer day. It’s easy to make and with all the possibilities of variations, it makes a great go-to beverage for anyone. 

Choosing the Right Ginger Beer

Ginger beers come in many brands and varieties. My personal favorite is Q Mixers because it’s just the right amount of sweetness and ginger spice, and it can be found at most stores in my area. Fever-Tree is a close second, and I often enjoy their light ginger beer if I’d like a less sweet mocktail. Barritt’s is another great option if you want a ginger beer that’s on the sweeter side with a little less spice.

Try out a few that are available in your area until you find the one that’s to your liking. Be sure to check the labels when selecting a ginger beer, as some do have alcohol in them.

How To Make My 3-Ingredient Mocktail

I call for an English cucumber since it has a less bitter peel than its counterpart. If you’re using a standard garden cucumber, peel it first. For two drinks, you’ll need:

• 1 medium lime, juiced

• 6 slices English cucumber

• 10 mint leaves, optional

• 6 to 8 ounces ginger beer (3/4 to 1 cup), or to taste

• Optional garnishes: cucumber slices, mint leaves, lime wedges

Distribute the lime juice, cucumber slices, and mint leaves (if using) evenly between two tall cocktail glasses. Using a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon, muddle the cucumber slices and mint leaves with the lime juice for 20 seconds. The ingredients just need to be bruised a little to release all their flavors.

Fill the glasses 3/4 full with ice and top with the ginger beer. Garnish with slices of cucumber or mint leaves, if desired. A simple lime wedge also makes a great garnish.

Simple Variations

One of my favorite things about this drink is that it can act as a base recipe with multiple options for variations:

• I love to change up the herbs based on seasonal availability. I use mint in the spring, but in the summer I might go for basil. Sage is amazing in the fall, and rosemary is lovely in winter.

• Changing up the citrus also brings some variety to this drink. I like lemon or lime in the spring, grapefruit in the summer, blood orange in the fall, and navel orange in the winter.

• Many ginger beers come in various flavors like hibiscus, blood orange, and tropical. Changing up which flavor you use is a great way to make this drink just a little different each time.

Batch This Drink

Need to make more for a party? To make about 10 servings at once, in a large punch bowl, muddle together slices from one whole cucumber and two bunches of mint (optional), the juice of 5 limes, and top with a cold 2-liter of ginger ale just before serving. The ginger ale will add a little different flavor, but it’s much simpler than opening 10 individual cans or bottles of ginger beer.

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