How to Make The Perfect Margarita Mocktail

Prep time: 3 minutes

Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 2 oz non-alcoholic tequila alternative (Lyre’s Agave Blanco or Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative — see notes)
• 1 oz fresh lime juice (about 2 limes — never bottled)
• 1/2 oz fresh orange juice
• 1/2 oz agave syrup
• 1/4 oz white grape juice or non-alcoholic orange liqueur (Lyre’s Orange Sec)
• 1/4 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 lime wedge (for rimming and garnish)
• Kosher salt or Tajín for the rim (optional)

Instructions

1. Salt or Tajín the rim — Run a lime wedge around the outer edge of a rocks glass or coupe. Dip at a slight angle into your salt or Tajín, coat only half the rim. Set the glass aside.
2. Load the shaker — Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the tequila alternative, lime juice, orange juice, agave syrup, grape juice (or orange liqueur), and apple cider vinegar.
3. Shake hard and long — Shake vigorously for 20 seconds, longer than the cocktail version. Without alcohol to emulsify the ingredients, a hard shake is what binds this drink together and gets it properly cold.
4. Strain and taste — For rocks: fill your rimmed glass with fresh ice and strain over it. For up: strain into a chilled coupe. Taste before serving, if it feels flat or thin, a tiny extra splash of apple cider vinegar or a pinch of salt stirred in can sharpen it immediately.
5. Garnish — Add the spent lime wedge to the rim or a fresh lime wheel on top. A small sprig of mint or thin orange slice also works beautifully.