Sparkling Strawberry Basil Mocktail

Hot summer days call for refreshing drinks, like this sparkling strawberry basil mocktail with hints of basil, mint, and lemon. This thirst-quenching, refreshing drink is ready in just 5 minutes, the perfect mocktail to serve along with your summer cocktails. Trust me, your kids will be super happy with it!

When our kids were young, Friday evenings were movie nights with takeout food and homemade drinks. I preferred to make my kids drinks with fresh ingredients that were in season over soft drinks bought from a store. I often made this drink in the peak of summer when strawberries and basil were in abundance.

What started as drink for kids is now a big hit among adults, too. It is a huge hit at family get-togethers, summer BBQs and sometimes even Thanksgiving dinners and Diwali dinners.

This drink not only is super yummy, it is also beautiful to look at and is so festive. It really just lifts everyone’s moods and spirits.

Why Basil and Strawberry Work Together

Strawberry basil is a favorite combination for a reason! In this strawberry basil cooler, the sweetness of the strawberries pair beautifully with the basil which has notes of pepper, mint, and anise, and adds an herbal brightness. The addition of the fizzy sparkling water lifts both flavors into the perfect summer drink!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

With only six ingredients, this sparkling strawberry basil mocktail recipe can be whipped up in no time. Every ingredient is essential to giving this summery drink its best flavor from the tangy lemon juice to fresh ripe strawberries and aromatic basil.

• Fresh basil vs dried — Use only fresh for this recipe.
• Herbal substitutes — You can substitute mint for basil if you don’t have basil on hand. I have also made this drink with rosemary instead of basil and the woodiness of rosemary compliments the fresh and crisp flavors of strawberry and lemon juice beautifully.
• Type of sparkling water — Plain works, but using elderflower or lemon adds complexity.
• Sweetener adjustment — You can reduce or omit the sweetener if your strawberries are very ripe.
• Fresh vs frozen strawberries — Frozen works for the puree but you will need to adjust the recipe to accommodate for the extra liquid from the frozen berries.
• Lemon juice — I like to add a splash of lemon juice for citrus freshness. However, other citrus juice like lime juice would work well, it just won’t have quite the same acidity and freshness as lemon juice.

Serving Suggestions and Occasions

For one of the best non-alcoholic cocktails for summer, look no further than this strawberry cooler mocktail recipe. Its beautiful pink color makes it perfect for serving for special occasions like baby showers or a special brunch but you could also serve this drink at your next summer party or backyard BBQ. This mocktail also works well to serve in winter if you use frozen strawberries so you can enjoy it during dry January as well.

If you are looking for something with a kick and are ok with serving alcohol for your special occasion, you may enjoy my Ginger Tamarind Margarita, which is a little tangy and spicy from fresh ginger. You can also check out Veggiecurean’s full drink recipe list here.

Make-ahead Notes

This strawberry basil sparkling mocktail recipe isn’t very make-ahead friendly as the mixture contains ice. However, you could prepare components of the recipe ahead of serving so that everything is ready to go when you want to blend your mocktail mixture in the blender. You can squeeze your lemon juice and measure out your sliced strawberries and chopped basil, and store them in separate containers in the fridge until you plan to blend everything together. That way, when you are hosting your party or other special event, you can simply place everything in the blender to pulse until smooth before serving it in cocktail glasses with additional ice cubes and club soda.

 

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