Cucumber and Grapefruit are so refreshing in this non-alcoholic, mocktail–spritzer. The base of this drink is not too sweet and lets the other ingredients shine. This drink is a perfect way to use the abundance of cucumber and basil from the garden. This is a drink everyone will enjoy!

mocktail non-alcoholic cucumber grapefruit lime spritzer pitcher and glass from the top garnished with cucumber slices, basil and basil flowers

Refreshing Cucumber and Grapefruit Non-Alcoholic Spritzer

This non-alcoholic spritzer is one of the most refreshing beverages. The flavors are fresh and crisp! The key to this beverage being a hit is to serve it over an entire glass of ice. The ice in this beverage is an important ingredient to achieve the ideal flavor profile of this beverage. This non-alcoholic mocktail: cucumber and grapefruit spritzer tastes the best very cold. It also makes an amazing popsicle.

Non-Alcoholic Mocktails Drinks

Non-alcoholic mocktails are a must in everyday life. These are drinks you can enjoy every day and are drinks that everyone of every age can drink. These are drinks that use a variety of amazing ingredients and can be served in “the pretty glasses”.

I rarely drink alcohol for a few reasons but the biggest is it makes me tired. Yes, alcohol makes me tired the day I drink it and for about three days after. I simply do not have time to be slow, sluggish, or not at my best. However, I still want a drink in a pretty glass. I want to use my beautiful glasses all the time, not just on holidays or special occasions. I also want a creative way to use the amazing produce around me.

Often, my friends and especially my mom order drinks at a restaurant or a bar solely because of the glass it is in and the way it is presented. If my mom sees a beautiful drink go by, she will ask the server, “What drink is that?”. Because I rarely drink, I feel left out of getting a fun drink.

The answer is beautiful non-alcoholic beverages. Some are considered mocktails, some are considered refreshers, and some are variations of lemonades. In addition, these fun non-alcoholic drinks can be unique juices or juice combinations. Add some bubbles such as Pellegrino or Schweppes, and you have a non-alcoholic spritzer. On occasion, I am also serving coffee in various ways to make me feel like I am having a treat. For example, a latte in a champagne coupe is a great way to use a “pretty glass” and feel a bit extra when enjoying an afternoon latte.

What is a mocktail?

Mocktails are just a fun name for a drink that doesn’t contain alcohol. The great thing about mocktails is they are a way to be creative with fruit, vegetables, juices, or homemade syrups. I have even used the bottom of a jam jar to make a quick mocktail. I did it by adding Pellegrino to the almost empty jam jar, putting the lid on the jam jar, and then shaking the jar. Next, I poured the quick mocktail over a large glass of ice and garnished it with the same fruit that was in the jam jar.

Basically, a mocktail allows you to be a crafty mixologist without the downside of alcohol. A mocktail is something everyone can enjoy, the kids never feel left out. Mocktails are easily enjoyed without the thought of what would be interfered with later.

What is a Spritzer?

A spritzer is an alcoholic beverage that is most often a white wine mixed with soda or sparkling water and then poured over ice. It originated in the 1800s and has been enjoyed by many for years. If I have an alcoholic beverage, a spritzer is my all-time favorite. My current obsession is the Chandon Garden Spritz (no need to add the sparking water–Chandon has crafted the perfect blend). I discovered this drink at Thomas Keller’s Bastille Day Festival in Yountville CA. The Chandon Garden Spritz is served in a beautiful big clear ballon-style wine glass over an entire glass of crushed ice, garnished with a large slice of orange and a sprig of rosemary. The Chandon Garden Spritz along with the enhancement of an herb garnish is my inspiration in many of the mocktails I create. I want to have that spritzer feeling without the ill effects of alcohol.

Ingredients:

Cucumber: it is just so refreshing! We all know that! Cucumbers hydrate and are great for digestion and gut health. They are a source of vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. In addition, cucumbers help to flush out toxins. Cucumbers have many more health benefits; these are only a few great reasons to create a refreshing non-alcoholic spritzer with them.

Grapefruit: it also has high regard for its many health benefits. A grapefruit is a cross between two citrus fruits: a pomelo and a sweet orange. Grapefruits are ripe in late fall (October/November) to late Spring (May/June). If you like grapefruit check out my recipe for Grilled Grapefruit or Grapefruit Brûlée.

Sugar: a very important ingredient in this Mocktail: Cucumber and Grapefruit and Spritzer. The sugar will enhance the cucumber flavor and mellow the bitterness of the grapefruit. Sugar is the key ingredient to balance the flavors of this non-alcoholic spritzer.

Water: is a must in this recipe. The water changes the ratio of ingredients which causes a perfect balance of the flavors present.

Simple Syrup: is just equal parts of water and sugar. Adding simple syrup to this recipe instead of straight granular sugar gives the sugar more time to dissolve.

Schweppes: makes this non-alcoholic spritzer a spritzer. It adds pop to this recipe and a subtle fizz that is characteristic of a spritzer. (You can substitute the Schweppes with any kind of sparling water like Pellegrino.)

Salt: a pinch of salt is added to some sugar to make a sweet and salty coated rim on this mocktail.

Basil: is the perfect herb to enhance the cucumber and grapefruit in this Mocktail Cucumber and Grapefruit Spritzer.

How to make Mocktail: Cucumber and Grapefruit Spritzer:

ingredients:

1 cup Simple Syrup: ½ cup sugar and ½ cup of water
1 English Cucumber
1 Grapefruit
10 oz Schweppes (or sparkling water)
1 ¼ cup Water divided
- (Additional ½ cup water in the simple syrup. The total water for the recipe is 1¾ cup: ½ cup water in the simple syrup, ¼ cup water into the blender with cucumber to aid in puree, and 1 cup of water goes straight into the pitcher.)
2 tbsp Sugar- rim the serving glass
- (Additional ½ cup in the simple syrup. The total sugar for this recipe is 10 tbsp: 8 tbsp (½ cup) of sugar in the simple syrup and 2 tbsp sugar to rim serving glasses.)
Pinch of Salt- rim the serving glass
3 Basil Leaves- garnish

Step by Step Instructions:

First, wash and dry cucumber, grapefruit, and basil leaves.

Second, make simple syrup:

Simple Syrup:

Combine ½ cup of sugar and ½ cup of water straight into the bottom of the glass serving pitcher. (Making the“simple syrup” at the beginning of this recipe allows the sugar time to dissolve. A combination of equal parts sugar and water makes a syrup- “simple syrup”.)

Next, slice grapefruit and squeeze out ALL the juice into a measuring cup, small glass, or pitcher.

cucumber grapefruit spritzer woman squeezing grapefruit into a glass measuring cup grapefruit cut in half English cucumber on a cutting board next to a vegetable peeler

Take your time here and extract all the juice from the grapefruit, set the juice aside.

(If you have some grapefruit flesh left in the rind, you can cut a notch in the quartered grapefruit and use it to wet the serving glass rim before rimming the serving glass—instructions below.)

Then cut ⅓ of the cucumber into thin slices and set aside the cucumber slices.

cucumber grapefruit lime spritzer woman slicing cucumber on a epicurean cutting board

Peel the remaining ⅔^rds of the cucumber. Cut the peeled cucumber into chunks.

cucumber grapefruit lime spritzer peeling cucumber on an epicurean cutting board

Put the peeled cucumber chunks into the blender with ¼ cup of water to aid the blender in pureeing the cucumber.

cucumber grapefruit lime spritzer add cucumber to the black Vita-mix blender

cucumber grapefruit lime spritzer blend cucumber and sugar in a black Vita-mix blender with a cutting board on the side

Now, pour cucumber puree straight into the pitcher (Do Not Strain Puree).

cucumber grapefruit lime spritzer add to pitcher

Then, strain grapefruit juice with a mesh sieve strainer into the serving pitcher.

cucumber grapefruit lime spritzer add grapefruit to the pitcher through a metal mesh sieve strainer

Next, add the 10 oz Schweppes (or sparkling water of choice) and the remaining 1 cup of water (if you used ½ cup in the simple syrup and ¼ cup in the puree). I like to pour the Schweppes and water through the remaining grapefruit pulp to extract all the flavor.

cucumber grapefruit lime spritzer add Schweppes to the glass pitcher

Stir all the ingredients together.

cucumber grapefruit lime spritzer stirring ingredients on granite countertop with measuring cups and mesh metal sieve strainer

Chiffonade the basil: stack the basil leaves, roll the basil leaves up from the long side, and slice them into very thin slices. Set aside basil chiffonade.

Add crushed ice to top off the pitcher.

Garnish with the reserved cucumber slices and basil chiffonade.

To Serve:

Prepare a small dish with 2 Tablespoons of sugar and a pinch of salt. Gently stir the pinch of salt into the 2 tbsp of sugar. Spread the sugar and salt mixture evenly on the dish. (Small dish: a small plate, a small bowl with a wide bottom, or a small saucer.)

Choose the desired serving glass.

Wet the rim of the glass well with water, the reserved quartered and notched grapefruit rind, or simple syrup. (Simple syrup helps the sugar and salt mixture stick on the rim of the glass the best.)

Place the serving glass upside down in the sugar and salt mixture. Press the sugar down firmly into the sugar and salt mixture to make sure all the glass is covered. Then spin the glass in a circle with the sugar and salt mixture until well coated.

pitcher of mocktail non-alcoholic cucumber grapefruit spritzer woman rims glass with sugar and salt next to a cut grapefruit and cucumber slices with basil chiffonade

Turn the serving glass right side up and completely fill it with crushed ice.

Then pour the Cucumber and Grapefruit Spritzer over the ice.

Garnish with reserved sliced cucumber and basil chiffonade.

Enjoy!

This recipe is also very good as a popsicle.

mocktail non-alcoholic cucumber grapefruit lime spritzer glass with ice

Items used in this Post:

Wusthof Culinar Knife Set, Cutting board, Vitamix, Glass Pitcher, Footed Pilsner Glass