This margarita mocktail is a non-alcoholic virgin margarita made with fresh lime, lemon, and orange juice, agave nectar, and sparkling water. It’s tart, a little sweet, and has that classic salty rim. Everything you love about a regular margarita, but without the tequila!
A Note from Isabel
The first time I made this margarita mocktail, I was pregnant with my first baby and really missing the experience of sitting around with friends, chips and salsa on the table, and a drink in hand. I didn’t have any non-alcoholic spirits at home (they’re everywhere nowadays, but this was before all of that), so I just worked with what I had – fresh citrus, agave, and sparkling water.
What surprised me was not how delicious it was, but just how much it actually tasted like a real classic margarita! The key was getting that sweet-and-sour balance right, which is really what makes a margarita taste like a margarita in the first place. Nail that, and you don’t really miss the tequila.
What Is a Margarita Mocktail?
A margarita mocktail (also called a virgin margarita) is just a non-alcoholic version of the classic cocktail. Instead of tequila and triple sec, you’re building the flavor with fresh citrus juices, a little sweetener, and sparkling water for the fizz. Done right, it’s tangy, refreshing, and genuinely satisfying, not just a plain lime soda with a salt rim.
Ingredients You’ll Need
| Ingredient | Notes |
|---|---|
| Fresh lime juice | This is the backbone of any margarita. It’s bright, tart, and essential. Bottled lime juice won’t give you the same result, so squeeze it fresh. |
| Fresh lemon juice | Most recipes skip this, but a small amount adds an extra layer of citrus that makes the drink taste more complex, not just lime-forward. |
| Fresh orange juice | Rounds out the tartness and adds a natural sweetness. It’s doing a lot of the work that triple sec would normally do. There’s a lot of fresh juice involved in this recipe, so definitely use a citrus juicer if you have one! |
| Agave nectar | This is the traditional sweetener for margaritas. It dissolves easily in cold liquid and keeps the flavor clean. Simple syrup or honey works too if that’s what you have. |
| Sparkling water or club soda | Gives it fizz without muddying the citrus flavors. Topo Chico is great here if you have it! |
| Kosher or flaky salt | For the rim. A coarse salt is best. This margarita salt is also great! |
How to Make Virgin Margaritas
- Salt the rim. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and dip it in a plate of kosher or flaky salt. Fill the glass with ice.
- Mix the citrus. Add the lime juice, lemon juice, orange juice, and agave to a cocktail shaker or cup. Shake or stir until combined.
- Pour and top. Pour the mixture into your prepared glass, top with sparkling water, and garnish with a lime wedge.
Variations
- Fruit flavors: Swap the orange juice for any fruit juice you like. Strawberry, mango, grapefruit, watermelon, cranberry, and pineapple all work great!
- Frozen margarita mocktail: Toss all the juices, agave, and 1 to 2 cups of ice into a blender and blend until slushy.
- Make it spicy: Muddle a slice or two of fresh jalapeño in your glass before adding the rest of the ingredients. It adds a kick that actually makes the drink feel more cocktail-like.
- Fun rims: Salt is classic, but don’t stop there. Chili lime seasoning gives it a tangy, spicy edge that works really well with the citrus. You can also brush the rim with chamoy before dipping it in TajÃn for a sweet, salty, spicy, and slightly sticky finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make this ahead of time? Yes. Mix the juices and agave together and store in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Just don’t add the sparkling water until you’re ready to serve, or it’ll go flat.
- Can I make a big batch? Definitely. For 4 servings, combine ¾ cup lime juice, ½ cup orange juice, ¼ cup lemon juice, and 2 ½ to 3 tablespoons agave nectar. For 8 servings, mix 1 ½ cups lime juice, 1 cup orange juice, ½ cup lemon juice, and 5 to 6 tablespoons agave nectar. Don’t add the sparkling water until you’re ready to serve or it’ll go flat, and set out salt and lime wedges so guests can rim their own glasses.
- What can I use instead of agave? Simple syrup or honey both work great. Start with the same amount and adjust to taste.
- Can I use non-alcoholic tequila? You can! Brands like Free Spirits and Ritual make non-alcoholic spirits that mimic tequila’s flavor if you want to get even closer to the original. This recipe works great without it, but it’s a fun addition if you have it on hand.
More NA Drinks
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Run a lime wedge around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the glass in salt and fill with ice.
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In a cocktail shaker or cup, add the lime juice, orange juice, lemon juice, and agave nectar. Shake or stir to combine.
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Pour it into the prepared glass, top with sparkling water, and garnish with a lime wedge.
Prevent your screen from going dark
- Agave nectar: If you don’t have agave nectar, you can use simple syrup or honey instead.
- To make a big batch: For 4 servings, combine ¾ cup lime juice, ½ cup orange juice, ¼ cup lemon juice, and 2 ½ to 3 tablespoons agave nectar. For 8 servings, mix 1 ½ cups lime juice, 1 cup orange juice, ½ cup lemon juice, and 5 to 6 tablespoons agave nectar.
Serving: 1drink | Calories: 89kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 122mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally published in April 2021 and has been updated with new photos and more helpful tips.
Photography by Ashley McLaughlin.