As summer approaches, sipping on a classic cocktail can seem all the more inviting. Whether celebrating with friends or winding down, the flavors bring joy to so many.
Although many people are eager to socialize at bars and restaurants, they’re not always ordering beers, wines, and cocktails. The last year has continued to see a big surge for non-alcoholic drinks as sober-curious trends grow, and so too do internet searches for phrases like ‘best mocktail recipes’ or ‘most popular non-alcoholic cocktails.’ Mocktails are clearly on the up!
Mocktail selections have evolved, with bartenders tapping into products to create drinks that are well-balanced and just as tasty as the alcoholic alternative. According to data from Nielson, non-alcoholic and low-alcohol sales increased to $331 million during the last year, with a 315% increase in online purchases. Alcohol consumption is at its lowest within the last decade.
Many of us have become aware of the effects of alcohol on our bodies and are more careful with what we are consuming. Luckily, mocktails meet the needs of those who might have an alcohol intolerance but still desire something sweet without the hangover – what’s better than that?
What Are Mocktails?
Mocktails are non-alcoholic equivalent to cocktails. They are designed to resemble traditional cocktails in flavor and presentation: they just don’t include the alcohol. The term is a blend of “mock” (meaning imitation) and “cocktail.” So its naming convention is actually quite clever. Mocktails are often crafted with a combination of juices, flavored syrups, herbs, sparkling water, and other ingredients that replicate the complexity of alcoholic cocktails.
But what are the most popular mocktails?
To find out what mocktails are popular in the US, we crunched the numbers and looked at internet searches to reveal the recipes that Americans can’t stop looking for.
THE TOP 10 MOST POPULAR MOCKTAIL RECIPES
1. Shirley Temple – 14,800 searches
2. Virgin Pina Colada – 9,900 searches
3. Virgin Margarita – 2,900 searches
4. Virgin Mojito – 2,400 searches
5. Arnold Palmer – 1,300 searches
6. Blueberry Mojito – 1,000 searches
7. Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri – 880 searches
8. Virgin Sangria – 390 searches
9. Roy Rogers – 390 searches
10. Virgin Paloma – 170 searches
Coming in first place is a true American classic: the Shirley Temple. Known to be one of the best and most famous mocktails around, this lemon-lime soda, ginger ale, grenadine, and maraschino cherry (topped with a maraschino cherry) is attracting a staggering 14,000 plus searches a month from Americans looking to make the drink.
The mocktail that has unfortunately come last place but that’s still found a way to quench Americans’ thirst is Virgin Paloma. The Mexican-inspired drink reaches 170 searches on average, still making it one to keep on our radar. It’s also still quite popular when all things are considered.
TOP 10 FASTEST-RISING MOCKTAIL RECIPES
Now we’ve seen America’s golden mocktails, what are the drinks we should be adding to our watch list? The fastest-growing mocktail recipes include:
1. Virgin Sangria – 129%
=1.Roy Rogers – 129%
3. Virgin Moscow Mule – 120%
4. Mango Mule – 120%
5. Blueberry Smash – 100%
6. Virgin Mary – 55%
7. Virgin Margarita – 50%
8. Virgin Paloma – 50%
9. Shirley Temple – 49%
10. Arnold Palmer – 14%
Sangria is the quintessential summer drink, so it’s little to no surprise that the alternative is the most popular mocktail, with a 129% increase in recipe searches. Paying homage to the classic flavors, red grape juice fills the base of this drink with hints of limes, lemons, and orange juice to get that refreshing taste.
Classic cocktails with a virgin spin dominated the list with people keen to find alternate recipes for the Virgin Mary, Margaritas, and Moscow Mules. Arnold Palmer, the iced tea lemonade, has only seen a rise of 14%.
There are many benefits to swapping out your usual alcoholic beverage for a mocktail. Reducing drinking habits can help you improve your physical health, improve your liver function, and develop a healthier sleeping pattern. Many Americans are finding that a non-alcoholic drink suits them better, and choosing a mocktail as their go-to refreshment instead of alcoholic equivalents has led to notable positive lifestyle changes overall.
Methodology:
To determine the most popular mocktails, YorkTest first used Google Keyword Planner to determine the number of Google Searches each month on average for non-alcoholic beverages as well as looking for year-on-year stats. These figures were compiled to rank the most popular and fastest-rising mocktails in the United States. These figures have also been cross-referenced with other third-party data to ensure accuracy. However, while these figures are quite accurate, they are only estimations and serve more as well-formed indications of search trends as opposed to hard facts and statistics.
