Mock Margarita
A citrus, sour and bubbly cocktail ∙ Shake ∙ 3 min ∙
The Mock Margarita is a non-alcoholic Margarita: lime and lemon juice shaken with agave syrup, topped with ginger ale, served in a salt-rimmed glass.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Rim the glass with salt
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Lime juice 30 mlLemon juice 15 mlAgave syrup 30 mlSaline solution 3 dashes (opt.)
- Strain into the ice-filled glass
- Top up with Ginger ale
- Garnish with a lime wedge
Tips
- If you use the saline, add it a dash at a time, up to 3, and taste; it stands in for tequila's savory edge without drowning the citrus.
History
The Mock Margarita is an alcohol-free take on the Margarita, using agave syrup, lime and a salt rim to echo the tequila original without the spirit. It carries the Margarita's tart, saline profile into an alcohol-free drink topped with ginger ale. The Margarita's own origin is disputed among several claimants across the late 1930s and 1940s on both sides of the US–Mexico border, with no single account settled.
FAQ
What is a Mock Margarita?
A Mock Margarita is the non-alcoholic version of a Margarita: lime and lemon juice shaken with agave syrup, strained over ice into a salt-rimmed glass, and topped with ginger ale. Ginger ale's spice and fizz stand in for the tequila and orange liqueur.
How do you make a Mock Margarita?
Rim a chilled old-fashioned glass with salt, then shake lime juice, lemon juice, agave syrup, and a few dashes of saline solution (optional) with ice. Strain into the ice-filled glass, top up with ginger ale, and garnish with a lime wedge.
Is there anything non-alcoholic that tastes like tequila?
Nothing matches tequila's agave flavor and heat exactly. This recipe gets close with agave syrup, a few optional dashes of saline for tequila's savory edge, and ginger ale for spice and fizz.
What is the non-alcoholic version of a margarita called?
It is commonly called a Mock Margarita or Margarita mocktail, made tart and fizzy with fresh citrus and ginger ale instead of tequila and orange liqueur.
