Cherry Mocktail

This delightful Cherry Mocktail is oh-so-refreshing and flavorful! The combination of fresh lemon juice, tart cherry juice and bubbly soda makes for a wonderful drink that anyone can enjoy.

A textured glass filled with a red iced drink, garnished with mint and dark cherries. Another similar drink and a jar of cherries are in the background.

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Feast + West may receive commissions for purchases made through those links — at no cost to you. All opinions are our own. Please read our full disclosure for more information.

About this Cherry Mocktail Recipe

Tart cherry juice is the star ingredient in this flavorful and refreshing mocktail. Its bold, tangy flavor pairs beautifully with citrus and fizzy lemon-lime soda, creating a drink that feels as special as a cocktail — but without the booze.

Tart cherry juice brings a vibrant twist to cocktails and alcohol-free beverages alike. While I love a good Sleepy Girl mocktail before bed, I also love using cherry juice to make other drinks, like this citrusy spritzer that doesn’t contain alcohol.

This mocktail is perfect for any occasion, offering a satisfying combination of tartness and effervescence that’s hard to resist. You’re going to love it during the summertime! It’s also great for Dry January when you’re craving a bite of tart juices elevated into a non-alcoholic cocktail.

More mocktail recipes: Cranberry Lime MocktailVirgin Yule MuleVirgin White Russian

Two textured glasses filled with a pink cocktail, ice, and garnished with cherries and mint. A jar of cherries and mint leaves are nearby.

Why you’ll love this recipe

This lovable mocktail is fruity and bubbly and so easy to make:

  • You only need a few simple ingredients to make this pretty summer mocktail. No zero-proof spirits needed!
  • Serve this cherry mocktail at parties, brunch or even for movie night. It’s a versatile drink that everyone will enjoy.
  • This recipe is really easy! Even if you don’t have fancy bar tools, you can make a tart cherry mocktail.
Top-down view of two glasses filled with a pink drink, ice, and garnished with cherries and mint. Additional cherries and mint leaves are scattered around the white surface.

Tools & equipment

All you need to make this drink is a rocks glass, bar spoon, jigger and cocktail picks. That’s it — it truly is that simple of a recipe! You can serve it in whatever glass you like.

A glass of red cocktail garnished with mint leaves and cherries on a skewer, served with ice. Another similar drink and a bowl of cherries are in the background.

Ingredients

You’ll need a few basic ingredients, plus a couple optional add-ins, then you’re ready to mix up this refreshing cherry mocktail:

A textured glass filled with a red cocktail and ice, garnished with two dark cherries and a mint sprig. Another similar glass and an open cherry jar are in the background.

Substitutions & variations

Switch things up with these substitutes, if needed:

Citrus swaps: You can use fresh lime juice in place of the lemon juice if you prefer! Orange juice could be delicious too.

Sweeten it up: If you find that your mocktail is a bit too tart, you can add some sweetener if you want. Maple syrup, agave nectar and honey are all great options. You can use simple syrup too!

Bubbly alternatives: Swap the lemon-lime soda with sparkling water, seltzer or anything else that gives this mocktail some bubbles! If you like the fizzy touch, but not the sugar, grab a sugar-free or prebiotic soda that has reduced sugar.

Best bitters: You can use any flavor of bitters with this mocktail — I used aromatic bitters but orange bitters would also be tasty. However, keep in mind that most bottles of bitters contain trace amounts of alcohol. If you wish to avoid booze completely, you can use these non-alcoholic aromatic bitters instead for a similar flavor.

decorative icon of a rocks glass.

try non-alcoholic bitters

We love adding bitters to drinks to add a little extra depth and flavor complexity. I’ve teamed up with my friends at All the Bitter — who make fantastic non-alcoholic bitters — to bring you an exclusive discount on your purchase. Use code fwbitters for 10% off!

Instructions

Make this yummy mocktail in just a few quick and easy steps:

A hand pours liquid from a jigger into a textured glass, next to fresh mint leaves on a white surface.
A hand pours red liquid from a small cup into a textured glass with ice, next to sprigs of mint on a white surface.

Add ice to a rocks glass (or whatever glass you want!). Then add the tart cherry juice and lemon juice.

A clear soda is being poured from a green can into a textured glass containing a reddish drink with ice. Mint leaves are placed beside the glass.
A hand stirring a pink drink with ice in a textured glass using a gold spoon. Mint leaves are nearby on a white background.

Top with lemon-lime soda or club soda, and then stir everything together gently. Add a dash of bitters, if desired, for an extra layer of flavor.

A hand places a skewer with two cherries on top of a glass filled with a red iced beverage, next to mint leaves.
A glass of red cocktail garnished with mint leaves and cherries on a skewer, served with ice. Another similar drink and a bowl of cherries are in the background.

Finish it off with a cocktail pick with cocktail cherries and a sprig of fresh mint.

Tips & tricks

Check out these tips and tricks to ensure the best results for this amazing cherry mocktail:

  • Want to strengthen the mint flavor? Grab a muddler and muddle the mint with the lime juice in the bottom of the glass before making each mocktail.
  • Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor! The bottled stuff just isn’t as good and can make this drink too tart.
  • You can make ahead, but don’t add the ice or soda to this mocktail until just before serving.
A textured glass filled with a pinkish-red cocktail, garnished with ice, mint, and two cherries on a skewer. Mint leaves lie beside the glass on a white surface.

Food pairings

Savory and salty foods go well with sweet cherries. I love to make this for a Friday night with a big charcuterie board. If you want some snacks for a party, this drink pairs well with whipped feta dip and pita chips or even simply some buttery popcorn.

For a fun, summertime brunch, serve this bright beverage with a batch of cherry danishes. It would also be great for a barbecue with pulled pork and some cherry BBQ sauce.

And for dessert, cherries with ice cream are always a winner. This cherry dump cake or a slice of cherry pie would be fantastic with a cherry drink to go with it.

A textured glass filled with a pink cocktail, garnished with ice, black cherries, and a sprig of mint. A bowl of cherries and mint leaves are nearby.

FAQ

What does tart cherry juice taste like?

Tart cherry juice is just what it says in the name, tart! However, there is a slightly sweet flavor as well. It’s actually a bit reminiscent of red wine!

Will tart cherry juice make you sleepy?

Since tart cherries contain melatonin, it is possible that this mocktail could make you a bit sleepy. However, this recipe contains such a small amount that it shouldn’t make you too drowsy.

More mocktail recipes

— Did you make this recipe? —

Please leave a ★★★★★ review or comment below.

A textured glass filled with a pink cocktail, garnished with ice, black cherries, and a sprig of mint. A bowl of cherries and mint leaves are nearby.

Cherry Mocktail

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
This tart cherry mocktail is bubbly and refreshing! Grab the simple ingredients at the grocery store and then mix them all together.
No ratings yet
Print Pin

ingredients

instructions

  • In a rocks glass filled with ice, add cherry juice and lemon juice.
  • Top with lemon-lime soda and stir together gently. Add a dash or two of bitters, if desired.
  • Garnish with cocktail cherries and a sprig of fresh mint.

notes

Make ahead instructions: Combine the lemon juice and cherry juice ahead of time, but don’t add the ice or soda to this mocktail until just before serving. Use the +/- buttons at the top of this recipe card to scale the recipe as you need to. 
Citrus swaps: Fresh lemon juice has the best flavor. You can use fresh lime juice in place of the lemon juice if you prefer! Orange juice could be delicious too.
Sweeten it up: If you find that your mocktail is a bit too tart, you can add some sweetener if you want. Maple syrup, simple syrup, agave nectar and honey are all great options. Start with ¼ ounce, stir well and taste before adding more. 
Bubbly alternatives: Swap the lemon-lime soda with sparkling water, seltzer or anything else that gives this mocktail some bubbles! If you like the fizzy touch, but not the sugar, grab a sugar-free or prebiotic soda that has reduced sugar.
Best bitters: You can use any flavor of bitters with this mocktail — I used aromatic bitters but orange bitters would also be tasty. However, keep in mind that most bottles of bitters contain trace amounts of alcohol. If you wish to avoid booze completely, you can use non-alcoholic aromatic bitters (affiliate link) instead for a similar flavor.

recommended products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

nutrition information

Yield: 1 drink

amount per serving:

Serving: 6ounces Calories: 81kcal Carbohydrates: 21g Protein: 0.4g Fat: 0.1g Saturated Fat: 0.01g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g Sodium: 13mg Potassium: 110mg Fiber: 0.5g Sugar: 18g Vitamin A: 49IU Vitamin C: 11mg Calcium: 15mg Iron: 0.4mg
did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #feastandwestrecipes!
decorative icon of a beer stein.

The Golden Ratio Guide:

Mix the perfect cocktail, every time

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sharing is Caring

Help spread the word. You're awesome for doing it!