Peach Mocktail
If you’re craving something light and celebratory without the alcohol, this peach mocktail is your drink: juicy peaches, a hint of citrus, honey, rosemary, and a bit of fizz. AKA … summer, served in a glass!
It was a languid, sultry afternoon — the kind when it seems like the sweetness of summer is all around you — when I decided I wanted a refreshing drink. Caffeine? Absolutely not. Milkshakes? Too rich and creamy.
I needed a beverage that I could sip on slowly, something that would capture the delightful sunny-season feeling — something bubbly and fruity, like bottled sunshine. Enter: this peach mocktail.
Peaches are the main character, obviously. I cook the fresh, juicy fruits down with lemon, honey, and rosemary, coaxing out the taste of summer and infusing the syrup with a touch of herbal brightness. It’s incredibly fragrant, beautifully sweet, slightly floral, and intensely fruity. There’s the unmistakably saccharine essence of peach, but with more dimension.
As a lifelong teetotaller, it’s exactly what’s needed: drinks that feel thoughtful, not just an afterthought. Having said that, this peach mocktail isn’t just for non-drinkers. Even if you’d usually be reaching for a cocktail, this alcohol-free version hits all the right notes.
With the fresh peach purée and your choice of sparkling water or flavour soda (pop), it’s gorgeously simple, but still full of flair. You can dress it up for parties or keep it pared back for quiet garden lounging, like me! An easy little luxury.
❣️ Why You’ll Love This Peach Mocktail
🍑About Those Ingredients …
Here’s what you’ll need to make this peach mocktail at home:
- Peaches: Use fresh, ripe, juicy peaches when they’re in season. Although canned/tinned peaches work in a pinch, they’re packed in syrup, making the result considerably sweeter, which isn’t ideal.
- Honey: This is a no-added-sugar recipe, so honey is our natural sweetener here. Good quality honey is beautifully floral and pairs like a dream with lemon.
- Lemon: Provides brightness and cuts through the fruity sweetness. Fresh lemon juice is best!
- Rosemary: A classic match for peaches, fresh rosemary added to our syrup brings a herbal, sophisticated touch.
- Water: I use sparkling water (soda) for that fizzy finish, although there are some fun variations of this (see below!). You’ll also need still water to make the peach syrup, and ice cubes to serve the peach mockail.
Easy Variations and Substitutions
Want to have some fun with the recipe? Why not, I say! Here are a few variations I’ve tried and loved:
Try a peach and raspberry mocktail, à la peach melba cake! First option: Make a separate raspberry rosemary syrup (with half of the honey and rosemary split between the two fruits) and layer it up in the glass for an incredible sunset-themed drink. Alternatively, throw a few fresh or frozen raspberries straight in with the peaches before cooking!
Swap the rosemary for mint or basil, two other strong contenders for pairing with peaches. Instead of infusing these into the syrup, muddle your fresh herbs of choice into the purée before mixing.
Instead of sparkling water/soda, try other options to add more flavour! Use chilled ginger beer for a punchy, zippy twist. Love lemon? Try sparkling lemonade to double the citrusy tartness! Want elegance? Mix with non-alcoholic sparkling wine.
🫗How to Make Peach Mocktail (Step-by-Step Photos)
There’s no need to get muddled (pun intended!), because making this peach mocktail is fast, fuss-free, and beyond easy. Here’s how to make your new favourite mocktail, with step-by-step photos:
One: Add peach slices, honey, rosemary and water to a small saucepan.
Two: Let the syrup cook over low heat until the peaches are soft and aromatic.
Three: Discard the rosemary and add everything else to a blender.
Four: Blend a smooth purée.
The next two steps are optional and purely for aesthetic/visual oomph. Skip if you like!
Five: Dip the rim of your glass into the peach purée.
Six: Next, dip the rim in sugar. The sugar should stick to the purée, creating a crystalised rim.
Seven: Add lemon to your glass and muddle (more info on this below). Remove lemon.
Eight: Add 4 tablespoons of peach purée to each glass.
Nine: Add the ice cubes to the glass along with sparkling water.
Ten: Garnish with a peach slice and rosemary (optional).
Remember, the complete recipe (with ingredient quantities and instructions) can be found at the bottom of this page. You can also print the recipe, save the recipe, adjust the servings, and much more from there!
How to “Muddle” Cocktails and Mocktails
There are three main ways to prepare cocktails/mocktails: muddled, shaken, and stirred.
When should you muddle cocktails? Muddling is ideal for extracting juices from fruits or aromatic essential oils from herbs. If your cocktail/mocktail is fruit-based, it’s probably a good idea to muddle!
Muddling cocktails/mocktails is easier than you may think. With a bartender’s cocktail kit, you’ll have everything you need … but you can also use the tip of a wooden rolling pin or a spoon handle.
Add your ingredients to the bottom of a robust glass or cocktail shaker, then gently press and twist using your muddler. Repeat until the ingredients are juiced/aromatic, being careful not to overdo the action.
Top Tips
- Use ripe peaches! The more flavourful the fruit, the better the drink. It’s best to buy peaches in season for this reason (July-August).
- Sparkling water is a neutral fizzy base for peach mocktails. However, if you’re adding anything else, be cautious not to over-sweeten, as this can disrupt the balance.
- Strain if you prefer smoother drinks. Make the cocktail in a cocktail shaker, then strain to remove any unblended peach pulp and the muddled lemons.
❄️Storing Your Peach Mocktail
You can make the peach purée base a day ahead. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge (to retain the gorgeously infused rosemary aroma).
Alternatively, freeze the peach purée in individual ice cube trays (1 tablespoon per cube, for easy portioning). You can use these to make instant mocktails whenever you fancy!
The fizz element is best added right before serving. If you leave it (or store it), the pop will go flat.
🍰Peach Mocktail Serving Suggestions
Of course, these peach mocktails are a fantastic option if you’re planning a non-alcoholic welcome drink for parties or gatherings (especially great for baby showers!).
Want some more low-key pairings geared toward at-home dining?
Try matching the peach mocktail with fruity desserts like blueberry toast, coconut milk crepes, lemon drizzle cake, or mango overnight oats.
Alternatively, go savoury with a selection of summer salads (e.g. Greek marouli salad or arugula and spinach salad), light snacks like cucumber and egg sandwiches, caprese toast, or pesto arancini.
But, before you serve anything with these peach mocktails, you have to make them! So, grab your bartending gear, and print out the recipe below.
If you tried this peach mocktail — or any other recipe on my website — please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know your thoughts in the ✍️ comments at the bottom of the page. Thanks for being a part of my community!
🍹Peach Mocktail Recipe
Ingredients
For the Peach Purée
- 2 peaches roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons pure honey
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 300 ml water for the puree
For the Peach Mocktail
- ½ lemon cut into quarters
- 150 ml sparkling water
- 100 ml still water for the cocktail
- 8 ice cubes or 4 per glass
Instructions
- Add 2 peaches (roughly chopped), 2 tablespoons pure honey, 2 sprigs rosemary, and 300 ml water to a small saucepan. Set to cook over medium-low heat until the peaches have softened and the rosemary is aromatic.
- Cool the mixture, then add to a blender. Blend to a smooth purée.
- Take ½ lemon and cut into quarters. Muddle the lemon segments by gently pressing and twisting, thereby extracting its juices. Add 150 ml sparkling water and 100 ml still water. Strain, then pour into glasses with 8 ice cubes (4 ice cubes per glass).
- Optionally, garnish with extra peach slices and rosemary.
