coco loco mde with vanilla coke, coconut cream and milk, lime drinks on a table ready to serve
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It’s Time to Share Mocktails with Your Friends

This time, it was a boys and girls night out—mocktail style! And let me tell you, it was everything. I’ve been wanting to host mocktails-with-friends tasting for a FAT minute, and springtime was the perfect excuse to make it happen.

The idea was simple: bring your best, most creative mocktail in a pitcher, show up with your cutest cups, and let your imagination run wild. We tasted in pairs (nope, you didn’t have to be a couple—besties absolutely counted!), rated each other’s drinks, and had an absolute blast. A big bonus? No hangovers and safe drives home. Plus, a perfect excuse to include our favorite little humans—kiddos welcome!

Every ingredient counts

Mocktails were the star of the show, and my friends delivered. From fresh and fruity to spicy and sophisticated, here are the concoctions we sampled (and their spirit pairings if you felt like adding a kick):

1. Coco Loco
Vanilla coke, coconut cream, coconut milk, lime juice, and lime slice
Pairs well with: Rum

2. Pearfect Mary
Pear juice, rosemary-infused simple syrup, lemon juice, lemon wedges, ginger ale
Pairs well with: Vodka

3. Pink Drink
Agave syrup, grapefruit juice, coconut milk
Pairs well with: Rum or tequila

4. Caribbean Sunset
Pineapple juice, grenadine, and sprite
Pairs well with: White rum or tequila

5. Blackberry Bliss
Blackberries, sparkling water, simple syrup, lime juice, mint
Pairs well with: White rum

6. Tropical Breeze
Pineapple juice, orange juice, lime, lemonade, grenadine, tropical fruit mix, tajín rim
Pairs well with: Rum, tequila, or vodka

7. Beach Peach
Peach juice, pink lemonade, ice starburst flavor, splash of grenadine, pink glitter rim
Pairs well with: Rum, tequila, or vodka

8. Mango-Rita
Mango, strawberry, mint, lime, sprite, brown sugar
Pairs well with: Tequila

9. Spicy Murder (our bold Bloody Mary remix), inspired by this recipe
Tomato juice, horseradish, pepper, Worcestershire, lemon juice, orange juice + zest, and all the spice
Pairs well with: Vodka

  • mocktails with friends, ballot box to vote on mocktail drinks
  • mocktails with friends, mango-rite drink being stirred
  • mocktails with friends, coco loco in the making with pearfect mary behind the scenes
  • mocktails with friends, coco loco in the making
  • mocktails with friends, blackberry bliss with creativity
  • mocktails with friends, caribbean sunset in the mix

What the critics said

Our official scorecards captured the real tea! Guests rated mocktails on smell, taste, finish, and overall vibe, and we got everything from “morning smoothie energy” to “hot bar salsa vibes.” (You know who you are.)

Top-rated drinks:

  • Caribbean Sunset was a tropical crowd favorite—refreshing and smooth with just the right amount of sweetness
  • Pearfect Mary impressed with its herbaceous twist and crisp finish
  • Pink Drink scored big with its dreamy flavor and pretty-in-pink presentation

Some quotes that made us laugh:

  • “Tastes like a brunch smoothie—would drink every morning.”
  • “Reminds me of a fruit salad on vacation.”
  • “I’d spike this with tequila and take it to the beach yesterday.”

Creative mocktails with friends

Thank you to everyone who brought their A-game and embraced the challenge! Whether you were taste-testing, sipping responsibly, or wrangling kiddos while holding a glitter-rimmed cup (true hero status), YOU made this night what it was—fun, cozy, and full of flavor.

Xo, Mel

P.S. Special shoutout to those who brought mocktail accessories and custom cups—y’all understood the assignment.

P.P.S. Wanna spike it next time? We got you. A mini bar will always be waiting in the corner—just in case.

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