What Are Mocktails? Alcohol-Free Drinks, With or Without THC

Mocktails are cocktail-style drinks made without alcohol. You might also hear them called virgin cocktails, zero-proof cocktails or temperance drinks. They use the same building blocks as a cocktail (juice, syrup, bitters, soda, garnish), just without the spirit. Some people now build them around alcohol-free THC spirits instead, which makes a different drink with its own rules.

This guide covers what mocktails are, where the idea comes from, how to make one, and how THC mocktails differ from regular ones. It is general information, not medical advice.

What are mocktails?

Wiktionary defines a mocktail simply as "a nonalcoholic cocktail," and notes that the word is a blend of "mock" and "cocktail." Wikipedia describes a non-alcoholic mixed drink as "a cocktail-style beverage made without alcohol," also known as a virgin cocktail, temperance drink or zero-proof cocktail.

The idea isn't new. According to Wikipedia, "temperance drinks" appeared in the first American cocktail books, including Jerry Thomas's Bar-Tenders Guide (1862), and it notes that Merriam-Webster cites the first mention of the word "mocktail" in 1916. A familiar example is the Shirley Temple, traditionally made from grenadine and ginger ale.

What's a mocktail made of?

Most mocktails follow the same simple structure as a cocktail:

• A base that gives the drink its body: juice, brewed tea, an alcohol-free spirit alternative, or a flavored syrup.
• Something sweet and something sour to balance it: simple syrup, honey or agave, plus lemon or lime.
• Something bubbly or long to finish: soda water, tonic, ginger beer or ginger ale.
• A garnish and ice, because presentation is half the point.

A simple formula to start with: 2 parts base, 1 part citrus, a little sweetener, topped with soda or tonic over ice. Adjust to taste.

THC mocktails: what changes

A THC mocktail swaps the spirit for an alcohol-free spirit or tonic that contains THC. It has no alcohol, but it isn't the same as a regular mocktail: it contains an active ingredient, it's for adults 21 and over, and dosing matters.

The two alcohol-free THC options we carry for mixing, from their product pages:

• Sherpa THC Spirit (750ml): a non-alcoholic spirit alternative with 5mg or 10mg hemp-derived Delta-9 THC per 1.5oz serving, about 85mg or 170mg per bottle. Zero alcohol and zero calories per the product page. Flavors: Original Blend, Coconut, Watermelon and Wild Grape. Sherpa suggests pouring it 1:1 in place of a spirit and topping with tonic or ginger beer, or serving it over ice.
• Willie's Social Tonic (750ml): 5mg or 10mg hemp-derived Delta-9 THC per 1.5oz serving, with 2mg CBD, 2mg CBG and 200mg L-theanine; 17 servings per bottle; 0% alcohol. Willie's suggests serving it over ice or mixing it with soda water, tonic or juice.

Both bottles hold many servings. A THC mocktail made with one 1.5oz pour of a 5mg spirit contains 5mg of THC. Two pours make it 10mg.

How to make a THC mocktail sensibly

• Measure the THC pour with a jigger. Don't free-pour. Everything else in the glass can be eyeballed; the THC spirit can't.
• Start low, go slow. Health Canada's guidance for cannabis you eat or drink is to "start with a low level of THC: for example, 2.5 mg or less." A half pour of a 5mg spirit gets you there. Effects can take up to two hours to begin, so wait before mixing a second drink.
• Don't add alcohol. A THC mocktail should stay alcohol-free.
• Label the pitcher if you batch drinks for a party, and keep THC drinks away from anyone under 21.
• Never drive after drinking THC.

Not medical advice: talk to a doctor before using THC if you take medication, are pregnant or nursing, or have a health condition.

A simple THC mocktail to try

Citrus tonic: over ice, add one measured 1.5oz pour (or a half pour) of an alcohol-free THC spirit or tonic, the juice of half a lime, and a small splash of simple syrup. Top with tonic water and garnish with a lime wheel. Want it without THC? Use plain soda and a little extra citrus, and you have a regular mocktail.

For more ways THC drinks are portioned and served, see our THC seltzer vs. soda vs. lemonade guide.

What's a mocktail vs. a THC drink in a can?

A canned THC seltzer or soda is ready to drink, with the milligrams fixed per can. A THC mocktail is something you build, which gives you more control over flavor and dose but asks you to measure. If you'd rather not measure, a single-serving can is simpler. Our What Are THC Drinks? guide compares the main formats.

Shop alcohol-free THC spirits

We keep the Sherpa spirits and Willie's Social Tonic together on one shelf: alcohol-free THC spirits for mocktails. If you'd rather sweeten a mocktail with THC, THC syrups and drink mixes includes measured syrups and packets. We ship to adults 21 and over in the 20 states on our where we ship page; shipping is free over $55.

FAQ

Are mocktails alcohol-free?

Yes. A mocktail is a cocktail-style drink made without alcohol.

Is a THC mocktail still a mocktail?

It contains no alcohol, so it fits the definition. But it contains THC, so it's for adults 21 and over and should be measured carefully.

How much THC is in a THC mocktail?

Whatever you pour. One 1.5oz serving of a 5mg spirit is 5mg; of a 10mg spirit, 10mg.

Can I mix a THC spirit with alcohol?

We recommend not combining THC with alcohol.

Sources

• Wiktionary, "mocktail" (checked October 18, 2026)
• Wikipedia, "List of non-alcoholic mixed drinks" (checked October 18, 2026)
• Health Canada, "New cannabis products: What you need to know" (checked October 18, 2026)
• Product details: ShipSips product pages, October 18, 2026

This article is general information and is not medical advice. Our products are for adults 21 and older. Do not drive or operate machinery after consuming THC, and check your state's laws before purchasing.