You’ve most likely began noticing bar menus stacked with summery, non-alcoholic drinks, however for those who’re craving one at residence, you may simply craft your personal fruity mocktails with easy staples you could have already got in your fridge.

Like their cocktail counterparts, mocktails—a.okay.a. zero-proof, virgin, or booze-free drinks—embody full of life mixtures of refreshing substances, making them enjoyable, tasty decisions to serve at your subsequent feast, BBQ, or any get-together.

And there’s no higher method to experiment with these drinks than infusing them with completely different sorts of fruit, Julie Reiner, co-owner of The Clover Membership and Leyenda in Brooklyn, decide of Netflix’s Drink Masters, and creator of The Craft Cocktail Social gathering, tells SELF. These easy-to-come-by substances—whether or not that’s a juicy mango, ripe peach, or tart raspberry—act as the bottom of your drink and, relying on the fruit, add the essence of recent nectars, vibrant hues, and silky or frothy textures.

In case you’re serving mocktails at your subsequent gathering, the drink’s recipe isn’t the one factor to bear in mind. Past the style, you additionally need to be sure you’re crafting an setting the place of us selecting to not drink don’t really feel alienated. Which means giving mocktails the identical care in presentation that you’d give to cocktails. (“There may be all the time a approach to supply one thing so that everybody will get to really feel fancy,” Reiner says. Extra on that beneath!)

For some inspiration on your zero-proof journey, we’ve rounded up 15 mocktail recipes crafted with fruity, but revolutionary flavors—together with two from Reiner herself. However earlier than we get into these scrumptious drinks, maintain studying for a number of ideas that’ll provide help to grasp your mocktails.

How do you keep away from making overly candy mocktails?

Nothing is worse than a too-sweet mocktail that overwhelms your palate. Fortunately, there are a bunch of issues you are able to do to keep away from this widespread mistake, and it begins with being aware of the substances you utilize. Mixology—which, sure, contains alcohol-free drinks—is all about balancing intense flavors. You need to discover concord amongst candy, bitter, and bitter, Reiner says.

You must also do a style take a look at of the fruit you’ll be utilizing to get a way of its ripeness and freshness. As an illustration, for those who’re working with a candy mango purée, you could need to mix it with tangy limes. (In reality, Reiner says she all the time retains a few limes available when making fruity mocktails.) One other instance: When you have tart cherries, you may pair them with a creamy base, like coconut milk, which ought to relax the sourness of the fruit.

Then, Reiner says, get your fingers on some bitters. These extracts comprised of vegetation (like bark, flowers, and roots) assist to boost your drink—identical to salt does your meals—and extra alcoholic-free bitters manufacturers at the moment are hitting the market. For the perfect fruity mocktails, the highly effective droplets of bitters, although minuscule, assist guarantee “you’ve your candy and bitter in steadiness,” she says.

How will you elevate your non-alcoholic drinks?

“Vinegars are such an effective way so as to add acidity,” Reiner says. Not solely does vinegar assist steadiness sweetness, nevertheless it additionally provides depth to a drink. You’ll be able to incorporate vinegar into your fruity, booze-free drinks by making a “shrub”: This syrup consists of equal elements sugar, fruit, and vinegar and pairs completely with a splash of glowing water. Since mocktails nix the highly effective punch of alcohol, shrubs can provide different, matured flavors—just like what you’d get by infusing an aged wine or spirit right into a recipe.

One other tip: Take into consideration the place and the way you’re serving them. Overlook about these sad-looking aspect tables with boring pitchers and one non-alcoholic possibility. As a substitute, take into account having a number of options available—such as you most likely would for cocktails—and serving them in enjoyable containers like stained coupe glasses.

Keep in mind the ability of garnishes, too. Simply as you’d costume up a cocktail, mocktails deserve a level-up as effectively. For instance, strive assembling a lemon twist as an alternative of including a standard wedge; that approach, you don’t waste the rinds. Or take into account incorporating recent herbs like mint as a final touch.

Okay, now that you just’re a grasp mixologist, on to the fruity mocktail recipes!