Tonic Water Mocktail: Cucumber and Grapefruit

A tonic water mocktail does not require a gin alternative.

Serving inspiration from the ProstZero drink collection: golden hour tonic

A tonic water mocktail does not require a gin alternative. Cucumber and grapefruit complement the mixer’s bitterness. A little soda keeps the combination lighter while retaining an aperitif-like character.

The quantities make one serving. Measure the ingredients before mixing and chill any mixer. Syrups, juices and bottled alternatives vary in sweetness and acidity, so taste the base before topping up.

Ingredients for one serving

  • 100 ml tonic water
  • 40 ml grapefruit juice
  • 40 ml soda
  • 3 cucumber slices
  • Ice

Method

  1. Place cucumber in the glass and press lightly.
  2. Add grapefruit juice and ice.
  3. Pour in tonic and soda slowly.
  4. Stir gently once.

Getting the balance right

Tonic and grapefruit can reinforce each other’s bitterness. Start with a modest amount of juice and neutral soda. If it is too bitter, replace 20 ml grapefruit with orange juice. This changes the balance more deliberately than a large measure of syrup.

Variation and substitutions

Add a small rosemary tip as garnish for an herbal version. For a cucumber-led drink, replace grapefruit with cucumber juice and add 5 ml lemon juice.

Preparing several servings

Measure juice, purée and syrup shortly before serving. Add ice and carbonated ingredients when you make the drink. To serve a group, multiply the quantities, but adjust one glass first before mixing the whole pitcher.

Common question

Why does soda not taste like tonic?

Soda is largely neutral. Tonic has its own bitter and often sweet formulation, so replacing it changes more than carbonation.

Find more ideas in our mocktail recipe guide . Compare this with Non-Alcoholic Gin and Tonic: Ratio and Garnish Guide or browse the drink collection .