Brilliantly Boozy Vegan co*cktail Recipes (2024)

These brilliantly boozy vegan co*cktail recipes will impress guests and lift your spirits!

By Lora O’Brien

At the risk of sounding like a raging alcoholic, sometimes we all just like to kick it back and have a co*cktail or ten. And with the sun making increasingly warm appearances, now is the perfect time to put your mixologist skills into motion and try your hand at making some vegan co*cktail recipes for summer – or any time, really.

Whether you’re hosting a BBQ, a summer party or are just having a catch up with the girls, co*cktails are a fun way to enjoy an alcoholic refreshment. There are so many to choose from! From lemon drop shots to dry martinis, there’s something for every taste.

And guess what? Alcohol’s not that bad for you! In fact, there are some health benefits to moderate (and I stress – moderate – drinking). Like these, for example.

It can lower your risk of heart disease

The School of Public Health at Harvard University found that: “moderate amounts of alcohol raises levels of high-density lipoprotein, HDL, or ‘good’ cholesterol and higher HDL levels are associated with greater protection against heart disease.

Moderate alcohol consumption has also been linked with beneficial changes ranging from better sensitivity to insulin to improvements in factors that influence blood clotting….Such changes would tend to prevent the formation of small blood clots that can block arteries in the heart, neck, and brain, the ultimate cause of many heart attacks and the most common kind of stroke.” Woohoo!

It can add years to your life

You know those really old people that are always interviewed on the news about why they’re so full of beans even after blowing out 100 candles on the cake? They invariably say the same thing: a drink a day keeps the grim reaper away. And research by the Catholic University of Campobasso backs that up! Apparently drinking one or two drinks per day for women could reduce the risk of death by 18 percent.

This is, of course, another feature of the Mediterranean diet, where wine is an integral part of dinner or lunch. But of course, that rules binge-drinking out completely. Sorry, Brits!

It can reduce your risk of diabetes

Results of a Dutch study showed that healthy adults who drink one to two glasses per day have a decreased chance of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who don’t drink at all. The study states that moderate alcohol consumption can play a part in a healthy lifestyle to help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

It can improve your libido

Yeah, we know what you’re thinking: duh, right? But we’re talking about men here: contrary to popular belief, research shows that moderate drinking might actually protect against erectile dysfunction in the same way that drinking red wine might benefit heart disease. A 2009 study claims the chances of erectile dysfunction were reduced by 25 to 30 percent among moderate alcohol drinkers.

It can reduce your risk of developing dementia

According to the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, moderate drinkers were 23 percent less likely to develop cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Small amounts of alcohol might make brain cells more fit. Apparently, alcohol in moderate amounts stresses cells and thus toughens them up to cope with major stresses down the road that could cause dementia. But keep in mind: this only works for very moderate amounts of alcohol. Like, no more than a drink a day.

So, the message to take away here is moderation. But if you want to drink healthy, you will also want to think about ingesting only organic booze (remember: alcohol is vegetable derived, and if those veggies are sprayed with pesticides, you’re drinking that, too!)

Yes, Vegan co*cktail Recipes Are A Thing

You may be surprised to discover that though they’re based on fruits and veggies, some co*cktails actually rely on non-vegan ingredients to make them, including eggs, cream and even dyes extracted from insects. Gross, right?

Well, there are a few ways for you to keep your beverages vegan friendly this summer, starting with websites like Barnivore, which list all vegan friendly wines, beers and spirits, making it easy to identify those that are safe to consume. You can literally type a brand in and check whether or not it’s safe to go into your co*cktail.

Of course, there are more obvious ways to keep your co*cktail vegan friendly – if you’re making a cream based co*cktail, you can switch it up with coconut or almond milk so it’ll still have that creamy edge.

Missing your bloody Mary without the traditional (anchovy based) Worcester sauce? Tamari, my friends, will work wonders.

Obviously I know that not all of us like to sit down to an alcoholic drink as a treat, and prefer to steer clear of booze completely, and that’s perfectly fine. But why not still enjoy a co*cktail, minus the alcohol? Meet the Mocktail! I’ve included a few mocktail recipes at the end here for those of you wanting to have a co*cktail and skip the hangover.

Now, where’s that co*cktail shaker…?

25 Brilliantly Boozy Vegan co*cktail Recipes

1. Creamy Hazelnut Martini

What do you get when you combine a love of Nutella with a love of vodka martinis? This, one of the most gorgeous vegan co*cktail recipes, ever! It’s elegant, it’s more-ish (be careful!) and it’s easier to make than you’d think. Warming, rich and delicious!

Get the recipe here.

2. Cucumber Gin Martini

Did you know gin may have actual health benefits, and is also lower in calories than beer and wine? After all, it was developed as an alternative health remedy before it became a social drink. There’s a reason the Queen Mother lived to be over 100, you know – she said she had a glass of gin at 4pm every day!

The cucumber here will keep you cool on the hottest days, and also adds a nice shot of much-needed hydration.

Get the recipe here.

3. Pomegranate Gin Fizz

Although by now you’re probably thinking I’m a raging alcoholic – I swear, I’m not. I’m just British! In fact, I’m not actually fond of strong tasting alcoholic drinks! So for me, this is the perfect gin co*cktail with a really subtle alcohol edge. It’s blended with fresh pomegranate seeds and a gin created from grapes, giving it a slightly floral, fragrant edge. Garnish it with a handful of pomegranate seeds, just because, y’know, it looks so pretty!

Get the recipe here.

4. Sweet Tea Sangria with Peaches & Raspberries

Sangria is really one of those vegan co*cktail recipes that everyone seems to enjoy, and it’s much, much better to make your own from scratch than buying a ready made bottle. The sweet tea in this is going to revamp your love of sangria, and the addition of fresh fruit is a must.

The best part of sangria after all is finishing the glass and having sangria-infused fruit to nibble on afterwards, am I right?

Get the recipe here.

5. Guava Mezcal Mule co*cktail

The name of this co*cktail surely has ‘mule’ in it because it gives a nice kick! Mezcal will leave you feeling super relaxed, and the guava lends a sweet touch to the alcohol’s naturally smoky flavour.

Get the recipe here.

6. Cranberry Mojito Punch

You’re probably thinking this is one of the best vegan co*cktail recipes for summer. But it would also make the perfect Thanksgiving co*cktail, thanks to the cranberries. They’ll also protect you from a bladder infection, and add a bit of vitamin C to your drink, meaning you won’t be damaging your body quite as badly as you would with straight up booze.

Get the recipe here.

7. Summer Breeze co*cktail

This one looks like a sunset! Or perhaps, a tequila sunrise, depending on how you look at it. The lovely red comes from Grenadine, of course, a strong red syrup made from red currants and pomegranates. It is a useful ingredient for many co*cktails – just make sure yours is a healthy one like this, not made from artificial ingredients or colours.

Oh, and did you know the way they make Maraschino cherries is nothing less than horrifying, involving high fructose syrup, artificial colours and flavours and chemicals? Avoid, avoid, avoid! Add a real cherry garnish, or a cranberry instead!

Get the recipe here.

8. Elderflower Grapefruit Gin & Tonic

Of all the vegan co*cktail recipes, what could be more British than one containing gin, tonic and elderflower? Here, the sweet and musky perfume of elderflower pairs perfectly with the classic juniper taste of gin.

Want to have some fun with this? Mix with an extra dash of sweet lemonade & freeze for some very grown-up ice lollies.

Get the recipe here.

8. Lilikoi Passion Fruit co*cktail

The pungent sweetness of passionfruit will sweep you back to your favourite tropical holiday. Although it looks fancy, this is pretty simple to make, and it also converts easily to a nice mocktail, too.

Get the recipe here.

9. Summer Garden Gin Fizz co*cktail

Basil and lavender form the basis for the flavours of this fizzy, summery co*cktail. This is the perfect – and a rather impressive – drink to serve up to friends on the hottest of days. It’s a real heat blaster!

Get the recipe here.

10. Pineapple & Mango Rum Punch

You can almost hear Jimmy Buffett singing about this one, right? If you can’t make it to a tropical beach this summer, bring a piece of the beach home to you with this irresistible punch – little umbrellas optional! This is definitely one of the best vegan co*cktail recipes to serve up at summer fetes.

Get the recipe here.

11. Rose & Lemon Spritzer

Take the garden tea party or bridal shower to another level with these rose and lemon spritzers. They look absolutely gorgeous with a few rose petals floating in them – just make sure those roses are organic, or you’ll be ingesting a whole lot of pesticides. Ew!

Get the recipe here.

12. Papaya & Mango Frozen Margarita

When it’s really, really hot and you are actually craving something that will give you brain freeze, this smooth, frozen concoction is your drink. But don’t worry – that nasty sensation in your head won’t last long thanks to the tequila in this co*cktail!

Get the recipe here.

13. Strawberry Pom Mojito

They’re in season, so why not make the most of strawberries? They add a nice, sweet edge to the traditionally citrusy mojito. I also like reminding myself that even soaked in booze, these berries still count as one of my ‘five a day!’

Get the recipe here.

14. Grapefruit-Ginger Bourbon Sour

Another super-refreshing citrus based drink – but this time, with bourbon! You’ll imagine you’re out somewhere in the American South, sitting on a porch and talking about the heat with someone with an accent like Tennessee Williams. And after 3-4 of these, you’ll be convinced that’s true…!

Get the recipe here.

15. Strawberry, Ginger & Basil Prosecco co*cktail

The ingredients of this one almost sound more like a smoothie than a co*cktail! It’s got vitamin C and sweetness from the berries, a zing from the ginger, and a bit of refreshment from the basil.

Again, if you’re vegan, ensure your prosecco is an animal-free brand like La Jara. A lot of proseccos are filtered with fish scales. Yuk.

Get the recipe here.

16. Blood Orange & Blackberry Rum Punch

Can’t you just imagine Tim Burton or Morticia Addams serving these at their summer fete? Which would be held at night, of course. Under a full moon…The blackberries blend perfectly with blood oranges to make this a bittersweet treat, and adding little violets or pansies (organic, pesticide free, remember?) make this co*cktail super chic.

Get the recipe here.

17. Coconut Rum Iced Coffee

Um, bye Starbucks! And hello coconut rum iced coffee! This is my very favourite of all the vegan co*cktail recipes here! If, like me, the summer heat makes you sleepy, then the coffee will give you a kick. Meantime, the rum will make you relaxed. It’s the perfect place to be! The coconut milk adds a bit of a beachy flavour, too.

Get the recipe here.

18. Coconut Water Pineapple co*cktail

Did you know your typical Pina Colada has around 400-600 calories? Whaaat??! That’s mainly thanks to the coconut cream. Take the calorie count down a notch but enjoy all the flavour by adding coconut water instead of the cream.

Get the recipe here.

19. Vitality Vodka

This is just so healthy, I could imagine it being served at the gym! Using a juicer, blend one cucumber, two celery stalks, one head of romaine lettuce, one lemon, one small piece of fresh ginger, and two green apples. Then, add vodka to taste.

Get the recipe here.

20. Strawberry Gin co*cktail

Light, sweet and refreshing, this is the perfect co*cktail to enjoy when the girls come round. I like to think that since they’re made with enzyme-packed, ultra-hydrating coconut water, these are less likely to give you a hangover. Can anyone attest to that?

Get the recipe here.

21. Non-Alcoholic Passion Fruit co*cktail

So now we’re entering ‘mocktail’ territory. Basically, that’s a bunch of blended juices and refreshing flavours. But let me make it clear that of course, any of these could use a shot of booze, and conversely, any of the recipes above could remove the booze for those who avoid alcohol. This minty, fruity drink is refreshing, no matter what you do!

Get the recipe here.

22. No-jito (Non-Alcoholic Mojito)

People love mojitos for their sugary mintiness, and this mocktail emphasises those flavours beautifully, making it a refreshing treat on a hot summer’s day.

Get the recipe here.

23. Non-Alcoholic Hibiscus & Cherry co*cktail

Thing is with co*cktails – they look so pretty, and are great to serve at parties! This drink makes the most of summer cherries, and the hibiscus adds even more vitamin C and minerals to ensure this is a health elixir as well as a yummy mocktail.

24. Pineapple, Tea & Mint Frappe

Dessert or mocktail? You decide! Just add a scoop of (vegan) ice cream in this to make it the former, or some ice to make it the latter. In any case, it’s going to go down well, and cool you right down, too! This coconut-creamy drink calls for honey, but just sub in agave syrup to make it vegan.

Get the recipe here.

25. Vegan Pina Colada

I thought I’d finish with one of my favourite vegan co*cktail recipes – the Piña Colada! It’s oh-so-versatile: leave out the rum to make it a ‘virgin’, or add rum AND a scoop of vegan coconut ice cream to make this a ridiculously indulgent treat!

Get the recipe here.