5 Recipes for the Perfect Cocktail and Mocktail | Elevate Your Happy Hour

Bring a touch of class to your next happy hour with these 5 recipes for the perfect cocktail and mocktail. Impress your friends and family with your mixology skills and enjoy a refreshing beverage that's sure to please.

Classic Margarita

Ingredients:
- 2 oz. tequila
- 1 oz. lime juice
- 1 oz. triple sec
- Salt for rimming the glass
- Lime for garnish

Instructions:
1. Rim a martini glass with salt.
2. Combine tequila, lime juice, and triple sec in a shaker with ice.
3. Shake well and strain into the glass.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge.

For a mocktail version, swap the tequila for 2 oz. of lime juice and 1 oz. of agave nectar.

Blueberry Lemonade

Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup vodka
- ½ cup simple syrup
- 1 cup sparkling water
- Lemon slices for garnish

Instructions:
1. Puree blueberries in a blender.
2. Combine blueberry puree, lemon juice, vodka, and simple syrup in a pitcher.
3. Stir well and add sparkling water.
4. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices.

For a mocktail version, swap the vodka for 1 cup of blueberry lemonade and the simple syrup for ½ cup of honey.

Ginger Beer Moscow Mule

Ingredients:
- 2 oz. vodka
- ½ oz. lime juice
- 6 oz. ginger beer
- Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions:
1. Fill a copper mug with ice.
2. Add vodka and lime juice.
3. Top with ginger beer.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge.

For a mocktail version, swap the vodka for 1 oz. of lime juice and 1 oz. of simple syrup.

Watermelon Mojito

Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh watermelon
- 1 oz. fresh lime juice
- 10 fresh mint leaves
- 1 oz. simple syrup
- 2 oz. white rum
- Soda water
- Lime and mint sprigs for garnish

Instructions:
1. Muddle watermelon, lime juice, and mint leaves in a shaker.
2. Add simple syrup and white rum.
3. Shake well and strain into a glass filled with ice.
4. Top with soda water and garnish with lime and mint sprigs.

For a mocktail version, swap the rum for 1 oz. of lime juice and 1 oz. of simple syrup.

Cranberry Spritzer

Ingredients:
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- ½ cup orange juice
- 2 cups ginger ale
- Orange slices for garnish

Instructions:
1. Combine cranberry juice and orange juice in a pitcher.
2. Add ginger ale and stir well.
3. Serve over ice and garnish with orange slices.

For a cocktail version, add 1 cup of vodka to the pitcher.