The nonalcoholic beverage category grew by leaps and bounds this year! In a fragmented category of zero proof spirits, beer, wine, and mixers, mocktails were at the front of the pack. Whether simple and refreshing sippers, or complex concoctions that authentically mimic the cocktail drinking experience, these NA drinks are poised for another year of exciting innovation. Read on to get a glimpse at the mocktail trends we’re tracking in 2025.
Want more mocktail trends?
Blue Pacific Flavors keeps a steady pulse on food and beverage trends. Join our email list for more mocktail trends, as well as insights across the nonalcoholic beverage industry.
Where do our mocktail trends come from?
We use Tastewise to predict 2025 mocktail trends and deliver market leading insights. This social listening platform mines millions of unique data points across social media posts, restaurant menus, online recipes, and more to create a comprehensive picture of what’s heating up (or cooling off) in the food and beverage industry. Two main indicators of a trend’s strength are percent share of social conversations and percent increase in social conversations year over year (YoY).
- Percent Share of Social Conversations: How often a key search term or phrase is mentioned in conversations about a topic, relative to all conversations about that topic. For emerging trends this number will be quite low, as the flavor or ingredient has not gone viral or mainstream yet. This is the time to spot opportunity and be a trendsetter!
- Percent Increase in Social Conversations Year Over Year (YoY): Relative increase in mentions for a key search term or phrase in conversations about a topic. A significant increase YoY means there is more “chatter” around the flavor, ingredient, motivation, occasion, or any of the hundreds of other food and beverage variables. In larger sample sizes, this velocity metric is a good indicator of when a trend is gaining traction.
To uncover these mocktail trends, we segmented the database for content that referenced “mocktails.” With a sample size of over 87,000 people, we are able to gain early insight into emerging trends. Read on for exciting insights in Flavors, Supplement Ingredients, Functional Health, and Consumer Experience.
Flavors
While there’s no shortage of flavor exploration happening in nonalcoholic beverages, many consumers are looking for mocktails with classic cocktail notes. Mocktail beverage trends for 2025 show increased demand for “grown-up cherry” flavors and traditional mixers such as lemon-lime soda, coffee, and cola. There is a lean into “sweet spice” profiles, both in the preference for classic cola and trendy newcomer spicy honey (one of 2024’s biggest food and beverage trends).
To give your mocktails an elevated edge, try blending one of these trending flavors with a complementary botanical. Some opportunities include black cherry basil, lemon-lime lavender, and even cola with rum flavor and rose. Use our alcohol-inspired line of natural flavors for authentic zero proof taste!
Request a sample of mocktail flavors!
Supplement Ingredients
What supplement ingredients are trending for mocktails? The herb damiana tops the list. This flowering plant is believed to improve libido. Another herb receiving a lot of mocktail-related chatter is kratom. However, be warned: the FDA does not approve kratom’s use as a supplement, which means any beverages made with it would be considered adulterated.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), L-theanine, and protein powder are all showing significant YoY increases in social conversations. Gaba and L-theanine may support relaxation and a calm mood, while protein powder improves physical stamina and muscle recovery. Try using these three functional ingredients together to create a post-workout mocktail for athletes and fitness enthusiasts!
Functional Health
Mocktails put the “fun” in functional beverage! These lively nonalcoholic drinks excite with their guiltless and hangover free complexity. Many sober curious consumers are concerned about health and wellness. Understanding their health motivations will help your mocktail beverages win in an increasingly crowded market.
Metabolism is by far the fastest rising functional health claim mentioned in “mocktail” conversations, which suggests that consumers are drinking mocktails as part of an active lifestyle. Alongside this falls endurance and muscle function. Alcoholic beverages can be a barrier to physical activity due to their inebriating and depressant effcts. The top trending functional health claims underscore the beginning of a “fitness mocktail” movement.
Consumer Experience
Mocktails naturally fit into traditional cocktail and alcoholic beverage experiences. However, due to their use of functional ingredients, these beneficial beverages can fit many more occasions than their spirited counterparts.
This year mood boosting dominates as one of the fastest rising experiences with the largest share of social conversations. This is not a new trend; however, the data indicates that it will continue to momentum throughout 2025. Vitality and nourishing are also important mocktail experiences, which contrasts with the typical alcohol beverage experiences. Additionally, increased chatter around memory creation and friendship indicates a desire for authentic and meaningful moments. This signals a pivot from the uninhibited escapism often associated with cocktail consumption moments.
Messaging that focuses on uplifting moods and moments, mixed with health and well being, can help beverage brands position themselves closer to these mocktail beverage trends.
