5 Autumn Botanical Mocktails with Berries & Herbs

Autumn is a lovely time to swap light summer drinks for something a little more seasonal. Dark berries, rosehip, elderberry and aromatic herbs bring deeper flavours and beautiful natural colour, while sparkling water keeps everything fresh and easy to serve.

These five autumn mocktails use simple botanical ingredients and require no specialist equipment. Make one for a quiet evening at home, or scale the recipes up for an autumn gathering. Each recipe makes one drink.

Before you start

Use culinary-grade herbs and ingredients intended for food and drink. Chill sparkling water before mixing and add it last so you keep as much fizz as possible. If you are using homemade elderberry or rosehip syrup, keep it refrigerated and use it according to your usual recipe

1. Elderberry Fizz

Deep purple elderberry syrup, fresh lemon and sparkling water make this one of the simplest autumn mocktails in the collection.

Ingredients: 2 tbsp elderberry syrup; juice of 1/2 lemon; 4 oz (120 ml) sparkling water; ice; fresh mint to garnish.

Pour the elderberry syrup and lemon juice into a glass and stir. Add ice, top with sparkling water and garnish with a small sprig of mint. If your elderberry syrup is already quite tart, start with less lemon and adjust to taste.

2. Lemon Balm & Cucumber Cooler

Cucumber may feel summery, but paired with fragrant lemon balm it makes a fresh counterpoint to the richer berry drinks on an autumn table.

Ingredients: 1/4 cup fresh lemon balm leaves; 4 thin cucumber slices; 1 tsp honey or simple syrup; 1/2 oz (15 ml) fresh lemon juice; 4 oz (120 ml) sparkling water; ice.

Gently muddle the lemon balm with three cucumber slices and the sweetener. Add lemon juice and ice, then top with sparkling water. Stir once and garnish with the remaining cucumber slice and a small lemon balm leaf.

3. Blackberry Sage Spritzer

Blackberries and sage are a particularly good autumn pairing: juicy and slightly tart, with an earthy herbal note that stops the drink becoming too sweet.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup (70 g) fresh or thawed blackberries; 2 small fresh sage leaves; 1 tbsp fresh lime juice; 1 tsp honey or maple syrup; 3 oz (90 ml) sparkling water; ice.

Muddle the blackberries, sage, lime juice and sweetener. Strain into an ice-filled glass if you prefer a smoother drink, or leave the crushed berries in for a more rustic version. Top with sparkling water and garnish with a blackberry and sage leaf.

4. Rosehip Citrus Spritz

Rosehip syrup gives this spritz a softly fruity, slightly tangy base. Orange rounds it out while lemon keeps the finished drink bright.

Ingredients: 2 tbsp rosehip syrup; 1 oz (30 ml) fresh orange juice; 1/2 oz (15 ml) fresh lemon juice; 3 oz (90 ml) sparkling water; ice; thin orange slice to garnish.

Combine the rosehip syrup, orange juice and lemon juice in a glass. Add ice and sparkling water, stir gently and finish with a thin orange slice.

5. Sage & Lemon Balm Herbal Tonic

This alcohol-free herbal tonic starts with a cooled infusion rather than fruit juice. Sage brings an earthy note while lemon balm and fresh lemon keep it light.

Ingredients: 2 fresh sage leaves; 1 tbsp fresh lemon balm leaves; 1 tsp honey; 1/2 oz (15 ml) fresh lemon juice; 3 oz (90 ml) sparkling water; ice.

Place the sage and lemon balm in a cup and add 1/3 cup (80 ml) just-boiled water. Steep for 5 minutes, strain and leave to cool completely. Mix 2 oz (60 ml) of the cooled infusion with honey and lemon juice, pour over ice and top with sparkling water.

How to turn these into an autumn mocktail bar

You do not need five completely separate sets of ingredients. Put out sparkling water, ice, lemon and a few fresh herbs, then add two or three seasonal bases such as elderberry syrup, rosehip syrup and muddled blackberries. Guests can choose their own combination, and the table still feels abundant without lots of preparation.

For a winter or Christmas gathering, try our 10 Botanical Mocktails for Christmas and Winter Gatherings too. If you have fresh or frozen elderberries to use, our guide to making elderberry syrup is another useful place to start.

Frequently asked questions

1. Can I make these autumn mocktails ahead of time?

Prepare the syrups, herbal infusion and fruit components ahead, but add ice and sparkling water just before serving.

2. Can I use frozen berries?

Yes. Thaw them first and use them in the same way as fresh berries. They are particularly useful once fresh blackberry season has passed.

3. Can I use dried lemon balm or sage?

Yes, but use less than you would fresh herbs. Start with about 1 teaspoon dried herb per cup of water for an infusion and adjust to taste.

4. What can I use instead of elderberry or rosehip syrup?

Blackcurrant, blackberry or cranberry syrup can work well. The flavour will change, but you will keep the deep autumn fruit character.

5. Are these mocktails alcohol-free?

Yes. All five recipes are written as alcohol-free drinks, making them easy to serve alongside other autumn drinks at a mixed gathering.