Golden Hour Apricot & Pink Grapefruit Mocktail

Soft, golden, and sparkling with a little taste of sunshine.

Golden Hour Mocktail

A Little About This Drink

There’s something magical about that time of day when the sun begins to set and everything takes on a warm, golden glow. Photographers call it the golden hour, but you don’t have to be a photographer to appreciate it. It’s that lovely moment when the day starts to slow down, the light softens, and you can finally settle in and enjoy a little peace.

That’s the feeling behind Golden Hour. I wanted to create a drink that was a little softer and more delicate than a traditional fruity mocktail. Apricot nectar brings a mellow sweetness, pink grapefruit adds just enough tartness, and a tiny hint of vanilla rounds out the flavors. Finished with sparkling water, it’s light, elegant, and just a little unexpected. Pour it into a beautiful glass, find a comfortable place to sit, and enjoy the moment. Sometimes that’s all the occasion you need.

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THE RECIPE

Prep: 5 minutes | Makes: 1 drink

Ingredients

  • 2 oz apricot nectar

  • 2 oz pink grapefruit juice

  • ¼ oz fresh lemon juice

  • 1 tiny drop alcohol-free vanilla flavoring (optional)

  • 4 oz plain sparkling water

  • Ice

  • Thin grapefruit slice or dried apricot for garnish (optional)

  •  

Instructions

  1. Fill a glass with ice.

  2. Add the apricot nectar, pink grapefruit juice, and fresh lemon juice.

  3. If using vanilla flavoring, add just one tiny drop. A little goes a long way!

  4. Stir gently to combine.

  5. Slowly pour in the sparkling water and give the drink one final, gentle stir.

  6. Garnish with a thin slice of grapefruit or a dried apricot, if desired.

Make It Your Own

Prefer a sweeter drink? Add a little extra apricot nectar. For something brighter and more tart, increase the grapefruit juice or add another squeeze of lemon. You can also substitute peach nectar for the apricot if that’s easier to find. And if vanilla isn’t your thing, simply leave it out. The combination of apricot and grapefruit is lovely all on its own.

champagne flute

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, Quit Drinking Plan may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I recommend products I genuinely enjoy or believe may be useful.

Make It Special

Golden Hour deserves a beautiful glass! Try serving it in a champagne flute. I love a stemless champagne flute. Garnish with a thin slice of pink grapefruit resting on the rim. For an especially pretty touch, use a vegetable peeler to create a delicate curl of grapefruit peel. Serve it as the sun begins to set, when the warm light makes the drink’s soft golden color glow. It’s a simple way to turn an ordinary evening into something worth savoring.

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What I Use

A soda maker such as SodaStream or DrinkMate makes it easy to have fresh sparkling water whenever you want it.  Add your favorite juice after carbonating. 

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Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, Quit Drinking Plan may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I recommend products I genuinely enjoy or believe may be useful.

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