Gentle muddle, build, churn, and top
Mojito
Fresh mint, lime, rum, and a tall sparkling finish.
Build, short stir, and slowly top
Zero proofZero-proof Citrus Highball
A sophisticated alcohol-free highball built directly in the serving glass.
Verified by CocktailSteps Editorial Team
- Time
- 4 minutes
- Level
- Easy
- Glass
- Highball
- Approx. ABV
- 0% · Zero proof
Measured for the room
Ingredients
2 ozFresh grapefruit juiceRecommended brandSunkist Ruby Red Grapefruit
0.5 ozFresh lime juiceRecommended brandSunkist Persian Lime
0.5 ozHoney syrupRecommended brandMonin Honey Organic Sweetener
3 ozSoda waterRecommended brandFever-Tree Premium Club Soda
1 sliceGrapefruit half-moonOptionalRecommended brandSunkist Ruby Red Grapefruit
1 sprigRosemary sprigOptionalRecommended brandNorth Shore Living Rosemary
Amounts scale from the verified one-glass recipe. Technique and timing stay unchanged.
Measured method
How to make Zero-proof Citrus Highball
- 01
Build the citrus base
2 oz grapefruit · ½ oz lime · ½ oz honey
Add 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice, ½ oz fresh lime juice, and ½ oz honey syrup to the highball.
Build the citrus base visual check - 02
Dissolve and chill
Stir · 8 sec
Fill with cubed ice and stir for 8 seconds.
Dissolve and chill visual check - 03
Lengthen with soda
3 oz soda water
Slowly pour 3 oz soda water down the inside of the glass.
Lengthen with soda visual check - 04
Add an aromatic finish
1 grapefruit half-moon · 1 rosemary sprig
Slide in 1 grapefruit half-moon and tuck 1 rosemary sprig beside it.
Add an aromatic finish visual check
Key move
Add soda last and stir only once
Verified technique note
Why this build works
This highball builds body without alcohol by pairing 2 ounces of grapefruit juice with ½ ounce each of lime and honey syrup. Grapefruit supplies volume and gentle bitterness, lime sharpens the base, and honey gives both sweetness and a fuller texture. An 8-second stir with ice dissolves and chills that base before 3 ounces of soda lengthen it. Pouring the soda slowly and stirring only once protects carbonation. The grapefruit slice repeats the main flavor, while rosemary adds a dry aroma that keeps the finished drink from reading like plain sparkling juice.
Common failure points
- The honey settles in a dense layer at the bottom.
- Use honey syrup, not straight honey, and complete the 8-second base stir.
- The highball loses its lift immediately.
- Add cold soda last and give the finished drink only one gentle stir.
Measure or substitute
Fresh orange can replace grapefruit at the same 2-ounce measure, but it removes bitterness; lemon can replace lime at ½ ounce, while simple syrup can replace honey syrup ounce for ounce.
Set the station
Tools
JiggerRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom Japanese Style Jigger
Bar spoonRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom Teardrop Barspoon
Highball glassRecommended brandRIEDEL Drink Specific Highball
Know the pour
Zero proof
An alcohol-free citrus highball suitable for any occasion.
Zero proof. Check individual ingredients for dietary needs and serve thoughtfully.
