Food Holidays & Occasions Mother's Day 12 Mindful Mother's Day Cocktails and Mocktails Toast to the mom in your life. By Anna Painter Anna Painter Anna Painter is a trained culinary professional who has been testing, developing, and writing recipes for a decade. She was an associate editor at Food & Wine. Anna has worked on such freelance projects as The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook and Gluten-Free Girl Everyday. She is currently the culinary manager at Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 9, 2024 Close Photo: Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon / Props from HAY Sure, breakfast in bed can be a really nice way to celebrate the mother in your life, but parenting can be very thirsty work so don't forget the pairing. Raising kids is intensely rewarding, but it can be totally stressful too. I mean, have you ever experienced a toddler at 4 p.m.? A tween who wants a cell phone? A teenager who wants the car keys? You might want a cocktail (or a mocktail), too. Here are a few fantastic drinks, some with alcohol and some without, that are steadying, well-balanced, and entirely delicious. These Mother's Day cocktails and mocktails might just be the perfect way to celebrate a mom and tip your hat to the realities of parenting. 01 of 12 Bloody Majestic Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Christine Keely You can't go wrong with majestic in the name — or call it a golden Bloody Mary. This light, bright brunch cocktail variation is a vibrant way to toast a mom, containing ultra-premium sake with pineapple notes and fragrant citrus basil bitters. Get the Recipe 02 of 12 Soft Arms Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon / Glasses from Mamo The obviously comforting name combined with soothing, low-alcohol ingredients, like sherry and blanc vermouth, are great reasons to dedicate this drink to a mom — especially if Riesling's her thing. Get the Recipe 03 of 12 Cherry Red Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter Mother's Day coincides with the very start of cherry season, and this nonalcoholic sipper is a lovely way to celebrate both. It's sweet, tart, and a little spicy, thanks to homemade cinnamon syrup. Get the Recipe 04 of 12 Screwdriver Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon Pair this brunch beverage with breakfast in bed or a new juicer for mom. The extra effort for freshly squeezed OJ goes a long way, and citrus has all kinds of symbolism — longevity in Japanese culture, good fortune in Chinese culture, and health, love, and even pregnancy in Italy. Get the Recipe 05 of 12 Mai Tai Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon Why not make a classic Mai Tai for the mother that really needs a vacation — yes, right this very minute — but may not be able to take one. You might even want to garnish it with a tiny paper umbrella. Get the Recipe 06 of 12 Tea Party Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon / Props from HAY This springtime sipper's celebratory and potentially a nod to the nostalgia of playing or attending tea parties with your mom. Naturally floral and aromatic lychee blends seamlessly with the perfumed elderflower liqueur St-Germain for a well-balanced cocktail. Get the Recipe 07 of 12 Riesling Sangria with Lychees © John Kernick This fresh, fruit-filled sangria is a terrific addition to a festive Mother's Day brunch, particularly if you're entertaining a crowd. Give the mother in your life the biggest glass with the most fruit. She deserves it. Get the Recipe 08 of 12 Pineapple-Sake Sangria with Jalapeño © Luis Garcia If the mom in your life likes spice more than sweet, whip up this tangy, sake-based sangria that gets its kick from jalapeño simple syrup. Remind her how great she is. Get the Recipe 09 of 12 Soufflé Espresso Martini Food and Wine /Tim Nusog For the mom who needs a little pick-me-up, this elevated espresso martini is just the drink. With its frothy coffee foam topper of egg white, sugar, and espresso, it's a lightened, more decadent version of the original — because Mother's Day isn't just any old day. Get the Recipe 10 of 12 The Retropolitan Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen The Retropolitan is reminiscent of a grown-up fruit punch your mom can sip anytime between brunch and dessert. Sliced strawberries take a dip in Aperol overnight for a quick infusion which yields enough peachy-colored strawberry-infused Aperol to make eight cocktails — as well as boozy strawberries that you can serve over lemon sorbet. Get the Recipe 11 of 12 Lady Lavender's Mocktail © Wendell T. Webber With herbal notes from lavender and basil, this is a bright, bubbly, nonalcoholic drink to serve on a breakfast tray to a mom who hasn't slept through the night in months. Get the Recipe 12 of 12 Montenegro Paloma Carey Jones This riff on the classic tequila cocktail celebrates sweetness and gentleness with orange and rosewater notes from Amaro Montenegro. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit