It’s HOT right now in Southern California, and the little A/C units in my house can’t keep up, making my house a little oven most of the day. Naturally, that meant I had to work on some mocktails for us, especially as back-to-school season is upon us, but it still feels like summer.

Thankfully, I had a ton of prickly pear syrup in the freezer from the batch I made after a neighbor brought over a bucket of this cactus fruit. I added fresh lime, soda water, and a pinch of smoked salt served over a large ice cube to make a refreshing mocktail even my kids liked.

What Makes This Mocktail Different

Most mocktails try too hard to replace cocktails. It’s annoying cause it’s basically fruit juice in a fancy glass.

Instead of simply taking out the alcohol, I built this mocktail knowing no alcohol would effect the flavor, but I still wanted a sophisticated taste.

The prickly pear syrup gives you sweetness and that gorgeous pink color (or orange!), while the lime brings tartness. The soda water adds fizz to make it fun and to water down the syrup. The smoked salt adds a savory note that makes it just a bit more fancy.

About Prickly Pear in Mocktails

Prickly pear works really well in alcohol-free drinks because it has enough flavor to stand out without any help.

The fruit has a subtle earthy sweetness, but it’s not cloying as some fruit syrups can be. The magenta color (or bright orange, depending on your fruit) is a bonus because it makes the drink look special.

You can make your own prickly pear syrup or order good-quality syrup online, like this one. If making on your own, make sure you store it in these glass jars in the fridge (up to a week) or the freezer (up to 6 months).

The Smoked Salt Detail

Smoked salt has this subtle smokiness that many people love from mezcal, but without the booze. Just a pinch on top of the drink gives you a savory note that balances the sweet prickly pear and tart lime.

Regular salt works if that’s all you have (preferably flaky sea salt), but smoked sea salt is worth picking up (I use this one).

What Glass to Use

Rocks glasses work best because you want room for a large ice cube.

A big cube melts slower, which means your drink stays cold without getting watery. These rocks glasses are a good size and show off that pink color.

If you have a clear ice cube maker, use it. Clear ice looks better and melts more slowly than cloudy ice.

How to Make Southwest Heat

Fresh Lime Juice Required

Don’t use bottled lime juice in this drink.

Fresh lime brings brightness that balances the sweet prickly pear. The flavor is cleaner and more vibrant. You only need a quarter ounce, which is maybe half a lime, depending on the size and juiciness of your lime.

A citrus juicer makes this easier, but hand-squeezing works fine for such a small amount.

The Large Ice Cube

A single large cube melts way slower than regular ice cubes, which keeps your drink cold without diluting it. You can buy silicone ice cube trays that make big cubes, or use this clear ice cube maker if you want to get fancy (I have it and I’m constantly making clear ice in my freezer. It just tastes better).

The drink also just looks better with one big cube.

Soda Water Options

Plain soda water is all you need. If you have a Soda Stream, you are good to go.

Flavored sparkling water works too if you want to experiment. Lime- or grapefruit-flavored sparkling water is a safe place to start. Just make sure it’s unsweetened.

Some sparkling waters are more fizzy than others. While I personally love Topo Chico, it’s really hard to find the plain sparkling water right now, so you’ll want to pick up an alternative. My cocktail friends are currently using this one until production revs up again at the Topo Chico plant.

Variations Worth Trying

This drink is simple enough that small changes can make a big difference.

Black Pepper Aroma: Instead of smoked salt, crack fresh black pepper over the top of the drink. The aromatics hit you with each sip without making the drink spicy.

Kid-Friendly Version: Skip the smoked salt and black pepper. Add a small splash of orange juice for sweetness. Kids love the pink color.

Herbal Version: Muddle 2-3 basil or mint leaves with the prickly pear syrup before shaking. This adds freshness and makes it feel more garden-like.

Spicy Version: Add a thin slice of jalapeño to your shaker before you shake. Strain it out before serving. You get heat without seeds.

Flavored Sparkling: Use lime or grapefruit sparkling water instead of plain soda water. It will add complexity without extra ingredients.

Making it a Cocktail

Want to add alcohol? Add 1.5 to 2 oz of vodka or tequila.

Vodka keeps it clean and neutral, while tequila (use blanco) adds a little more character. Either works well with the prickly pear and lime.

Just add the spirit to your shaker along with the prickly pear syrup and lime juice before you shake.

Storage and Batching

Your prickly pear syrup keeps for about a week in the fridge.

For longer storage, freeze some in silicone ice cube trays. Pop out a cube when you want to make a drink.

You can batch the prickly pear and lime mixture in a bottle and keep it cold. Just add soda water and ice when you’re ready to serve. Don’t add the soda water ahead of time because it’ll go flat.

Tools You Need

You need a shaker (a Boston shaker works great), a jigger for measuring, and a fine-mesh strainer.

Good rocks glasses are worth having. You’ll use them for all kinds of drinks.

Other Mocktails and Cocktails Using Prickly Pear Syrup

Looking for more ways to use that prickly pear syrup? Try these:

• Cactus Margarita
• Desert Sunset Martini
• Pink Horizon Highball
• Prickly Pear Bourbon Smash
• Pink Dust
• Cactus Cooler Collins

Check out my full collection of simple syrups and the cocktail recipes that use them. I’ve got recommendations for all my favorite bar tools and ingredients over in my shop right here.

Southwest Heat Mocktail Recipe

Ingredients:

• ¾ oz prickly pear syrup
• ¼ oz fresh lime juice
• Soda water
• Pinch of smoked salt
• Ice (one large cube preferred)

Instructions:

1. Add prickly pear syrup and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well for about 10 seconds.
2. Place one large ice cube in a rocks glass. Strain the mixture over the ice.
3. Top with soda water (about 3-4 oz). Add a small pinch of smoked salt on top.

Make it a Cocktail

Add 1.5-2 oz vodka or tequila to the shaker with the syrup and lime.