The Zephyr Wind-Down Mocktail Menu

Better evenings. Better sleep. Better tomorrow.

There’s something powerful about an evening ritual.

The simple act of slowing down, putting away the day, and preparing something special to drink can become a “whole body signal” – telling your system that work is over, the nervous system can downshift, and it’s time to prepare for sleep.

That’s part of the idea behind zephyr.

I formulated zephyr as a sugar-free, melatonin-free evening mocktail with five research-backed ingredients selected to support different aspects of healthy sleep, from falling asleep and staying asleep to sleep quality and overnight recovery.

And because the base flavor is a refreshing lime-and--mint “Midnight Mojito,” you don’t have to drink it the same way every night.

You can certainly keep things simple and mix a serving of zephyr with cold water and ice. But you can also turn it into something a little more interesting.

Blackberries and tart cherry. Strawberry and basil. Cucumber and orange. Pineapple and ginger. Watermelon and mint. Kiwi and coconut. Spiced pear. The options are almost endless.

The recipes below are designed around the same basic idea: zephyr + fruit + herbs + a little fizz = an easy alcohol-free evening mocktail.

Some are light and refreshing. Some are fruity. Some feel almost dessert-like. And because you control the ingredients, you can make them as simple or as elaborate, and as low-sugar or “treat-like” to suit your tastes.

Why make a ritual out of it?

Good sleep rarely comes down to one ingredient or one bedtime “hack.” Sleep is influenced by what happens across the entire day: light exposure, physical activity, stress, meal timing, blood sugar, body temperature, circadian rhythms, and the transition from daytime stimulation into nighttime recovery.

That makes a consistent wind-down routine surprisingly valuable.

Dim the lights. Put down the phone. Turn on some relaxing music. Read a few pages. Stretch. Talk with someone you love. Enjoy your zephyr.

The specific ritual matters less than the repetition. Over time, those behaviors become cues that tell the brain and body, “We’re done for today.”

And if you’re going to have a nightly ritual anyway, it might as well taste good!

So grab a glass, some ice, a few fresh ingredients, and try one of our Zephyr Wind-Down Mocktails below.

Or skip the recipe entirely and use our Choose Your Own Zephyr Formula to invent your own.

Sweet dreams – with a twist of lime…

Blackberry Moonlight Mojito

Ingredients

• 1 serving Zephyr (prepared with 4 oz water)
• 3 fresh blackberries 
• 1 ounce unsweetened tart cherry juice
• Splash of vanilla simple syrup
• 2 ounces sparkling water
• Fresh mint
• Lime wedge
• Crushed ice or ice cubes

Sugared rim

• Fine sugar
• Finely grated lime zest

Method

1. Moisten the rim with lime and dip it into the lime-sugar mixture.
2. Gently muddle the blackberries with the syrup in the glass.
3. Fill with crushed ice or ice cubes and add the prepared Zephyr and tart cherry juice.
4. Stir gently, top with sparkling water, and garnish with mint and a blackberry.

Strawberry Sunset Spritz

Ingredients

• 1 serving Zephyr (prepared with 4 oz water)
• 2 ripe strawberries, sliced
• 1 ounce white cranberry or apple juice
• Splash of Honey, optional
• 2 ounces sparkling water
• Fresh basil or mint
• Ice

Rim

• Fine sugar
• Lime zest

Method

1. Add a light sugar rim.
2. Gently muddle one strawberry with agave and basil or mint.
3. Add ice, prepared Zephyr, and white cranberry or apple juice.
4. Top with sparkling water and garnish with a strawberry fan and basil leaf.

Cucumber Orange Cloud Cooler

Ingredients

• 1 serving Zephyr (prepared with 4 oz water)
• 3 thin cucumber ribbons
• 1 ounce Orange Juice
• 2 ounces sparkling water
• Fresh mint
• Ice

Rim

• Flaky sea salt
• Lime zest
• Pinch of sugar

Method

1. Apply the salt-lime-sugar mixture to the rim.
2. Curl cucumber ribbons around the inside of a tall glass.
3. Add ice, OJ, and prepared Zephyr.
4. Top with sparkling water and garnish with a mint crown.

Golden Hour Pineapple Fizz

Ingredients

• 1 serving Zephyr (prepared with 4 oz water)
• 2 ounces pineapple juice
• Splash ginger syrup
• 2 ounces sparkling water
• Mint
• Ice

Rim

• Equal parts fine sugar and flaky salt
• Lime zest
• Optional tiny pinch of mild chili powder

Method

1. Apply the sweet-salty rim.
2. Add ice, pineapple juice, ginger syrup, and prepared zephyr.
3. Stir and finish with sparkling water.
4. Garnish with a small pineapple leaf, mint, and a dehydrated lime wheel.

Watermelon Mint Basil “Nightcap”

Ingredients

• 1 serving Zephyr (prepared with 4 oz water)
• 3 small watermelon cubes
• 1 ounce watermelon juice
• Splash ounce basil simple syrup
• 2 ounces sparkling water
• Mint
• Crushed ice or ice cubes

Rim

• Flaky salt
• Fine sugar

Method

1. Prepare the sweet-salty rim.
2. Gently muddle the watermelon with the rose syrup.
3. Fill the glass with crushed ice and add the prepared Zephyr.
4. Top with sparkling water and garnish with a watermelon triangle and mint.

Kiwi Coconut Dream

Ingredients

• 1 serving Zephyr (prepared with 4 oz water)
• 1/2 ripe kiwi
• 2 ounces coconut water
• Splash of honey
• 2 ounces sparkling water
• Mint
• Ice

Rim

• Toasted coconut, finely chopped
• Fine sugar
• Lime zest

Method

1. Use honey to adhere the coconut-sugar mixture to the rim.
2. Thoroughly muddle the kiwi with honey.
3. Add the kiwi mixture to the bottom of the glass, followed by ice.
4. Slowly pour in coconut water and prepared Zephyr.
5. Top with sparkling water and garnish with kiwi and mint.

Spiced Pear Evening Mule

Ingredients

• 1 serving Zephyr (prepared with 4 oz water)
• 1 ounce pear nectar
• Splash ginger syrup
• 2 ounces nonalcoholic ginger beer
• Thin pear slice
• Mint
• Ice

Rim

• Raw sugar
• Tiny pinch of cinnamon
• Tiny pinch of flaky salt

Method

1. Add the cinnamon-sugar rim.
2. Fill a rocks glass or copper-colored mug with ice.
3. Add pear nectar, ginger syrup, and prepared Zephyr.
4. Stir and top with nonalcoholic ginger beer.
5. Garnish with a pear fan and mint.

Easy “Choose Your Own Zephyr” Formula

Improvise to your tastes (or what you have on hand) using this simple structure:

• 1 serving Zephyr (prepared with 4 oz water)
• 2 ounces fruit juice, coconut water, or cold herbal tea
• Splash of infused simply syrup, honey, or agave
• 2 ounces sparkling water, tonic, or nonalcoholic ginger beer
• One fruit or herb garnish
• One sugared/salted rim: sweet, salty, spiced, or a combination

Good pairings with lime/mint zephyr base include blackberry, strawberry, cucumber, pineapple, watermelon, kiwi, pear, tart cherry, coconut, ginger, basil, elderflower, and lavender.

Basic infused simple syrup

Ingredients

• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup water
• Your chosen herb, spice, or fruit

Method

1. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan.
2. Warm gently, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Don’t boil vigorously.
3. Remove from the heat, add the flavoring, and cover.
4. Steep according to the times below.
5. Strain, cool, and refrigerate in a clean sealed container.

Flavor variations