Tart lemon, a whisper of earthy thyme and a salty, savory rim, poured over one big cube of ice. The Lemon Thyme Smash is an agave mocktail that drinks like a grown-up margarita, and it takes three ingredients and about two minutes.

If you love the salt-and-citrus snap of a margarita but you’re sitting out the tequila this month, this is the one. It’s crisp enough for a weeknight and polished enough to pour for friends — minus the alcohol and the mess.

Why You’ll Love This Agave Mocktail

• Just 3 ingredients. Lemon Drop, zero-proof agave and sparkling water.
• A real agave moment. Cut Above Zero Proof Agave Blanco brings the peppery, earthy notes you miss from tequila.
• That salty-tart balance. The BlueHenry Lemon & Thyme rimmer makes every sip taste bright and a little savory.
• Herb-kissed and fresh. A sprig of thyme makes it look bar-worthy with zero effort.
• Built for Dry January. All the ritual of a cocktail, none of the alcohol.

What You Need for the Lemon Thyme Smash

Ingredients (makes one 4 oz pour)

• 1 oz Wood Stove Kitchen Lemon Drop Mocktail Mixer
• 1 oz Cut Above Zero Proof Agave Blanco (2 oz bottle)
• 2 oz sparkling water, chilled

Garnish

• BlueHenry Lemon & Thyme glass rimmer
• Fresh thyme sprig (optional)

How to Make the Lemon Thyme Smash

1. Run a lemon wedge or a little water around the rim of a rocks glass and dip it into the lemon thyme rimmer.
2. Fill the glass with ice. One large cube melts slowly and keeps the drink from getting watery.
3. Add the Lemon Drop and the Cut Above Agave and give it a quick stir.
4. Top with sparkling water and tuck in a sprig of fresh thyme.

How to Make a Pitcher for a Crowd

For 6 drinks, stir 6 oz of Lemon Drop and 6 oz of zero-proof agave in a pitcher and chill. Rim the glasses ahead of time, fill with ice and pour 2 oz of the base into each glass. Top each with 2 oz of sparkling water just before serving so it stays fizzy.

Pro Tips and Easy Variations

Make It Spicy

Muddle one thin jalapeño slice in the glass before adding ice for a little heat that plays beautifully with the salt.

Make It a Paloma-Style Smash

Swap the sparkling water for grapefruit sparkling water. It’s peak grapefruit season in January, and the bitterness balances the lemon.

Skip the Agave

Out of zero-proof agave? Use 3 oz of sparkling water and you have our Salted Lemon Fizz. Looking for more margarita vibes? Try our classic margarita mocktail.

When to Serve This Zero-Proof Agave Drink

• Taco Tuesday and Mexican-inspired dinners
• Game day and Super Bowl watch parties
• Girls’ night in
• Any evening during Dry January when you want a “real drink” feeling

Where to Find the Ingredients

Every ingredient in the Lemon Thyme Smash comes in our January Salt & Sunshine Mocktail Box, along with the BlueHenry Lemon & Thyme rimmer, dried lemon wheels and three more recipes. Subscribers get it automatically with the Seasonal Stir mocktail box, or you can grab the Wood Stove Kitchen Lemon Drop Mocktail Mixer on its own from the Bottleshop. BlueHenry makes its rimmers and dehydrated fruit in small batches, and you can read more about them on the BlueHenry website.

Salty, Tart and So Grown-Up

The Lemon Thyme Smash proves a zero-proof drink can still have backbone. Salt your rim, pour it over ice and sip slowly. When you make one, tag us with #MocktailFantasia so we can toast right along with you.

Frequently Asked Questions