Mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails) are growing in sophistication and popularity. Even the Wall Street Journal has noticed.

Fueled by those who are more self-conscious, it’s a true testament to a bartender’s skills when he or she is asked to created a “soft” drink.

According to the Wall Street Journal article: “I feel nonalcoholic cocktails are in the same position where vegetables were years back,” said Alex Kratena, head bartender at London’s Artesian Bar. “It used to be that a dish was constructed around a piece of meat, and then chefs became interested in stretching their creativity by experimenting more heavily with vegetables. These days, you see vegetarian tasting menus at Michelin three-star restaurants.”

I recently interviewed several mixologists who are creating healthier versions of classic cocktails and this concept keeps coming up: how can we keep the flavor profiles of these cocktails, keep them boozy, but make them healthier?

Tyler Lymer, a specialty mixologist, award-winning cocktail guru and bartender at Chicago’s tesori, has been switching out ingredients of hangover-inducing, high-calorie cocktails such as a Red Bull and vodka specialty ingredients such HYDRIVE Energy Water to create some of his mocktails. According to the folks at HYDRIVE, the low-calorie energy water combines the light, refreshing taste of enhanced water and the same amount of caffeine as a leading energy drink making it an ideal substitute for high-calorie traditional cocktails.

Want to try your hand at creating mocktails? Tyler Lymer shares two of his recipes with us

Blueberry Chamomile Boost

• 2 oz. Citrus Burst HYDRIVE Energy Water
• 2 oz. Chamomile Tea (brewed Double Strength)
• 1 oz. Blueberry Simple Syrup
• 1 oz. Lemon Juice

Shake well with ice and Double Strain into a coupe, Garnish with 3 blueberries on a cocktail pick.

Black Cherry High

• 3 oz. Black Cherry HYDRIVE Energy Water
• .75 oz. Star Anise Simple Syrup
• .75 oz. Lemon Juice
• 2 dash Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters (non-alcoholic)
• 2 oz. Sparkling Pomegranate Soda (Izze)

Build first 4 ingredients in a shaker, add ice. Shake well, Strain into a Collins Glass with ice. Top with Izze Pomegranate Soda.  Garnish with a full (unbroken) Star Anise and a large straw.

Megy Karydes is founder of Wandering Tastes, a lifestyle and travel site that is meant to inspire adventure and exploration through traveling and food. She’s also a regular contributor to 10best.com, part of the USA Today Travel family, TravelingMom.com as Foodie TravelingMom and writes for several other print magazines and online media outlets.