One day at a time.
If you’ve spent any significant time in recovery — or around it — those five words have probably done some heavy lifting in your life. They’ve gotten people through withdrawals and anniversaries and Tuesday afternoons and moments that had no business being as hard as they were.
They are also, objectively, the best pun ever made into a mocktail name.
One Day at a Lime. The non-alcoholic margarita that celebrates the slogan and the citrus simultaneously. Same wisdom. Better glass. Salt rim non-negotiable.
The Margarita: A Brief and Respectful History
The margarita is one of the most ordered cocktails in North America. It’s not complicated — tequila, lime, and a sweetener, usually orange liqueur or agave — but it’s deeply satisfying in a way that makes people order it year round regardless of the weather. There’s something about the combination of salt, citrus, and agave that hits a specific note no other cocktail quite reaches.
Going non-alcoholic with a margarita used to mean something closer to limeade with ice — technically correct but fundamentally joyless. The arrival of quality NA tequila alternatives changed everything. The agave character, the slight smokiness, the warmth — it’s all there now in the non-alcoholic aisle. And the fresh lime was always yours to begin with.
The NA Tequila Brands Worth Your Lime
Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative is the most accessible option and the workhorse of this category. It’s in most major grocery stores, Total Wine, and on Amazon. Spicy heat, fruity finish, smooth enough to taste good in a margarita without overwhelming the lime. The one to start with if you’re new to NA tequila.
Free Spirits Spirit of Tequila is the critical darling of the NA tequila world right now. Multiple gold medals including the L.A. Spirits Awards 2025. Blue agave depth, green pepper notes, mesquite smoke, and a clean burn that makes your palate sit up straight. If you want the closest thing to the real experience in a margarita, this is the bottle.
Lyre’s Agave Blanco is rich and smoky with all-natural flavors and botanicals. Works particularly well in a classic margarita format and consistently available at Total Wine and online.
Trejo’s Spirits Non-Alcoholic Tequila — yes, Danny Trejo’s brand — has a softer, more earthy vegetal profile that shines in fruit-forward margaritas. If you’re doing a strawberry or watermelon version, this is the one to reach for.
The One Day at a Lime Recipe
Serves 1 — the batch version is below because you’re going to want more than one
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Ritual Zero Proof or Free Spirits Spirit of Tequila
- 1 oz fresh lime juice — squeeze it yourself, today, right now
- ½ oz fresh orange juice (replaces the triple sec — cleaner and less sweet)
- ¼ oz agave nectar
- Kosher salt or Tajín for the rim
- Ice
- Lime wheel for garnish
To make it:
- Rim your glass first. Run a lime wedge around the rim and dip into a shallow plate of kosher salt or Tajín. Set aside.
- Combine your NA tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker.
- Shake without ice first for 5 seconds — this emulsifies the ingredients and gives you a slightly frothier, more cohesive drink.
- Add ice and shake hard for another 10 seconds.
- Fill your rimmed glass with fresh ice.
- Strain the margarita over the ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
- Take a moment. You made it one more day. Now drink the margarita.
The rim decision: Salt is classic. Tajín is better. Tajín brings chili and lime to the rim that amplifies everything in the glass. If you’ve never done a Tajín rim on a margarita, you’re about to have a revelation.
On the orange juice: Traditional margaritas use triple sec or Cointreau for orange flavor and sweetness. Non-alcoholic versions don’t need the extra sugar — fresh orange juice does the same job with cleaner flavor. Squeeze it fresh if you can. It makes a difference you’ll notice immediately.
The No-Spirits Version
No NA tequila on hand? This is still the best virgin margarita you’ve ever made:
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 oz fresh orange juice
- ½ oz agave nectar
- Splash of sparkling water
- Salt or Tajín rim
- Ice, lime wheel
Shake the lime juice, orange juice, and agave with ice. Strain over fresh ice in your salt-rimmed glass. Top with a splash of sparkling water. It’s brighter and fruitier than the NA spirit version, genuinely delicious, and takes about 90 seconds to make.
This isn’t a lesser version — it’s a different one. The difference between this and a generic virgin margarita from a bar is fresh juice. That’s it. Fresh lime. Fresh orange. Everything else follows.
The Batch Version for Cinco de Mayo, Taco Tuesday, or Any Tuesday
Multiply everything by however many people you’re serving. Combine NA tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and agave in a pitcher. Refrigerate. When ready to serve, rim individual glasses with Tajín, fill with ice, and pour. Done.
This is the batch mocktail that makes you the most popular person at any gathering. Make it. Own it. Accept the compliments.
Where to Find These Brands
- Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative — Amazon or The Zero Proof (Get 10% OFF)
- Free Spirits Spirit of Tequila — Amazon
- Lyre’s Ready to Drink Margarita – Amazon or The Zero Proof (Get 10% OFF)
- Trejo’s Spirits Non-Alcoholic Tequila — Amazon or The Zero Proof (Get 10% OFF)
- ISH Mexican Agave – The Zero Proof (Get 10% OFF)
- Almave Blanco Non-Alcoholic Blue Agave Spirit – Amazon
- Seven Giants Reposado Style Tequila Alternative – Amazon
- Teasons White Tea & Tequila Alternative – Amazon
- MOCK ONE Non-Alcoholic Tequila – Amazon
- Tajín Classic Seasoning — Amazon
- Red Clay Spicy Margarita Salt – Amazon
The One Day at a Lime Print — For Your Wall
We made a print for this one.
An original art print — created through AI image generation, directed by us with the same editorial eye we bring to everything we publish — featuring a stunning rocks glass with a salt rim, fresh lime wheel, and golden afternoon light doing its best work.
One Day at a Lime is part of The Golden Hour Collection — original art prints for the sober home. The funniest print in the collection. The one that makes people in the recovery community do a double take and then immediately want it on their wall.
The slogan that carried a lot of us through the hardest parts. Framed and gorgeous now.
Shop the One Day at a Lime print in The Sober Curator Etsy shop →
Or become a BACKSTAGE Founding Member for $19/mo or $190/annually (includes two months free) and get access to the full collection of recipe cards and wall prints (downloads) included in your membership.
The Honest Truth
The non-alcoholic margarita is the mocktail that wins over the most skeptics. People who swear they could never give up margaritas. People who said the NA tequila category was a lost cause. People who ordered it at a party not knowing it was non-alcoholic and then couldn’t believe it when they found out.
With a quality NA tequila, fresh lime juice squeezed that day, and a Tajín rim — this is genuinely excellent. Not a consolation prize. Not a compromise. The drink you actually want.
One day at a time. One lime at a time. Same thing, really.
HAPPY EVERY HOUR: The Golden Hour Recipe Cards – Our Signature Mocktail Collection, Now On Your Wall and In Your Glass
SOBER POP CULTURE & CELEBS: Sober Celebrity Spotlight – Danny Trejo
Welcome to HAPPY EVERY HOUR, your go-to hub for all things NA (non-alcoholic). We review alcohol-free beers, ciders, wines, spirits, RTDs (ready-to-drink), and share NA cocktail recipes that taste just as good—if not better—than the boozy originals. Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or just taking a break, this is where great taste meets zero proof.
TRIGGER WARNING: People in early sobriety may want to proceed with caution. Always read labels. Please hydrate responsibly … #becausedrunkneverlooksgood.
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We’re here to shatter the “sobriety is boring” myth with a mash-up of 80s neon, 90s hip-hop edge, early 2000s bling, and today’s hottest trends. From celebrity shoutouts to red-carpet style inspo, this is where sober is as chic as it is fun. To the celebs using their platform for good—our Sober Pop Trucker hats are off to you!
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What is a non-alcoholic margarita?
A non-alcoholic margarita is a mocktail version of the classic margarita cocktail. It replaces tequila with a non-alcoholic tequila alternative and uses fresh lime juice, agave nectar, and orange juice in place of triple sec. Made with quality NA tequila and freshly squeezed lime juice, it produces a drink that is genuinely close to the original — tart, slightly sweet, agave-forward, and completely satisfying with a Tajín or salt rim.
What is the best non-alcoholic tequila for a margarita?
Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative is the most accessible option and consistently reliable for margaritas — spicy, fruity, and available at most major grocery stores. Free Spirits Spirit of Tequila is the award-winning choice for the most authentic agave profile — multiple gold medals and the closest thing to real tequila heat in the NA category. Both work beautifully in this recipe. Start with Ritual if availability is a concern. Upgrade to Free Spirits when you want to level up.
What can I use instead of triple sec in a non-alcoholic margarita?
Fresh orange juice is the cleanest substitute for triple sec in a non-alcoholic margarita. It adds the same citrus brightness and light sweetness without the extra sugar load that comes with most NA orange liqueurs. About half an ounce of fresh-squeezed OJ does the job perfectly. If you want more orange complexity, Lyre’s Orange Sec or Dhōs Orange are quality NA triple sec alternatives available on Amazon.
Does a non-alcoholic margarita taste like the real thing?
With a quality NA tequila like Free Spirits Spirit of Tequila or Ritual Zero Proof and fresh lime juice squeezed that day, it gets remarkably close. The agave character, the slight smokiness, the citrus balance are all there. What you lose without the alcohol is some of the warming burn. What you keep is everything that makes a margarita worth ordering. Most people who try this recipe without knowing it’s non-alcoholic can’t tell the difference until they’re told.
Salt rim or Tajín rim on a margarita?
Tajín. Every time. The chili, lime, and salt combination in Tajín amplifies the citrus in the margarita and adds a subtle heat that makes the whole drink more complex and interesting. Regular kosher salt is the classic choice and completely respectable. But once you do a Tajín rim, you will have a very hard time going back. Find Tajín in the Latin food section of most grocery stores, Target, Walmart, and on Amazon.
Can I make a batch of non-alcoholic margaritas for a party?
Yes — and it’s one of the best party moves you can make. Multiply the recipe by however many servings you need. Combine NA tequila, fresh lime juice, fresh orange juice, and agave in a pitcher and refrigerate. When guests arrive, rim individual glasses with Tajín, fill with ice, and pour. The batch holds well in the refrigerator for several hours without losing quality. This is the mocktail that makes everyone at the party ask for the recipe.
What does “One Day at a Lime” mean?
It’s a play on “One Day at a Time” — the recovery slogan that has guided millions of people through sobriety, one manageable day at a stretch. The Sober Curator turned it into a non-alcoholic margarita name because the sober life deserves beautiful, funny things that reflect lived experience without being preachy about it. The print is for anyone who has meant that phrase completely and also really wanted a margarita about it.
Is the One Day at a Lime print available as a physical print?
One Day at a Lime is currently available as a digital download through The Sober Curator’s Etsy shop in 8×10, 11×14, and 18×24 sizes. Print it at home, at FedEx Office or Staples, or upload to any online printing service like Artifact Uprising, Printique, or Walmart Photo.
