Flying Fairbrother

The Flying Fairbrother is a bright, refreshing mocktail, heavy on the citrus with a cranberry and honey undertone, all lifted by ginger ale. It’s a solid choice for anyone seeking a complex non-alcoholic option that doesn’t feel like an afterthought. You’ll find this ordered by brunch crowds or designated drivers who still want something interesting in their hand. It’s a simple build that delivers on flavor.

Flying Fairbrother

4.55 from 20 votes

Calories: 93kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 5

Instructions

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Combine the grapefruit juice. orange juice. cranberry juice and honey in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well. and strain into a collins glass almost filled with ice cubes. Top with ginger ale. stir well. and serve.

Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 93kcal (5%)Carbohydrates: 23g (8%)Sugar: 22g (24%)

Mocktail

Where it came from

This vibrant mocktail likely emerged in the modern era, a response to growing demand for sophisticated non-alcoholic options in bars and restaurants. Its blend of common fruit juices suggests a flexible, accessible creation, rather than a historically rigid recipe. It’s the kind of drink you’d find on a brunch menu or as a refreshing alternative any time of day.

The Flying Fairbrother sits comfortably in the family of sparkling fruit refreshers, akin to a grown-up Shirley Temple or a more complex Roy Rogers. While those rely on grenadine and cola, this drink distinguishes itself with a triple citrus base and the subtle spice of ginger ale, offering a more nuanced and less sugary profile.

You’d typically find this drink served in casual dining establishments, brunch spots, or any venue with a focus on creative non-alcoholic options. It’s a reliable choice for a designated driver at a pub or a light, daytime sipper at a cafe with a liquor license. It also makes a great backyard BBQ offering.

What it tastes like

On the palate, the Flying Fairbrother hits with a lively burst of grapefruit and orange, a sharp, clean citrus front. This quickly mellows as the cranberry juice adds a tart, slightly jammy mid-palate, with honey providing a delicate sweetness to balance the acids. The finish is clean and bright, carried by the effervescence and mild spice of the ginger ale.

The Flying Fairbrother is a completely non-alcoholic drink, meaning its ABV is 0%. This makes it a suitable alternative for anyone avoiding alcohol, offering a complex flavor profile without the boozy kick. It compares to other soft drinks or juice blends, but with a more layered and intentional construction.

The technique

Building this drink starts in a shaker. Combine your grapefruit, orange, cranberry juices, and honey over ice. Give it a good, hard shake for about 10-15 seconds to thoroughly chill and integrate the honey, ensuring it doesn’t just sit at the bottom. Strain the mixture into a tall Collins glass already filled with fresh ice. Top with ginger ale, give a gentle stir to combine, and it’s ready.

The most critical technique here is a proper shake for the juice and honey mixture. Shaking not only chills the ingredients but also fully emulsifies the honey into the cold juices. If you skip a vigorous shake, the honey might settle, creating an unevenly sweet drink, and the initial pour won’t be as cold, leading to faster dilution once the ginger ale is added.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Grapefruit Juice

Use: Fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice is always king here. For bottled, look for unsweetened, 100% juice options like Simply Grapefruit.
Skip: Avoid grapefruit juice from concentrate or those with added sugars. They often lack the essential tartness and slight bitterness that makes fresh juice shine.
Why: Grapefruit juice provides the primary tart and slightly bitter backbone of this drink. It gives the Flying Fairbrother its adult edge and prevents it from being overly sweet or one-dimensional.

Ginger Ale

Use: A good quality, not overly sweet ginger ale like Canada Dry or Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Ale works well. You want distinct ginger flavor, not just sugar.
Skip: Don’t substitute with ginger beer, which will overpower the delicate fruit flavors. Also, avoid flat or cheap, overly sugary sodas that lack a natural ginger bite.
Why: Ginger ale adds the crucial effervescence and a subtle spicy warmth that balances the fruit juices. It lifts the entire drink and provides a refreshing finish.

Three Variations

Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.

Boozy Fairbrother

Add a spirit for a light cocktail.: For an alcoholic version, add 1.5 oz of gin or vodka to the shaker with the juices before shaking. This turns it into a refreshing, low-ABV highball.

Berry Blast

Swap cranberry for more berry goodness.: Substitute the cranberry juice with raspberry or blackberry juice for a darker, richer berry note. Adjust honey to taste if your chosen berry juice is sweeter or tarter.

Spicy Fairbrother

Kick up the ginger heat.: For a spicier version, use a good quality ginger beer instead of ginger ale. Be mindful that ginger beer has a much stronger flavor and might require a slight increase in the other juices to balance.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Grapefruit Juice?

Use additional orange juice, or a mix of lemon and lime juice. The drink will be less complex and lose its characteristic bitterness.

No Cranberry Juice?

Any other berry juice like raspberry or pomegranate will work, though the flavor profile will shift.

No Honey?

Simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water) can be used in equal measure. Agave nectar also works, but start with a smaller amount as it’s sweeter.

No Collins glass?

Any tall, straight-sided glass will do. A pint glass or even a large highball glass can serve as a suitable alternative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.

What is in a Flying Fairbrother?

The Flying Fairbrother contains grapefruit juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, honey, and is topped with ginger ale.

Is the Flying Fairbrother alcoholic?

No, the Flying Fairbrother is a non-alcoholic mocktail.

What does the Flying Fairbrother taste like?

It tastes bright and citrusy from the grapefruit and orange, with a tart cranberry note, a touch of honey sweetness, and a spicy, effervescent finish from the ginger ale.

Can I make a boozy version of the Flying Fairbrother?

Yes, you can add 1.5 oz of gin, vodka, or even a light rum to the shaker with the juices to make it an alcoholic cocktail.

Why is it called Flying Fairbrother?

The origin of the name ‘Flying Fairbrother’ is not widely documented. It’s likely a whimsical name given by its creator.

Is the Flying Fairbrother a healthy drink?

It contains fruit juices, which offer vitamins, but also natural sugars from the juice and added honey. It’s a flavorful mocktail, not specifically a health drink.

What kind of glass should I use for a Flying Fairbrother?

A tall Collins glass is ideal for this drink, allowing for plenty of ice and the ginger ale top-off.

Is the Flying Fairbrother difficult to make?

No, it’s a straightforward drink to prepare, requiring only a shaker for the juices and honey, and then assembly in a glass.

From the Drink Lab catalogue

Drink Lab has been collecting cocktail recipes since 2013. Some we wrote ourselves, plenty came in from readers, and the rest got passed across a bar somewhere along the way.

Last updated May 8, 2026 · 1 min read