Floaty

The Floaty is a vibrant and refreshing mocktail, bringing together sweet pear and zesty orange with a touch of cucumber for garnish. It’s a fun, non-alcoholic option that presents well in its suggested cognac bowl. This drink is perfect for someone seeking a bright, fruity concoction without the booze, or a unique offering for a brunch or social gathering. It's simple to build but offers a distinctive flavor profile that stands out from typical soda mixes.

Floaty

4.84 from 12 votes

Calories: 32kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 5

Ingredients

▢ 0.33 Part(s) Pear Soda
▢ 0.33 Part(s) Orange Soda
▢ 0.33 Part(s) Orange Juice
▢ 1 Slice(s) Cucumber

Instructions

▢
First pour in the pear soda. Then take the fanta and the juice. Please use a cognac bowl when mixing and drinking the drink. Then attach the cucumber slice to the rim. as you would do with a lemon slice. Blend and serve instantly.

Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 32kcal (2%)Carbohydrates: 4g (1%)Sugar: 4g (4%)

Mocktail

Where it came from

The Floaty is a modern invention, likely a creative mocktail developed in a bar setting or by an enthusiast looking for a unique non-alcoholic option. Its specific combination of sodas and juice, paired with the unusual choice of a cognac bowl, suggests a conscious effort to differentiate it from standard virgin drinks. There is no historical lineage placing it among classic cocktails or traditional bar offerings.

This drink sits comfortably within the broad family of non-alcoholic highballs or fruit punches. It shares a lineage with simple soda and juice mixes, like a Shirley Temple or a basic orange soda and grenadine. What sets the Floaty apart is its specific pear and orange flavor pairing and the instruction for a cognac bowl, which shifts its presentation from a casual long drink to something more considered.

You would typically find or serve a Floaty at a brunch restaurant with a dedicated mocktail menu, a casual bar catering to a diverse crowd, or at a home gathering where a refreshing, alcohol-free alternative is desired. Its visual appeal and accessible flavors make it a good fit for social, daytime events or as a designated driver’s choice.

What it tastes like

The Floaty leads with a sweet and effervescent burst of pear, quickly followed by the bright, tangy notes of orange soda and fresh orange juice. The mid-palate is a harmonious blend of these two fruit profiles, with the carbonation providing a lively texture. The finish is clean and refreshing, leaving a lingering sweetness cut by a subtle hint of citrus, with the cucumber garnish offering an aromatic lift rather than a dominant flavor.

As a mocktail, the Floaty contains no alcohol, making its ABV 0%. This means it has the same alcohol content as water or fruit juice, significantly less than a standard beer which typically ranges from 4-6% ABV, or a traditional cocktail which can be 20% ABV or higher. It’s purely for flavor and refreshment.

The technique

To build a Floaty, start by pouring the pear soda into your chosen cognac bowl. Next, combine the orange soda and orange juice in the same bowl. Give the mixture a gentle stir to integrate the flavors without losing too much fizz. Finally, attach a slice of cucumber to the rim of the bowl. This drink is designed for immediate consumption to ensure maximum carbonation and freshness.

The critical technique here is to serve it instantly and ensure all components are thoroughly chilled. Using sodas and juice directly from the fridge maintains their crispness and effervescence. If the ingredients are warm, the drink will quickly become flat and lack the refreshing quality that makes it appealing, turning into a dull, sugary mix rather than a lively mocktail.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Pear Soda

Use: Look for a good quality pear soda or sparkling pear juice that offers a natural fruit flavor, like those from brands such as Izze Sparkling Pear or Fever-Tree. The goal is a clean, authentic pear taste, not an overly sugary or artificial one.
Skip: Avoid generic, hyper-sweet pear-flavored sodas that taste more like candy than fruit. These can overpower the other ingredients and result in a cloying drink.
Why: The pear soda forms the unique flavor foundation of the Floaty, providing a distinct sweetness and effervescence that sets it apart from more common fruit mocktails. It’s the primary character of the drink.

Orange Soda & Orange Juice

Use: Freshly squeezed orange juice is always best for brightness. For the orange soda, a well-known brand like Fanta or San Pellegrino Aranciata works well, providing consistent flavor and good carbonation.
Skip: Do not use orange juice from concentrate that tastes watery or overly sweet, and avoid flat or stale orange soda. These will compromise the drink’s freshness and vibrancy.
Why: This combination provides the essential citrus counterpoint to the pear, adding tang, sweetness, and additional fizz. It balances the flavor profile and ensures the drink isn’t one-note.

Three Variations

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

Spiced Pear Floaty

A warming twist.: Add a dash of ginger syrup or a few slices of fresh ginger to the mix for a subtle, warming spice that complements the pear and orange.

Tropical Floaty

Escape to the islands.: Substitute part of the orange juice with pineapple juice and garnish with a pineapple wedge for a more exotic, sweeter profile.

Boozy Floaty

Add some kick.: Introduce 1.5 oz of a clear spirit like vodka or gin to the drink for an alcoholic version, maintaining the fruit-forward flavors.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Pear Soda?

Try sparkling apple juice or a lemon-lime soda with a splash of pear nectar. The flavor profile will shift, but you’ll retain the sweetness and fizz.

No Orange Soda?

Use a lemon-lime soda and increase the orange juice quantity slightly to maintain the citrus balance and carbonation.

No Orange Juice?

Fresh tangerine juice or even a good quality apricot nectar can provide a similar fruity, slightly tart element.

No Cucumber?

A lime wheel or a fresh mint sprig can offer a similar aromatic garnish and visual appeal.

No Cognac Bowl?

A large wine glass or a small highball glass will work, though you might lose some of the unique presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is in a Floaty?

A Floaty contains pear soda, orange soda, orange juice, and is garnished with a slice of cucumber.

Is the Floaty alcoholic?

No, the Floaty is a mocktail and contains no alcohol.

What does a Floaty taste like?

It tastes like a sweet, fizzy, and refreshing blend of pear and orange, with a light citrus tang.

Why is it called a Floaty?

The name likely refers to the light, effervescent quality of the drink, or potentially a subtle layering effect if carefully poured.

Can I make a Floaty alcoholic?

Yes, you can add a shot of a clear spirit like vodka, gin, or even a spiced rum for an alcoholic version.

What is a cognac bowl?

A cognac bowl is a type of snifter glass typically used for brandy, characterized by its wide bowl and narrow rim, which helps to concentrate aromas.

How should I garnish a Floaty?

The standard garnish for a Floaty is a slice of fresh cucumber, attached to the rim of the glass.

Can I prepare a Floaty in advance?

It’s best to prepare a Floaty just before serving to ensure the sodas retain their carbonation and the drink is at its freshest.

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