By Babs S. Harrison
The moment of the luxury mocktail has arrived. Whether you call it a mocktail or softail, spirit-free, N/A, or zero-proof, today’s alcohol-free craft cocktails are shaking up the way we drink when we’re not drinking.
Showing up at high-end venues across the country, buzz-less cocktails are attractive not only to those who abstain from alcohol but also the sober-curious who still drink, but are drinking less.
A 2021 Gallup survey reported that 60% of Americans drink alcoholic beverages, down from 65% in 2019 and 67% in 2010. In this current era of neo-moderation, there’s never been a better selection of quality, alcohol-free cocktails. Thanks to a flurry of new and tasty booze-free spirits, the bar has been raised. No longer do adults need to feel like they’re at the kids table with a sugary sweet Shirley Temple, thought to be the first mocktail on the scene. Mixologists are now crafting drinks that are more sophisticated than a Virgin Mary and much more complex than an Arnold Palmer.
Similar to a spirited cocktail, no- and low- alcohol cocktails still contain high-quality ingredients including a plethora of plant material and no refined sugar. There are British distilled and aromatic botanicals, and rifs on French aperitifs. Some focus on wellness. featuring natural adaptogens to boost your mood. Others mimic the taste of the real spirit so well that you might have a hard time guessing which is which at first sip.
Refreshing Mocktails at Castle Hot Springs
Castle Hot Springs’ Bar 1896 features a selection of garden-fresh mocktails on its menu. The 10 Carrot is a healthy mix of carrot, orange, citrus and ginger topped with a passion fruit foam. This particular mocktail can transform into a 24 Carrot cocktail with the addition of Corrido Blanco Tequila and Lebelon Cachaca.
The carrots, citrus and passionfruit come from the on-site seed-to-table farm at Castle Hot Springs that supplies a seasonal market basket of herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers for the mixology team to work with throughout the year. No supply chain issues here as the culinary gardens are just steps away from the bar. Mindful drinkers will appreciate seeing where some of their drink ingredients are grown. Witness the regenerative practices that take the farm one step beyond organic to become good stewards of the land.
The Mocktail Moment
The popularity of these and other zero-proof cocktails is likely to continue for several reasons:
First, abstaining from alcohol has become a wellness trend as many Americans rethink their relationship to alcohol. Popular challenges like Dry January and Sober October that urge participants to take a break from alcohol for a month. As the connection between lifestyle and personal health becomes clearer, people are drinking less. They’re not necessarily giving up alcohol, but they are becoming more selective, mindful drinkers.
Second, there’s a lot of high-quality, non-alcohol spirits on the market now with display-worthy packaging. These products and their ingredients inspire mixologists to create ever more luxurious mocktails that appeal to a sophisticated palate.
Lastly, artful presentation has elevated the mocktail to cocktail status. Poured into a cocktail glass with a garnish, it has all the appeal of the real deal.
Mocktails can mimic cocktails, but they don’t replace them. Rather they offer an enticing alternative for those who want to drink less and enjoy the cocktail hour with a beautiful beverage. What’s refreshing about sober-curious is the atmosphere of personal choice and acceptance; it’s not the temperance movement.
The Cocktail Hour, is a pleasurable ritual, a small celebration at the end of the day. It delineates the workday from the evening ahead, giving us a moment to refresh, relax and socialize, be it just you or with family and friends. A well-crafted mocktail or cocktail lets everyone join in on the party.
Whether you opt for a Negroni or a booze-free botanical aperitif, it’s going to be delicious. Why not give it a shot?