I remember visiting a very nice Dallas restaurant for my wedding anniversary while I was pregnant, about 8 years ago. I asked for a non-alcoholic cocktail. The waitstaff was flustered but kind, and they really took the time to pull something together for me. But it was a smoothie, topped with lots of wonderful fruit. It was a delicious smoothie, but not exactly what I had in mind.
These days, non-alcoholic drinks are getting more sophisticated. Bolstered by wellness trends and lower alcohol consumption by younger generations, the beverage industry is adapting to this new demand. Now, longtime alcohol brands are creating no- and low-alcohol options, and new zero-proof spirits, sparkling tonics and other no-alcohol drinks are popping up on store shelves.
Beth Hutson, a Fort Worth beverage industry professional, launched The Elevated Elixir two years ago. Her Instagram-based blog focuses on the alcohol-free lifestyle, creating drinks and mocktails with cultivated and mature flavors. (She’ll also be teaching a free come-and-go mocktail class at West Elm Fort Worth, 2869 W. 7th Street, on May 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. No sign-up necessary.)
Hutson wants alcohol-free drinks to be accessible and “not judgmental,” she says. She doesn’t like to use the word “sober” to refer to the movement, because people stop drinking for a lot of reasons, she says.
“There are so many reasons that people stop drinking, like health and wellness, or they just want more authentic or meaningful connections in their social lives,” she says. “I don’t want people to feel alienated. It’s for drinkers, too.”
And the stigma is part of what has held people back from exploring sobriety, she says. When she and her husband decided to stop drinking, they experienced some pushback. “It rubbed me the wrong way, the stigma, how other people react,” she says. “Every time I would mention it to my friends — ‘I think I’m going to break up with alcohol’ — everybody would always talk me out of it.”
But now, alcohol-free options are showing up in stores, on lifestyle blogs, and even at more restaurants and bars. Austin has Sans Bar, and North Texas will even have its first “sober bar” at a vegan cafe called Wicked Bold in Flower Mound when it opens in June.
And the options for great alcohol-free mixes are truly endless. Hutson loves simple syrups, shrubs, sparkling waters, and kombucha to mix with alcohol-free spirits from brands like Seedlip, Curious Elixirs, and Ritual. There are also alcohol-free craft beers, wines, bubbles and pre-made mocktails.
“I’ve been having fun with other things, too, like sparkling teas at Leaves [Books and Tea in Fort Worth]. I’ve been experimenting with different coffees like French press, and making horchatas. The possibilities are limitless,” Hutson says. “You can also invest in beautiful bar carts and stemware, different types of ices, and beautiful garnishes to make it feel more elevated.”
Here’s a breakdown of available alcohol-free options:
Spirits
Zero-proof spirits often mimic the taste, aroma, mouthfeel and sometimes the burn of whiskey, tequila, gin and more. They are made by distilling botanicals like agave and oak to create the essence of traditional spirits. Brands to try are Monday and Seedlip (herbal gin alternatives), Caleño (tropical), Mockingbird Spirit (tequila alternative), Ritual (whiskey, tequila and gin), and Lyre’s (American malt, amaretti and more).
Wine and beer
Many alcohol-free drinks on the market mimic wines and beers. Athletic Brewing Company and BrewDog offer entire lines of non-alcoholic beers in a can, and there are a lot of local craft options. HopTea is made with real black tea and hops, TÖST is a dry sparkling beverage made with tea (and it comes in a wine bottle), and Grüvi makes both wine and beer (bubbly rosés, IPAs and more).
Pre-made mocktails and herbal tonics
Some zero-alcohol drinks come ready-made and can serve a variety of purposes, either for drinking alone or mixing with something else. For Bitter For Worse makes bottled spritzes and other libations that are ready to drink.
Brands to try are Kin Euphorics, with several varieties made with adaptogens like mushrooms and relaxing nootropics like melatonin and L-theanine; Curious Elixirs (made with herbs, roots, barks and adaptogens); Three Spirits (infused with mushrooms and other adaptogens).
You can also find a lot of sparkling tonics in this category, from kombucha drinks and sparkling teas to fizzy brands like Sunwink. Or sparkling aperitifs like Bitters & Soda.
Syrups, shrubs and more
There are a ton of wonderful craft syrups, shrubs (drinking vinegars) and more. You can even make your own, but brands like Royal Rose, Crafted, Proof and Element are common go-tos.
The Old Fauxion
4 ounces Ritual Whiskey Alternative
1 ounce Royal Rose simple syrup
2 dashes bitters (see Note)
Combine ingredients in a shaker and stir. Pour over ice in an old fashioned glass. Garnish with orange peel and top with cherry.
Note: Bitters contain a minimal amount of alcohol, similar to vanilla extract. For 100% alcohol-free bitters, try brands like Dram or The Bitter Note.
SOURCE: Beth Hutson, The Elevated Elixir
French 86
2 ounces Bax Botanics Verbena alcohol-free spirit (notes of verbena, fresh herbs, menthol and fennel)
4 ounces sparkling white wine alternative (Gruvi dry secco, Lyre’s Classico non-alcoholic or Buonafide Hug Alternativa)
Lemon zest
Pour Bax Botanics Verbena into a Champagne glass. Top with wine alternative. Garnish with lemon twist.
SOURCE: Beth Hutson, The Elevated Elixir
Purple Passion
1 ounce Origin Botanical Nectar #4 (contains passion fruit, lychee and butterfly pea flower)
1 ounce fresh lime juice
4 ounces Topo Chico
Combine nectar and lime juice in a shaker with ice. Shake. Pour over ice. Top with Topo Chico. Garnish with blueberry skewer and mint.
SOURCE: Beth Hutson, The Elevated Elixir
