If you enjoy hitting the town but want an alcohol-free drinking experience, you aren’t alone. Data from the global market research firm Mintel in 2019 found 45 percent of millennials would give up alcoholic beverages to improve their health.
Enter mocktails. Non-alcoholic cocktails are increasingly popular with anyone looking for a drink that sacrifices alcohol but not flavor and aesthetic. Several Tri-State businesses already take an inclusive approach to the non-alcoholic movement by featuring these unique drinks on their menus.
“People like to go out and enjoy a good drink and maybe not have alcohol in it,” says Chase Oswald, co-owner of Evansville’s Bar Louie. “This gives a little more excitement for sure, and they’re aesthetically appealing.”
Bar Louie’s corporate mixologist concocted three $3.50 mocktails in 2020 for its “Sober A.F. (Alcohol Free)” menu, starting with Shake-It-Up freshly shaken teas that come with a choice of mango, strawberry, passion fruit, and black cherry fruit purees. Added to the menu in 2022 are the Island Hopper, which mixes orange, guava, and passionfruit juices with sparkling water and is topped with a lime wedge; and the Pineapple Ginger Cooler, a breezy blend of pineapple juice, bitters, ginger beer, and mint.
Prior Bar Louie mocktails have included the Cherry Vanilla Fizz, a smooth, sugar fix made with black cherry puree, vanilla syrup, club soda, and amarena cherries; and the Hibiscus Blossom Cooler, made with a refreshing hibiscus tea, simple syrup, and Sprite.
Locally, Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano also offers five unique mocktail recipes, and Mo’s House serves up two non-alcoholic craft cocktails and three alcohol-free beers.
“I think we will see more of these kinds of drinks moving forward,” Oswald says.
Drink Up
barlouie.com
Editor’s note: This story has been updated from the original published version to reflect menu changes.
