When you’re mixing and mingling in Downtown with your friends and neighbors at The Great Mocktail Mixer: A Dry January Bar Crawl on Thursday, Jan. 16 from 6 to 10 PM, you’ll be doing much more than starting your Dry January or even your complete abstention from alcoholic beverages. You’ll be getting an insider look at the art of making mocktails! Downtown’s drinkeries and mixologists are addressing the growing demand for non-alcoholic drinks by upping their game.
Whether you’re sampling a signature mocktail made with uncommon, arcane ingredients or sipping a simple alternative to an ice-cold beer, you’ll be participating in a drink movement that has generated respect in the industry and enthusiasm among consumers. Do a deep dive at these nine Downtown spots during this Dry January bar crawl, where you’ll sample mocktails, watch informative demos, get collectible charms from each establishment, and groove to live music all evening!
BO-BEAU KITCHEN + ROOF TAP / 144 PINE AVE.
BO-beau’s Pink Madame, Grapefruit and Berry Smash, and the French Riviera Whip
Enter this elegant restaurant, climb the stairs, and grab some spots on the “roof tap” urban beer garden, where you can enjoy picnic table seating, wonderful views, and three mocktails curated by BO-beau’s expert staff.
“At first we only had fruits and juices to experiment with in our mocktails, but now we’re using non-alcoholic distilled spirits, each with a taste that’s very close to the original alcoholic version,” said assistant general manager Enrique Aguilar. “This gives us much more room to experiment with the flavor profiles.”
At the Mocktail Crawl, BO-beau will be serving the Pink Madame, made with Lyre’s White Cane Zero-Proof liquor, Lavender Honey Syrup, and Sparkling Water; the Grapefruit and Berry Smash, with Lyre’s alcohol-free American Malt, Grapefruit and Lemon Juice, and House Syrup: and the French Riviera Whip, which is a mix of Lyre’s Dry London non-alcoholic Spirits, Mango, Pineapple, and Lime Juice, and Coconut Cream.
BO-beau’s manager and sommelier Marilyn Fajardo pointed out that “many people are moving away from drinking alcohol, a trend we’ve noticed in our restaurant. Now that people are discovering that mocktails are being made with the same high-quality ingredients and syrups as regular cocktails, they can order one and not feel left out of the cocktail camaraderie.”
ANNA’S JOINT / 443 PINE AVE.
Anna’s Joint selection of non-alcoholic beverages.
In just three years at the corner of 5th and Pine Avenue, Anna’s Joint has established itself as a cheery neighborhood pub — the kind where everybody knows your name! Anna’s Joint added a market/coffee bar last year, which makes it a one-stop shop for tastiness, including one of the finest breakfast burritos in town.
Anna’s will be offering two mocktail options at the Mocktail Crawl; the non-alcoholic Negroni cocktail, which mixes zero-proof Gin, Vermouth, and Campari over the rocks, and a selection of non-alcoholic beers.
Make sure you stop in to enjoy the friendly vibes and the grab n’ go snack opportunities during the Mocktail Crawl or any time you’re on Pine Avenue! It’s a great Downtown hangout.
THE CARVERY / 201 PINE AVE.
The Carvery’s London Mule Cider, Espresso Social Martini, and El Angelito.
Owner Riley Hodges and mixologist Damiann Rodriguez have curated a mocktail menu that is as interesting as it is flavorful! Hodges noted that many Carvery mocktails include complex blends of botanical ingredients such as roots and herbs, along with other curious touches that are sure to delight your taste buds.
The Carvery will be offering three mocktails at the Crawl: the London Mule Cider, a refreshing and delicious take on a classic Mule, with non-alcoholic Gin, Ginger Beer and a unique blend of juices, garnished with an apple slice and cinnamon stick; El Angelito, featuring a complex blend of botanicals, herbs, roots and digestive-friendly ingredients like Chicory, Gentian, Coriander, Clove, Angelica Root, and Wormwood; and the Espresso Social Martini, a dark herbal elixir and mood elevator made with Recreational Coffee’s Espresso beans, Lion’s Mane Mushroom, Yerba Mate, Cacao, and Damiana, which combine to lift spirits and reduce inhibitions!
Obviously, the mocktail has come a long way from the Shirley Temple and the Roy Rogers. “In some ways, our mocktails are more complex than our regular cocktails,” noted Rodriguez.
SECRET ISLAND / 209 PINE AVE.
Secret Island’s Blue Lagoon Mojito, Sun In Saturn, and the Painkiller.
Hodges and Rodriguez have applied their mocktail wizardry in Secret Island, The Carvery’s downstairs neighbor which is just a few steps away but feels like you’ve been transported to another world entirely. Enter through a misty rain forest complete with thunder and lightning, and proceed to savor some truly exotic mocktails.
Try the Blue Lagoon Mojito, featuring Lyre’s White Cane non-alcoholic spirits with notes of Oak, Sugar Cane, Marzipan, Orange, and Coconut; the Sun In Saturn, which highlights the Juniper bouquet of Plymouth-style Gin with notes of Citrus, Coriander, and Cardamom; and the Painkiller, starring Lyre’s non-alcoholic Dark Rum with notes of Caramel, Fudge, Fig and Toasted Nuts enhanced by Maple and Vanilla, blended with a cream of Coconut, Pineapple and Orange Juice. Add a shot of Kava, which has been consumed both socially and ceremonially in Fiji and the island nations of the South Pacific for centuries to relax, unwind, and connect.
Make sure you don’t lose track of time when you’re enjoying your visit to Secret Island! It’s just like a trip to a faraway tropical destination. Once you’re there, you won’t want to leave.
ALTAR SOCIETY BREWING AND COFFEE CO. / 230 PINE AVE.
Altar Society’s Cranberry Smash & Blood Orange Spritz
Altar Society occupies a site built in 1903, and retains the spirit of a long-ago time on Pine Avenue! It has established itself as a go-to for amazing pizza, phenomenal brownies, flavorsome beers brewed onsite, and some mighty fine mocktails.
“We always see an uptick in non-alcohol drinking during January,” said bartender Alexandra Bent. “We’re really excited to be providing delicious things to drink that don’t put alcohol into your body.”
During the Mocktail Crawl, Altar Society will be mixing the Cranberry Smash, made with muddled Cranberry, Lime, Mint, Brown Sugar, and Ginger Ale. They’ll also be pouring the Blood Orange Spritz, made with Blood Orange tea, Ginger Beer, Lime, and Bitters served in a martini glass.
Bartender Bent was quick to emphasize that “just because you’re doing Dry January doesn’t mean you can’t splash around and have some fun!”
ISM BREWING & KITCHEN / 210 E 3RD ST. #A
ISM Brewing’s selection of non-alcoholic beers.
ISM is a craft brewery on The Promenade that makes award-winning IPAs onsite and also doubles as a vibrant art gallery. When you’re there during The Great Mocktail Mixer, check out the walls covered with the colorful works of students from DTLB’s Renaissance High School for the Arts, and the vending machine that dispenses little artworks from local artists, designers, and makers.
“At ISM, it’s not all about the alcohol in the beer. It’s about the flavor, and about creating something that people will enjoy drinking that doesn’t have to get them intoxicated,” said general manager Andrew Carroll.
During the Mocktail Crawl, ISM will be pouring their house-made, alcohol-free Hop Water, which is sparkling water infused with Hops. They’ll also be serving a Hop Fizz and a selection of non-alcoholic beers.
Carroll stressed that everyone, young and old, is welcome at ISM. “We are all ages, all the time, because we want everyone to come here and enjoy,” he said.
SAKE SECRET / 460 PINE AVE.
Sake Secret’s Yuzu Spritz, Kokuto Stormy, and the Jin To Jyusu.
Owner Greg Beck, who spent decades as a beer brewer, then acquired an encyclopedic knowledge of Sake during an eight-year stay in Japan, has created a Pine Avenue spot where one can celebrate the timeless artistry of Japanese Sake and other Japanese beverages. Beck described Sake Secret as a great place to “sip, shop, and learn!”
Sake Secret will be offering a thirst-quenching selection during the mocktail crawl; the Yuzu Spritz, made with sparkling Yuzu Juice and Ginjo Sparkling Water; the Kokuto Stormy, which features a Rum alternative and Hitachino non-alcoholic Yuzu Ginger Beer; and the Jin To Jyusu, made with a Gin alternative and sparkling Mikan Juice.
During the crawl, a chef colleague of Beck’s will be cooking and serving Yakitori — bite-sized pieces of meat that are skewered and grilled over charcoal.
THE ORDINARIE TAVERN / 210 THE PROMENADE N
Photo courtesy of The Ordinarie
The Ordinarie will be converted back from its “Miracle at the Ordinarie” holiday transformation by Jan. 16, but it will still be extraordinary! Sample their two mocktail crawl offerings that evening.
Try the Teatini, a concoction of Black Tea with Lemon Simple Syrup which is shaken and strained into a martini glass, then garnished with a lemon twist.
Also on the Ordinarie’s mocktail menu will be the No-jito!. It’s made with Lime and Mint Simple Syrup, mixed with club soda over ice, and decorated with fresh mint.
ROSEMALLOWS (SOON TO BE MIDNIGHT OIL) / 255 LONG BEACH BLVD.
Photo courtesy of Rosemallows
This corner bar will have undergone its transformation under new ownership by Jan. 16, and it will not lose a step in the cocktail game!
You’ll have a choice of two fabulous mocktails here during the Crawl: First up is the Banana Justino, a light and refreshing tropical chiller with Banana, Lime and Coconut Ice, topped with Coconut Flakes.
You can also indulge in an alcohol-free Mai Tai, which has all the complexity of a regular Mai Tai without the Rum. This delicious mocktail is made with Banana Juice, Lime, Simple Syrup, Orgeat, and fresh Orange.
Keep in mind that each of these establishments offers amazing food! Click each spot’s name at the top of the blurbs for menu details. Plan on a full evening of great dining and the best mocktails you’ve ever had. Happy Crawling!