There are likely more than a few people who have listed completing Dry January among their 2024 resolutions. Of course, it always sounds simpler waking up to the fresh start of Jan. 1 than it does a few days later—and it can tend to fall apart in much the same way. You get invited to a birthday dinner, a college reunion, or a work happy hour, and your resolve begins to crumble as you watch your table of companions sip their elaborate cocktails, which always look much more satisfying, celebratory, and photogenic than a glass of soda.
Enter the mocktail, a term used to describe zero-proof iterations of classic alcoholic beverages. While the concept has been around for a while (think Shirley Temples and virgin piña coladas), its burgeoning sophistication over the past few years is not to be understated. Suddenly, breweries are offering nonalcoholic beer on tap, viral food blogs are posting inventive zero-proof concoctions, and award-winning restaurants are carving out space on their menus for entire mocktail sections. Many have credited this reinvention of the mocktail to Gen Z, who have rallied around an emerging wellness culture that encourages a drier lifestyle. Whether or not an entire lifestyle change appeals to you, participating in Dry January can be a great reset for the new year, and can now look a little more exciting than sipping on a soda or grape juice. Here are a few spots to enjoy top-notch mocktails in the Twin Cities this January (and beyond).
Marigold
Provided
Marigold is the first fully nonalcoholic bottle shop in Minneapolis and now boasts an additional location in St. Paul. The shop is the pandemic brainchild of Erin Flavin, hair stylist and owner of Honeycomb Salon, with which the Minneapolis location shares building space. Noticing how many of her clients struggled with alcohol consumption throughout the pandemic, Flavin saw a need for more creative alcohol alternatives in the Twin Cities. Marigold carries a variety of zero-proof drinks, including nonalcoholic wines and beers, spirit replacements, ready-to-drink mocktails, mixers, adaptogenic beverages, and soft drinks and teas. The bright, upbeat nature of the shop makes the case that sobriety does not need to be a social deterrent—in fact, Flavin plans to host events and meet-ups at the shops in the coming months.
Parlour
Often, the worst part about going dry is having to miss out on the alluring glamor of underground drinkeries like Parlour Bar. But this seclusive companion to North Loop’s Borough now offers nonalcoholic cocktails that are every bit as inventive as the hard stuff (maybe even more). Sip on a Gin & Apricot Sour, Hibiscus Nulled Wine, or a Parlour Old Fashioned, all made with NA spirit replacements that stand in marvelously, keeping the famous flavor profiles of these beverages intact.
Bauhaus Brew Labs
For beer lovers, giving up alcohol does not have to mean giving up the crisp taste of a cold beer. Coinciding with the rise of mocktails, sales of NA beer have also been skyrocketing, experiencing a 19.5% market worth increase nationally between 2021 and 2022, according to NielsenIQ. Bauhaus Brew Labs in Minneapolis is in on this trend, offering its take on zero-proof beer with a line called Nah. These NA craft brews are sold in various styles, including NA Helles and NA Pink Guava Sour. Stop in to Bauhaus and pick up a six-pack of your favorite, or have it delivered to your door, as Bauhaus is now shipping Nah nationwide. For alternate NA options, the brewery also carries Tetra, a CBD/THC seltzer that comes in five flavors, including Hop Water, for those who are still hoping to recreate the signature flavor of beer.
Chip’s Clubhouse
provided
Peruse the “Non-Alcoholic, But Still Tasty” section of Chip’s Clubhouse’s menu in St. Paul for inventive creations like the Pirate Ship, the Lagunitas Hop Refresher, or the Island Boi. They all carry the best elements of the restaurant’s distinctly Midwestern flavor, minus the alcohol.
W.A. Frost and Company
Find fine dining and wine—even amid dry January—at W.A. Frost and Company atop the historic Cathedral Hill in St. Paul. In operation since 1975, the restaurant’s historic setting can be enjoyed with a glass of zero-proof wine. Sip on the Wilfred Spritz, a non-alcoholic take on the popular Aperol Spritz, or opt for a glass of NA wine from the extensive wine list, which includes zero-proof copycats of reds, whites, and bruts.
Colita
Can’t bear the thought of enduring a margarita-free month? Stop into Colita for the perfect replacement. The Tex-Oaxacan restaurant serves alcohol-free concoctions that emulate the irreplicable experience of enjoying a marg with your tacos. Savor the Rosas, with rose, raspberry, ginger, guava, and lime, or opt for the Accla, an herbal concoction that uses chicha Morada as its base, a Peruvian beverage made from dried purple corn. These zero-proof drinks are every bit as imaginative and aesthetically beautiful as those on Colita’s locally famed cocktail list.
Layline
Photo by Kelly Sims
In the heart of downtown Excelsior, Layline, a sophisticated, contemporary American gem, translates its timeless style into its mocktail offerings. Sip on all the classics you’ve been missing, minus the alcohol, including a Phony Negroni, an Espresso Notini, and a Zero Proof Aperol Spritz, among other options on the restaurant’s “Nah” menu. No need to sacrifice your favorite flavors, or the sleek elegance of these classic glassware shapes; Layline re-creates it.
