Mocktails in Music City - Where To Indulge in Dry January

For years, revelers who wished to abstain from alcohol when joining friends for a night out were usually offered a trio of water, tea, or soda. Fast-forward to today, with Dry January and many minimizing the amount of alcohol they consume, bars and restaurants all over the city heard the message loud and clear — make N/A drinks as fun and balanced as their alcoholic cousins. Now, beverage directors and bartenders are flexing their low-to-no alcohol muscles to create some fun alternatives to alcohol-based cocktails. We searched the city and discovered some of our favorites.

Carne Mare

Faux Daisy and the Rosé 'Champagne'

The decadent Italian chophouse — Carne Mare — by Chef Andrew Carmellini is a must visit for business dinners,  date night, or before an evening at the Symphony. Carne Mare offers a thoughtful and delicious non-alcoholic beverage program featuring two signature NA cocktails: the Faux Daisy, made with Aplos ‘Arise’, Lime, Agave and Orange Bitters, and the Rosé 'Champagne' which features French Bloom ‘Le Rosé’ Sparkling, Raspberry & Zest and Orange Bitters.

Coral Club

Neo-Tropical

For a vintage vibe, check out the Coral Club. Tucked away in East Nashville, the cocktail lounge is a respite from the everyday hustle and bustle of Nashville. While Coral Club will be offering an expanded menu for Dry January, one of their popular year-round mocktails is the Neo-Tropical. This tart and spicy little number includes Giffard N/A Aperitivo, pineapple, ginger, lime soda

Doughbird Nashville

Blackberry Rickey and Southern Peach Tea

In Green Hills, Doughbird has become a fan favorite with comfort foods like pizza and rotisserie chicken. They also have two fantastic mocktails — the Blackberry Rickey with a fruity and not-overly-sweet taste and Southern Peach Tea with an aromatic spring on sweet tea using  clover honey, ripe peach, sparkling yuzu sour.

Drusie & Darr

Basil Lavender Lemonade and Green Bell Pepper Soda

The combination of an historic building with contemporary design, just enjoying time in Druise & Darr is a treat. Staying ahead of trends has been one of the tenets of the hotel since 1910. With the N/A options available, they are doing just that. Settle in to the perfectly balanced Basil Lavender Lemonade or the herbaceous Green Bell Pepper soda.

Harriett’s

Mockarita

If it is a non-alcoholic twist on a classic in an elevated setting you are looking for, enjoy the Mockarita at Harriett’s in the 1 Hotel. The Mockarita — a play on the refreshing margarita — features Bare Reposado for a smooth, rich flavor, perfectly complemented by zesty lime and a kick of jalapeño. 

The Iberian Pig

Chasing Windmills

Located in the Gulch, The Iberian Pig offers the tastes of Spain with an eclectic, social atmosphere and a menu of traditional charcutería and quesos, and tapas. While indulging in the jamón happy hour, guests may enjoy the spirit-free chasing windmills mocktail with blackberry sour, tonic, ginger beer. 

Killjoy

Naked and Calm

There’s nothing dry about KillJoy, the colorful booze-free bottle shop in the Shoppes on Fatherland, where proprietors Stephanie Styll and John Caldwell stock enough innovative NA elixirs to celebrate Dry January and more mocktailing through the year. For a zero-proof spin on a classic cocktail, try a KillJoy Calm Old Fashioned. Mixed with NKD whiskey alternative and Drømme Calm non-alcoholic botanical elixir, this wintry drink is known in some festive circles as a Naked and Calm.

Ingredients:           

• All the Bitter Aromatic Bitters      

• Simple Syrup

• NKD Whiskey Alternative

• Drømme Calm

• Orange Peel

In a rocks glass, combine 2-3 dashes Bitters with 1/2 oz simple syrup, 1.5 oz NKD Whiskey, 2 oz oDrømme Calm, one large ice cube

Stir with a spoon until chilled.

Run an orange peel along the rim of the glass then zest over the cocktail.

Garnish with the peel and a Luxardo cherry or dried orange slice if desired.

Luogo

The Phoney Negroni

For a casual dinner with friends, Luogo has become one of the darlings of the Gulch. With their lively atmosphere and beautiful decor, the restaurant is a feast for the senses. The Phoney Negroni is reminiscent of an afternoon spent idly on a Tuscan hillside or a fun-filled evening with friends, tucked away in your favorite trattoria.

Mimo

Known for creativity and panache, Mimo — inside the Four Seasons Nashville — is one of those exceptional places in which it is not out of place to dress for dinner and a favorite pastime of guests is to see and be seen. The exceedingly talented beverage team has created an excellent mocktail menu for an alcohol-free evening. Two standout favorites include: The Sober Spicy Margarita and the Passion Fruit Bubble which is garnished with a piece of Bazooka Bubble Gum and its comic strip wrapper.

Pushing Daisies

La Playa

This south of the border focused, underground cocktail lounge is not only filled with plenty of tequila and mezcal, they round out the menu with some fantastic mocktails. One of the most delicious — and photogenic — is the La Playa. With a delightful combination of fluffy pineapple, toasted cinnamon, pomegranate, drunken chia seeds, this is a not-to-be-missed mocktail.

Superica

Ginger No-jito and Matador, No Bull

A popular hotspot in the Gulch, Superica by Ford Fry is a modern Mexican food destination. Serving lunch and dinner Monday through Friday and Brunch and dinner Saturday and Sunday, this energetic spot is a great destination for enjoying creative food and delicious mocktails. The Superica team has created well-balanced mocktails like the Ginger no-jito with Lyre’s white cane spirit, spicy ginger syrup, the Matador, no bull with Lyre’s Agave Spirit, pineapple juice, fresh lime, cilantro, jalapeño, and more.