Boring mocktails are officially in the rearview mirror. Atlanta’s bars are reimagining zero-proof drinks, and for the dry-January observers, the permanently abstemious, or those simply in search of a great drink with dinner, we’ve got you covered.
These cocktails lean on a sophisticated lexicon of bittered botanicals, sharp shrubs, citrus and other surprises to replicate the bite and textural weight of a boozy pour. Whether you’re recalibrating for the month or simply seeking a clear-headed seat at the table, these are drinks that prove a cocktail’s worth lies in its intentionality rather than its alcohol content.
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
Agua Chiles at La Semilla
Almost echoing the complexity of Mexican mole, Agua Chiles brings a bright snap, a vegetal slow burn and a bit of smoke to your glass with five chiles — guajillo, habanero, morita, pasilla and serrano — in a house-made shrub plus cacao. Grapefruit juice is a secret weapon, offering bittersweet acidity. A soda water topper delivers aromatics with bubbles.
780 Memorial Dr. SE, Atlanta. 404-228-3090, lasemilla.kitchen
Credit: handout
Credit: handout
Amalfi Beach at Siena
Matching the “Meditalian” cuisine at Alpharetta’s Siena, Amalfi Beach is a sunshiney sipper without the alcohol. The bromelain enzyme in pineapple juice creates a persistent foam when shaken vigorously, keeping this mango mai tai version vibrant throughout your sipping experience.
124 Devore Road, Alpharetta. 404-488-3399, sienaatl.com
Credit: Brandon Amato
Credit: Brandon Amato
Verdita Collins at the Woodall
The Woodall’s Verdita Collins contains the brightness of garden herbs with a deep, spicy undercurrent and the balancing bitterness of quinine. Cilantro and mint are an aromatic duo, a cooling and savory contrast to jalapeno heat in a verdant cooler.
2260 Marietta Blvd. NW, Atlanta. 404-343-4424, thewoodallwestside.com
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
Purple Rain at Southern Belle
Tannic blueberry and the zing of ginger mingle in a glass with pea flower. When the lemon juice hits, the color changes to an earthy indigo hue, allowing you to drink “purple” without tasting “purple,” in the style of chef Joey Ward’s playful culinary magic.
1043 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-698-3961, southernbelleatl.com
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
Golden Recovery at Bovino After Dark
At Bovino After Dark, Cristina Payan Ponce designs zero-proof drinks through experimentation while working with the kitchen for a zero-waste menu. Inspired by a classic sour, the sun-hued Golden Recovery plays juicy mandarin and fresh lemon against earthy turmeric syrup. The beautiful balance and soft acidity create silky sipping, complete with warm spices.
1000 White St. SW, Atlanta. 470-716-3176, bovinoafterdark.com
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
Mulled Old-Fashioned at the Select
The wood-forward Lyre’s American Malt gives an aged feel to a deeply nostalgic classic cocktail without a drop of alcohol in the Select’s Mulled Old-Fashioned. Rather than using simple syrup, flavors are amped up with a mulled non-alcoholic wine syrup made with brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, orange, allspice, nutmeg and star anise and a few dashes of nonalcoholic bitters.
6405 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs. 770-637-2240, theselectatl.com
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
Tiny Bubbles at the Ashford
Simple, bright and bubbly, Tiny Bubbles incorporates a pineapple cordial, lime juice and a topper of nonalcoholic prosecco at the Ashford on Dresden. It’s just one of many zero-proof cocktails at the Ashford.
1418 Dresden Drive, Atlanta. 404-907-4447, theashfordatl.com
Credit: Apple Photos Clean Up
Credit: Apple Photos Clean Up
Tokyo Zero at Kimball House
As intriguing and satisfying as the high-proof version of this cocktail, Tokyo Zero’s first sip is a sharp, aromatic collision. Yuzu lends complex floral, almost perfume-like citrus notes, and pineapple provides weight and honeyed sweetness. Ginger brings clean, directional heat that mimics alcohol‘s “burn,” while lime and lime zest give bracing, snappy sensations. Compared side by side, the New Tokyo (with alcohol) and Tokyo Zero taste equally delightful.
303 E. Howard Ave., Decatur. 404-378-3502, kimball-house.com
Credit: handout
Credit: handout
Texas Starlight at Superica
Ever wanted a celebratory margarita without the booze? Beverage director Lara Creasy’s Texas Starlight is a zero-proof version of Superica’s Tex-Mex classic Texas Star. She combines Lyre’s Agave, Giffard Elderflower NA, lime and grapefruit juices, agave nectar and a morita-hibiscus juice and crowns it with a cactus pick and lime wheel for a deep-in-the-heart-of-Texas experience. Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Superica has locations in Buckhead, Krog District, Alpharetta, Dunwoody and the Battery. superica.com
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
My Paloma at Confab Kitchen and Bar
Crisp and garden-forward, Confab’s My Paloma is bold and slightly smoky. Built with grapefruit and lime juices, it has an herbaceous backbone of Amethyst Grapefruit Basil, a nonalcoholic spirit that mimics the complexity of an aperitif.
1350 Dresden Drive NE, Atlanta. 404-963-1305, confabatl.com
Credit: Colette Collins
Credit: Colette Collins
Celery Gimlet at Lazy Betty
Whether paired with the tasting menu or enjoyed at the bar, Lazy Betty’s Celery Gimlet is packed with herbal, vegetal notes from a house-made celery cordial, saline and Amethyst Lemon Cucumber Serrano — a distilled nonalcoholic spirit. It is light and refreshing, with sippable depth and hints of salty spice, and a surface dotted with chive oil.
999 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 470-851-1199, lazybettyatl.com
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
