In the Thick of It and Still Having Fun

June 16, 2019 / Mocktail MO / Leave a comment

Sometimes we start out on a mission and grow weary of its pace, either too slow or too fast. I have to say that meeting new people, making new friends, and being a part of a swiftly growing global community of alcohol free imbibers is one of the most rewarding paths I have taken in my life. This new adventure started as a search for something that I thought would be easy, alcohol free cocktails. I quickly found out that so far in Arkansas it is a strange and new concept for most in the hospitality industry. There are a couple of restaurants with mocktails, and a few bartenders willing to play my silly game of “Create a MOtini, MOrita, CosMO”…etc. Not all of them take me seriously, but what keeps me going is the joy it brings to talk to people about sober drinking, and to see the light bulbs switch on when they start to understand the idea. Alcohol is not a requirement to enjoying socializing with people, nor is it the root of all sin in my book. What I’m interested in (and the exponentially growing number of A.F. drinkers agree) is a world where “cocktail” has a broader meaning than just a boozy drink.

I have to credit Instagram, and the wonderful groups of people I find there for spurring me onward. I have definitely found my tribe there. So many people are choosing to be “mindful drinkers” for health reasons, be it lowering calories or wanting to be hangover free. Some are “sober curious”, and looking for an alternative to getting drunk. The inspiring crowd of people who choose to stay sober because of addiction is absolutely remarkable. There is so much care and support in that community, it gives my heart wings. I have also been inspired to continue on this path by certain people I follow. There’s The Mocktail Project that shares my mission and has taken it to the next level being the first to officially serve Mocktails at the Kentucky Derby. Sans Bar and Listen are pop-up event bars that create a safe place for sober people to party. On the other side of the Atlantic, The Virgin Mary bar in Dublin is a completely alcohol free bar. How crazy is that? I mean when you think of Ireland you think of pubs and people downing pints and angry whiskey fights am I right? That picture is changing as of now because of the Virgin Mary. On that note… Europe seems to be way down the road with low and no alcohol drinking. There are so many alcohol-free spirits to choose from it would be easy to create all kinds of sophisticated and complex tasting mocktails. Seedlip is by far the best known alcohol free spirit, and can now be found in the U.S. Caleno, The Bitter Note, and Silk Tree Botanics also sound so interesting, but most aren’t sold in the U.S. making it a challenge to try them.

All this keeps me plugging away here at home in Arkansas. My mission continues to be A Mocktail for Every Menu, and with that in mind I am open to talking to any and all business owners who are curious about expanding their clientele. This is a movement after all, and that starts with educating people. Mine is a “build it and they will come” kind of plan, and I am happily gaining some success. Without going into specifics…yet, I have talked with a few restaurateurs who are interested in adding space on their menus for mocktails. I will also be collaborating with a local hot spot bar to expand their mocktail service. Watch my instagram feed (mocktail.mo) for updates and upcoming events with BellaVita Jewelry and Nexus Coffee and Creative.

I never knew at the beginning just where this journey would take me, and I’m still not completely sure where it will go. I do have ideas on where I’d like to take it. (Possibly becoming the face of the Mocktail Movement?) All I know is I’m having a blast along the way and will continue on the crusade. Mocktails… it really is a thing.

Mocktail Mo and the Art Makers at Nexus Coffee and Creative

May 12, 2019May 13, 2019 / Mocktail MO / Leave a comment

Alright friends, we have another first for the Mocktail MO mocktail movement. Nexus Coffee and Creative and Mocktail MO teamed up at Little Rock’s 2^nd Friday Art Night. The theme: Makers on a Mission. This was my first event to spread the word of mocktail culture. What an exciting event to be a part of; there were illustration/sketch artists along with artists who made leather goods and a line of jewelry that works with women in recovery. Served were two mocktail creations especially made for the evening, a Sparkling Orange and Lavender Espresso and a Nitro-tado, a blueberry nitro coffee with cream and topped with whipped cream…Yum!

It all started as I was making coffee one morning, and I realized that practicing my sermon was in order. And by that I mean creating a more inclusive world where people who don’t drink alcohol can feel equal ordering a cocktail to those who do. If I am supposed to be preaching inclusivity why was I being so exclusive? Mocktails don’t have to only be on bar menus. Why was I only looking in one area? I needed to broaden my view. Sipping my morning joe I thought, with so many coffee houses in Little Rock there is plenty of room for other opportunities to have an alcohol free cocktail while enjoying the company of others.

Sparkling Orange Espresso and Nitro-tado

After doing a little internet research I settled on Nexus Coffee and Creative to float the idea of mocktails at their special evening events. Amy Moorehead, the owner of Nexus and I sat together and brainstormed over a latte. I have to say that she was extremely open to the idea. We shared our personal stories about drinking, and not drinking. I explained how my journey began with illness, and has transformed into an extraordinary journey of meeting new people and making connections. We agreed that having cocktails with friends is more than just the booze factor. It’s about spending time with people and having fun. We also agreed that people sharing mocktails was a good fit for the Nexus mission of building community. And when I revealed my dream of becoming the Joanna Gaines, Martha Stuart, or Anthony Bourdain of the mocktail world, Amy was totally on board. That’s how she decided that 2^nd Friday Art Night would be the best time to present my lifestyle vision. My art contribution for the evening was to promote a fearless alcohol free mocktail space. …And so I did.

The event was an absolute blast. Mocktails flowed throughout the room, and because the drinks were coffee based everyone had a different kind of buzz. Over the course of the evening everybody got to know each other’s work and discovered the mission behind it. We toasted each other over sparkling espressos; and I was happy to find that people were really interested in mocktails as an alternative drink. It filled my heart with joy to see a room full of people on a level playing field; drinks in hand that may or may not have had alcohol, and it didn’t matter. At the end of the night a crowd came in to celebrate a birthday. Needless to say mocktails were a part of the party. For me, it was really special to share the evening with so many talented people and new friends.

The Results are In!

April 14, 2019April 14, 2019 / Mocktail MO / 1 Comment

Fasten your seatbelts kids, we’ve got to talk.

Initially my mission as Mocktail MO was to discover the best mocktails in Little Rock and beyond. The objective was to make lemonade out of the lemons life had given. I figured if I can’t drink cocktails with alcohol I should be able to have the same experience without it. Easy enough, no? Well after a few months of searching I believe I can call it “Mission Accomplished”. I think I have had the best Little Rock has to offer. Along the way I have had many mocktails, some good – some bad, and written about my experiences with the best I have found so far. Does this mean the end of Mocktail MO – heavens no! My goals have only expanded from finding the best mocktails –check, to A Mocktail for Every Menu. We’ll talk about that later.

In my effort to find a really good alcohol-free cocktail my taste buds and I have had drinks for breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner. I am now ready to announce my top three picks for Best Mocktails in Little Rock, but they are all number one in my book. Raduno is at the top for actually having a Mocktail menu and serving consistent flavored drinks. The Fold will always be special for starting me on this journey in such a divinely delicious way. I was served a tremendous variety of drinks to choose from, and each one was as tasty as the other. And to round out this triad is Sauced for fearlessly diving into making a signature “MOtini” I will never forget. There are a couple Honorable Mentions too: I have to give Atlas Bar props for mocktail space on their menu; and Dos Rocas for the absolute best mockarita on the planet. It may look like I only traveled down South Main Street on this quest, but that just isn’t the case. I have ordered mocktails all around town with varied outcomes. It is interesting though that the culture of the SoMa district seems pretty open to the idea of alcohol-free mixed drinks.

I still get that look a confused dog gives you when you say something they don’t quite understand when I order a mocktail at restaurants. You know; how they cock their head to the side and sort of curl their upper lip? That one. I won’t talk about the dud experiences I’ve had. This mocktail thing is a new concept for many, and I believe it’s only a matter of time before it catches on. For my new mission I have contacted a few restaurants and made suggestions for signature mocktails that represent the personality of their particular establishment. So far people have been open to conversation, but I haven’t noticed much actual movement in that direction – yet. I’m nothing if not optimistic about the future. I think their hesitation lies in the fear of losing money on less expensive drinks, but if they changed their perspective just a notch they might see the revenue loss of people only having the option of ordering soft drinks instead of drinks with alcohol. I generally pay around $5.00 for a mocktail – considerably more than a soda, and much more than a water; which are the current options. If I may, I’ll refer back to my Why Mocktails? Let Me Break it Down For Ya post for more a detailed analysis.

On this mission I have made other discoveries worthy of noting. I have made connections with people that wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for this. Thanks to Instagram, I’ve discovered that Europe is way down the road on this alcohol-free drinks for grown-ups thing. I’ve seen multi-shelf displays in super markets of different types of mocktails from different companies. There is a gentleman in England that regularly posts about the different alcohol free beer he gets in pubs around town. The U.S. isn’t far behind either. There are pop-up bars that have entire mocktail nights from Austin to New York, and are sold out. And for the first time ever, mocktails will be officially served at the Kentucky Derby this year. You see Arkansas, mocktails really are a thing, and I am totally on board to be the leader of the pack.

If you are an establishment interested in talking about mocktails, let me know – I’m huge on collaboration. If you are a person looking for an alcohol alternative cocktail – be bold and order one! Change isn’t always easy…but it might just be fun.

Dos Rocas – Ole’ Baby!

April 6, 2019 / Mocktail MO / Leave a comment

If I were an adventurer looking for mocktail treasure … Oh, but I am and I have found an absolute gem at Dos Rocas Beer and Taco. Ok friends and followers, I do see a pattern in my return trips to the SoMa district, but so far I keep coming up with delightful mocktail finds. What’s a girl to do?

It was another damp dreary Saturday afternoon, and I was restless to discover something new. Dos Rocas had been on my radar with its simple unassuming lightbulb framed sign quietly inviting people in. Curious about what was beyond the sign, Dos Rocas became the next watering hole to explore. Inside, the vibe is casual and friendly. I headed straight for the bar tucked away in the corner of the wide open restaurant space. The usual thing happened when I asked Stephaney, the bar tender, for a mocktail. “A what?” she asked back, confused. After introducing myself and explaining my mission we were definitely on the same page. I ordered a margarita and anything else alcohol-free she deemed appropriate. Stephaney went to work on the margarita a little uncertain at first, but then everything seemed to click. Fresh lime juice and other tasty ingredients went into the rocks glass. The result was a pretty cool looking drink with a bright red layer at the bottom and lime wedge perched atop the salted rim. Everything in between was tangy lime lusciousness. Stephany called it the mocktail version of their Cherry Lime Margarita. Yes Ma’am! It was just what I wanted. The balance of flavors of salt with the tartness of the drink was the perfect complement to my chorizo tacos. This mocktail deserves a permanent place on Dos Rocas menu as their signature alcohol alternative cocktail. It looks and tastes like a drink for grown-ups that stands toe to toe with any “adult beverage”. This drink is a definite jewel! Next time you’re in Dos Rocas give it a try, and tell Stephaney Mocktail Mo sent you.

Ooops I Did it Again – at Raduno

March 23, 2019 / Mocktail MO / 2 Comments

To those of you who read my blog- I know, I’ve already written about Raduno, but some things require more attention. Which is why when Bo Bennett, General Manager and resident mocktail wizard at Raduno asked me to taste-test what he was creating for summer I had to say,” Yes”. If you haven’t had a mocktail at Raduno, what makes their drinks so special is the care that goes into the combining of ingredients. It all starts with the base of each drink, freshly juiced fruits, veggies, and herbs. All that lusciousness is then added to cocktail mixers that dance together on your tongue in joyous harmony. Bo’s absolute passion for the garden and combining the freshest of flavors are the key to what makes me come back for more.

The Summer Mocktail menu will still contain the standards – the Cucumber Limonata, which up to now has been my favorite and the For your health (an incredibly close second). Both drinks are for sure fabulously tasty. The freshly juiced cucumber and lemon flavors are light and slightly effervescent. The For Your Health is also delicious with its herby essence and floral finish. But I was there to taste the new kid on the block, the Cherry Basil Tonic. To begin, it is a beautiful drink served in a cut-glass rocks glass garnished with fresh basil and lemon slice. It resembles a sunrise with a pink hue settled at the bottom of the glass that graduates up into translucence. Bo used Pink House Alchemy dark cherry grenadine with fresh basil as a base and finished with tonic water to create something that at first sip brought me back to the days of sitting on Columbus avenue in NYC people watching and sipping on vodka tonics. My mouth immediately started to water from the astringent tonic flavor. The underlying hint of cherry and basil flavors round out the drink perfectly. This mocktail is a definite go-to summer sipper.

If you’re wondering why the encore at Raduno my answer is this; menus change and I want to keep you up-to-date with what’s out there. True to my mission of “discovering the best mocktails in Little Rock and beyond”, I have reported on what I’ve found. Which is also why I am repeating myself, there are very few mocktail offerings in Little Rock. This leads me to my new mission: A Mocktail for Every Menu.

Read about it in my next installment on mocktailmo.blog

Letting Le Bon Temps Rouler at Raduno

March 4, 2019 / Mocktail MO / Leave a comment

In preparation for Fat Tuesday, we in Little Rock like to party on like there actually is no tomorrow. In the SoMa district the party begins with the Mardi Gras parade down Main Street, is followed by brunch at any one of the establishments in the area, and then continues until Ash Wednesday. Not really…well maybe.

This year’s post parade brunch brought me to Raduno. Now, I had been to Raduno before my unfortunate current state of health that prohibits me from imbibing alcohol, and had a lovely Bloody Mary garnished with a slice of pizza. I knew they served Mocktails, and boy do they! I have found my Nirvana on Main Street. At Raduno there is actually a Mocktail menu with three drinks to choose from. There is the Good Luck Chuck, the Cucumber and Limonata fusion, along with the To Your Health; all of which come with a description of ingredients, but no need. The flavor alchemy is the product of Bo Bennett, whose wizardry begins in the garden. Coming to Raduno after owning a juicing business, Bo has a wonderful understanding of how Mocktails should taste. I have to confess that I had all three, and couldn’t for the life of me pick a favorite. Each one is really complex in flavor and so worthy of taking one’s time to enjoy. The edible flower garnish really brings the cocktail experience all the way home. Nothing is missing. Each drink is visually appealing and tastes fabulous.

For all you good souls giving up the sauce for Lent, may I recommend Raduno for guilt-free cocktails? Join me for forty days of hooch-free, booze less, sansahol, Mocktail bliss. Of course, my mission will continue on, yours will end at Easter.

A Votre Santé

Mocktail MO

Mocktails at Sauce(d) That’s What’s Up

February 24, 2019 / Mocktail MO / Leave a comment

Just another National Margarita Day, and I’m hard at work on the lookout for Little Rock’s finest Mock-arita offerings.

Since Sauce(d) had been on my wish-list of restaurants to try for a while, I decided to see what sort of boozeless cocktail they might have to celebrate national margarita day. Now, for the most part in this adventure I’ve encountered puzzled faces when ordering Mocktails, which held true at Sauce(d) at first, but then…Wow! With a mischievous smile, the lovely and talented Emily walked away to create. She returned with a light, refreshing Mock-arita full of flavor that had me sipping with joy. It was so good, I decided to stay a while.

I think it was how game Emily was to devise new drinks that kept me in my seat not wanting to leave. I settled in and ordered another one, but something different. For any of you who read my blog, this Mocktail movement that I am trying to generate does have a genuine purpose, but also provides wonderful moments of connecting with new people. Emily’s enthusiasm behind the bar was so contagious, I gave something else a try. My new side challenge is to have a drink named after me, so I asked if she could make a “Motini”. That devilish grin reappeared, and she asked me to describe myself in three words. “Not sweet, straightforward, and loving”, I tossed back to her as she left. She returned with much swagger, and rightfully so. If I were a Mocktail this is what I would be. In a stemless martini glass was a deep berry red fusion of flavors with a distinct zap of lime. At first the not-too-sweet berries played with my taste buds, and then the citrus zinged like a lightning bolt that made me smack my lips and pucker a little. Yep, she nailed it! My friends tasted it and we all giggled in agreement – flavorful, not too sweet, with a punch at the end.

It was time to go, and I have to say that an entertaining afternoon was had by all. The best part was that after leaving a bar I drove home and didn’t have to think “be cool…be cool”, behind the wheel. I just drove home. A big “Thank You” to Sauce(d) and Emily for a fun Margarita Day.

Dealer’s Choice at Atlas Bar

February 18, 2019 / Mocktail MO / 2 Comments

Firsts are always thrilling; first kisses, first job, first time on two wheels… I had the joy of being the first customer at Atlas Bar.

The vibe at Atlas is upper west side New York neighborhood hang-out. You definitely want to spend time there because each space is so inviting, from the cheerful lipstick red barstools and table chairs to the pool table area in the back of the bar. It lures you in and allows room to get comfortable, so I did. Sitting at the end of the bar I watched as everyone in the room was humming with anxious anticipation like thoroughbreds at the starting gate. I was handed a menu, and told the kitchen wouldn’t open for a while, which didn’t bother me. I was there for a drink.

So, let’s talk Mocktails.

Perusing the menu I saw that instead of a range of Mocktails they have expeditiously put “Dealer’s Choice” on the list of drinks. This lets the bartender on duty decide exactly what you’ll get. Being a person who likes surprises, this way of ordering was exciting and fun. It gives the customer a chance to have A) a drink specifically made to their tastes, or B) a drink that expresses the personality of the person behind the bar.

Samira and Marcus were tending the bar- two dealers, two different drinks. First up was Samira’s lovely fruit with a ginger-zip drink that was tasty. She easily reproduced the same drink for another customer, qualifying it as a standard – I dubbed it the “Atlas Standard”. I asked Marcus what sort of mocktail would he deal, and he did a little research into what types of drinks I prefer. After getting his answers he laid down the voodoo that he do so well and concocted a drink that very much tasted like an old fashioned, I’ll call it “Voodoo Doll”. Of course, these are just made up names for my amusement. Every time I go back to Atlas Bar I hope to have something new.

After spending time talking to people and watching the crowd grow it was time to move on. I will always remember my first at Atlas Bar, and the irony of me being the first customer wasn’t lost on the owner, Tony Poe. “I’ll never forget the first drink we made was a Mocktail”, he mused as we said our good-byes.

Why Mocktails?…Let me break it down for ya

February 16, 2019 / Mocktail MO / Leave a comment

It goes a little something like this –

For those of you reading my blog for the first time, my own personal reason for drinking non-alcoholic drinks is a developed intolerance for alcohol. (Think of it as a dietary restriction that evolved into an extraordinarily fun lifestyle.) One alcohol drink makes me sick for days, which of course is absolutely no fun. But I fit within only one section of a large category of people who don’t consume alcohol for countless reasons. Here are a few: There should always be a designated driver for groups of two or more people drinking. These people want to feel included even if they are being the “responsible ones”. Many people don’t imbibe because of religious beliefs. Pregnant women, who do actually drink, won’t during pregnancy. Perhaps you live in a dry county, of which there are plenty in the Bible belt. Not to mention people who are underage, and curious about cocktail culture. And last, but not least a large number of people who have devoted the rest of their lives to not drinking due to addiction. This makes up a large population of people who, for whatever reason, don’t consume alcohol, but do spend money and go out. Am I painting a clear picture?

For those in the food and beverage business, this group of consumers is a source of revenue that has not yet been taken seriously. Wouldn’t you agree that a bit of room on the menu for Mocktails would show considerable hospitality to an up-to-now untapped profit resource?

We want to go out and have fun, and not feel less-than, or excluded, or as a distraction to a busy bartender. The time for Mocktail culture is now. Let’s get this party started.

Downtown Date Night

February 9, 2019 / Mocktail MO / 1 Comment

The atmosphere at Allsopp and Chapple is decidedly contemporary upscale casual with comfy leather chairs, and uncluttered décor.

Out to dinner on a Friday night in Downtown Little Rock, my husband and I decided to try Allsopp and Chapple, a new establishment known for its signature burger. True to my mission, when our drink order was requested, I asked for a Mocktail. Our waiter unflinchingly replied that they didn’t have Mocktails per se, but he’d see what he could do. I’m not gonna lie, I totally appreciate a “can do” attitude, and the bartender fearlessly put something together. What he came back to the table with was uncomplicated, yet satisfying; a fruity mixture of ginger beer and pineapple that turned out to be the perfect complement to my delish Farmer’s Market Hash. As with all newborns, this baby came out nameless, so we christened it the Allsopp and Chapple fizz.

Would I return to Allsopp and Chapple, or recommend it to friends? Without a doubt for the food, and for alcohol imbibers it’s a thumbs up. For me, I look forward to a little Mocktail real estate on the menu.