Did you know, according to the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), 30 percent of Americans choose not to drink alcohol for one reason or another? Of the remaining percentage that does drink, their average drink count per week is just three. This means that one out of every guest you entertain at home or even have a night out with may actually be looking for a non-alcoholic solution. If you’re like us, you don’t ever want those around you to feel excluded from the party. Having a well-stocked non-alcoholic bar at home allows you to cater to everyone, regardless of their drinking habits.
Below you can find a few tips on how to stock your non-alcoholic bar to ensure that your friends and family who choose not to imbibe still have plenty of options to enjoy themselves.
Bitters
Think of bitters as your seasonings for different cocktails. They can add that extra kick or depth of flavor to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. It is important, however, if you’re looking to create a 100% NA cocktail, that you incorporate bitters that do not contain alcohol.
Bitters come in a wide variety of flavors, adding unique qualities from each; whether you’re looking for hints of spice, citrus, or even chocolate.
Usually, you only need 2-3 drops of your specified bitters to take your cocktail to the next level.
Shrubs
The art of making a great cocktail (alcoholic or not) is the delicate balance between sweet and sour. A good shrub uses both to create the perfect flavor. Shrubs combine water, fruit, botanicals, sugar, and vinegar to create an acidic syrup that adds depth and complexity to your cocktails.
Our favorite shrubs come from Rhoot Man Co.!
Simple Syrups
Whether they’re homemade or store-bought, simple syrups are often what takes a NA cocktail from meh to mouthwatering. The basic formula for all simple syrups is water and sugar boiled down into a concentrate. The beauty of a simple syrup, however, is that you can add your own unique twists to them; steep them with your favorite herbs to make an herbal syrup (think rosemary, basil, and thyme), brighten them with citrus flavors, or sweeten them up with honey!
Mixers
Having classic mixers on-hand is always a good idea, whether you’re serving a spritz or just adding a bit of effervescence to a more intricate cocktail.
Soda water (take it up a notch with Topo Chico), Tonic (our favorite is Fever Tree), and Ginger Beer (or try Blenheim’s Ginger Ale!) are all musts when building your at-home NA bar.
Bar Tools
If you have all the ingredients but none of the tools, what good is that going to do you? Before you start mixing, here’s a rundown of the tools you need to get shaking.
- Cocktail shaker
- Strainer
- Mixing glasses
- Drinking glasses
- Rocks glasses
- Martini glasses
- Highball glasses
- Peeler
- Knives
Non-Alcoholic Spirits
Lastly, you can’t have a non-alcohol bar without non-alcoholic spirits! We offer two distinct and unique flavors, Blueberry Ginger Mint and Lemon Cucumber Serrano, that are exceptionally diverse in their capabilities. Whether you’re looking to create your own non-alcoholic version of a Moscow Mule, something a little more indulgent like a Chocolate Martini, or just enjoy Lemon Cucumber Serrano with Topo Chico and a slice of lemon; you can do all of these and more with these two NA spirits.
Crafted with invigorating botanicals, Amethyst is vegan, gluten-free, and completely non-alcoholic. This means you can enjoy new and exciting cocktail recipes, as well as your traditional favorites, all without the hangover or regret that comes with drinking alcohol.
Having a well-stocked non-alcoholic bar will help set you up for success, allowing you to celebrate all of life’s moments, without the worry of a headache or regret tomorrow.
