Mocktail Hour

Mixed drinks minus the alcohol are the latest trend for cocktail hour

By Rebecca Voigt | Photography and Recipes by Chad Clark, More or Less NA Bottles & Beer

In our increasingly wellness-focused culture, it’s becoming more and more common for couples to offer non-alcoholic beverage options that go well beyond soda and sparkling water. According to Chad Clark of More or Less NA Bottles & Beer in Grand Rapids, a thoughtfully crafted non-alcoholic cocktail “demonstrates thoughtfulness, consideration, and the desire to create an inclusive and welcoming event for all of the attendees. These options appeal to a wider range of guests, such as pregnant women, designated drivers, and people on certain medications who may be adversely affected by alcohol consumption.”

Whether you’re serving a signature mocktail alongside traditional alcoholic options or forgoing the booze completely, Clark advises couples to keep it simple. “Having one or two thoughtfully prepared NA offerings should suffice,” he says. “If you want to have a few more options, don’t forget things like NA beer, NA wines, and hop infused waters. If your bartenders are up for it, let them express their creativity and create signature NA cocktails in your honor. Either way, your guests will most definitely appreciate the gesture.” Here, Clark shares two non-alcoholic cocktail recipes perfect for your wedding celebration.

Lock & Key

30ml Dromme Calm

30ml Spiritless Kentucky 74

30ml The Pathfinder

15ml Lemon Juice

2ml All The Bitter Orange

A perfect nightcap, the Lock & Key is like “a Paper Plane crashing into an Old Fashioned, but is also very much its own concoction,” Clark says. The Kentucky 74 brings the familiar taste of bourbon while The Pathfinder adds a bitter brightness along with notes of anise, wood, earth, and Douglas fir. Dromme Calm lends the cocktail some sweetness from maple syrup, as well as depth from spicy ginger, clove, and licorice root. All The Bitter Orange continues to add depth and a bright zesty component. This cocktail has a unique calming element from hemp, Valerian Root, Lion’s Mane, Lemon Balm, Ashwagandha, and L-Theanine. It’s a perfect nightcap for relaxing with good company.

Lavender Amore

60ml Bare Zero Proof Gin

15ml El Guapo Rose Cordial

8ml Lemon Juice

90ml Prima Pave Sparkling Blanc de Blanc

2ml All The Bitter Lavender

A lively, celebratory cocktail loosely inspired by a classic French 75, the Lavender Amore is light, floral and refreshing. Bare Zero Proof Gin provides notes of juniper, cucumber, and citrus while El Guapo’s Rose Cordial lends just the right amount of sweetness and floral components. All The Bitter Lavender adds a bitter gentian root bite, lavender, chamomile and rose. The cocktail is topped with Prima Pave’s Sparkling Blanc de Blancs, which is a beautiful, lightly fruity, and dry blend of de-alcoholized Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gewürztraminer.

To learn more, visit drinkmoreless.com.