Cocktail Culture

It's the end of January, which means many of you have tried-on sobriety for a month and may be deciding whether to stay on the wagon, which is particularly challenging in our city. One in six adults drink heavily, but here in Charleston, where cocktail culture is a regular social habit, that rate jumps to 1 in 4. For all its charm, Charleston makes it really tough to be sober!

As someone who has always struggled with moderation, I stay on the look-out for spots that offer sincere mocktails. A Shirley Temple or anything with a silly umbrella is not for discriminating tastes. A good bartender can make a spiritless version of your favorite drink, but a rare few (Basic Kitchen, Maya) stock their bar with alternative spirits to keep intentional, handcrafted mocktails on the menu.

New at-home options for non-drinkers are popping up every day, like the alternative spirits from Charleston's own Sechey (french for "dry"). I recommend buying a few bottles to stock your bar for guests trying to avoid alcohol. Modern etiquette means more than sharing your Wifi password! Southern hospitality is all about making your guests comfortable, which means honoring their efforts to abstain. Make a point to have more than bourbon at your bar. We are perfecting a few mocktail recipes to share from the Messervy bar.

They call them "spirit free," but I believe a well-crafted mocktail can put you in great spirits. One last thing: mocktail shouldn't mean any less fun, so serve them in nice rocks glasses or highballs with garnish for flair. You deserve it because you're enough. Cheers!