Amidst the rising trend of Dry January, numerous establishments in Indianapolis are catering to patrons seeking alcohol-free options. Many bars, breweries and distilleries have expanded alcohol-free options.
This includes Indiana’s first nonalcoholic Bar & Coffeeshop in Fishers.
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“Memento Zero Proof started off as a concept when I was around 18 or 19 years old. My friends and I would want to go someplace to hang out, but because we weren’t 21 years old, there wasn’t a space for us,” said CEO and co-founder of Bar & Coffeeshop Shwa Hall.
The business opened its doors in October 2023, selling nonalcoholic beer, wine and cocktails along with offering a small food menu and coffee shop drinks.
“We got good feedback from people in recovery. We are the first in the state but no longer the only, and it feels good to be on this growing trend,” said Hall.
Here is a list of places in Indianapolis you can grab a mocktail from during Dry January:
16-Bit Bar + Arcade
Located at 110 E. New York St., 16-Bit Bar + Arcade advertises its mocktail menu with the slogan, “No booze? No problem!” It offers four signature cocktails for $6 each:
The Pinky and the Brain, a fruit punch and lemonade, Lisa Simpson, a Sprite with grenadine and cherry, Little Mermaid, an orange and pineapple juice with grenadine, and Optimus Prime, a lemonade with cranberry juice and Sprite.
Big Woods Restaurants
With multiple locations, menus may vary by location. Its Designated Drivers is a fresh mint with cane sugar, lime juice and soda water for $4.99; Strawberry Tart Daiquiri is a strawberry purée with orange juice, lime juice and lemonade for $4.99.
The restaurant also offers a virgin Bloody Mary, Mary Big Woods, containing Bloody Mary mix with soda water, Maplewood smoked bacon, queen olive, pepperoncini, celery and a pickle spear for $6.99.
BODHI
Located at 922 Mass Ave., BODHI has numerous options on its zero-proof drinks menu. Its three signature zero-proofs go for $9:
The Old Witch (Seedlip Grove 42 with vanilla syrup, avocado pineapple and lime), Afterlife Surprise (Spiritless Kentucky 74, lemongrass syrup, mango syrup, lemon and mint) and Broken Foot Forward (Seedlip Garden 108, orange tea syrup, pineapple and lime).
HC Tavern + Kitchen
Located at 9709 E. 116th St., its menu includes three signature zero-proof cocktails for $10 each.
Its Tavern Punch contains pomegranate, pineapple and coconut, Pineapple Nojito has fresh mint, pineapple, lime and soda, and Blue Basil Spritz offers basil with blueberry puree, lemon and soda.
Sunday and Vice
Located at 850 Mass Ave., Sunday Vice offers three different mocktails to choose from:
Young and the Spiritless, a spiritless bourbon with pineapple, cinnamon, orgeat, plum bitters, mint and ginger beer for $10; 24 Carrot Magic, consisting of Seedlip Grove, carrot, lemon, pineapple, black pepper and ginger for $12; Green with Growth, a Seedlip Garden with pineapple, lime, cilantro, mink, jalapeno, agave, habanero bitters and orange bitters for $12.
You can also ask the bartender to make a zero-proof drink similar to another cocktail.
The Cannon Ball Lounge
Located at 141 Washington St., at the rooftop bar on the sixth floor of Hotel Indy, The Cannon Ball Louge offers three signature mocktails, I Miss My Spritz, In Fashioned and Good Graces for $13 each.
The Fountain Room
Located at 830 Mass Ave. Suite 1480, this Bottleworks restaurant offers a non-alcoholic bottle of Fre Sauvignon Blanc for $32.
You can also order a 12 oz glass for $12 or a 6 oz glass for $9.
Its Crouching Tiger is a peach puree with pear, lime and ginger beer for $10; Tall, Dark, & Refreshing is a blackberry with basil lemonade for $10; St. Agrestis “Negroni” is a bottled St. Agrestis “Phoney Negroni” for $14.
You can learn more about mocktails and Dry January at Memento Zero Proof Lounge’s Hot Walk Indy’s Dry January Co-Ed Social event Monday, Jan. 22 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Whether you want to abstain from alcohol year-round or you are committed to beginning this year with Dry January, nonalcoholic cocktails are available in Indianapolis.
Contact staff writer Jade Jackson at (317) 762-7853 or by email JadeJ@IndyRecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
