Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article ran in 2021 and was updated on Jan 11, 2023 by Rachel Hickey.
Listen. You don’t owe us, your friends, your mom, or even (especially?) the bartender an explanation for why you’re not drinking right now. Taking a boozecation for a Dry January healthy little reset? Good for you. Overdid it on the holiday cocktails in December and can’t handle the thought of another spritzer? We feel you. Or maybe you just don’t feel like responding to overly nosy questions. As far as we’re concerned, no reason is the best reason of all.
Luckily, zero-proof cocktails, mocktails, or whatever you want to call them are getting easier to find around town. We found nine spots with very delicious booze-less selections for you.
bar one fourteen
Bar One Fourteen had debuted new zero proof cocktails this month for Dry January, or absolutely any reason whatsoever. The Camellia Sour is made with Lapsing Souchong Tea, yuzu, strawberry and blueberry preserves, and egg white. Not only will you feel refreshed with this cocktail, but you can feel good that 100% of the proceeds from this drink benefit The Patachou Foundation. 114 E 49th St.
CHOLITA
Love the taste of a Mojito but want to skip the alcohol? Cholita has a new mocktail section on the drink menu that includes a “Fauxjito.” The mocktails are made using Seedlip non-alcoholic spirits and all cost $5. The Fauxjito uses Seedlip Garden 108, which is an herbal blend of peas and traditional garden herbs including rosemary, thyme, and spearmint. 1001 Broad Ripple Ave.
PINS MECHANICAL
Head down to Bottleworks for a game night at Pins Mechanical. After a few rounds of duckpin bowling, bocce ball, or pinball, you might be getting thirsty! The mocktails menu includes drinks like the Juice Box Hero (made with pineapple, orange, and grenadine), the Lisa Simpson (their version of a Shirley Temple), and the Shorty Baller (fruit punch, lemonade, and Sprite). 856 Carrollton Ave.
BALL & BISCUIT
Not only does Ball & Biscuit have a healthy list of alcohol-free cocktails, but you can also add in Delta 8 or CBD to any of the drinks for an additional $2 or $3. Celebrating a special occasion but don’t want to deal with a hangover the next day? Try the Spritz AF, made with Lyres Italian Orange, Lyres Apertif Rosso, lemon, orange juice, and Fre non-alcoholic Sparkling Brut ($9). 331 Massachusetts Ave.
CANNON BALL LOUNGE
Take the Cannon Ball express elevator up to Hotel Indy’s 6th floor rooftop for a drink and bite to eat at the Cannon Ball Lounge. The most Insta-worthy mocktail, the Tail of Thyme, is made with a house plum-lavender syrup. Most of the cocktails on the menu can be crafted into zero or half proof creations for you. 141 E. Washington St.
Union Jack Pub
The Broad Ripple strip mainstay has a six-drink alcohol-free menu, all made with Seedlip (non-alcoholic) spirits. The cocktails cost $6 to $7, and are just a few bucks shy of Union Jack’s typical booze offerings. The Elderflower Garden, $7, made with Seedlip Garden, elderflower simple syrup and tonic, is extremely floral (as if we should be shocked by the name and description?) and has a low-key perfume-y flavor, but in a good way. There’s a nice balance of tart and sweet, but you’re going to want to keep stirring this one, as there’s a bit of settling that can happen in the bottom of the glass. 924 Broad Ripple Ave.
Blue Sushi Sake Grill
The Ironworks spot’s three-item mocktail menu offers the cheapest of the drinks we tried at $5 each. Blue Sushi Sake Grill’s offerings are a little heavier on the lemonade or juice mixtures than mixologist works of art, but they’re worth the taste nonetheless. The Coco Hydration, made with coconut water, strawberry and fresh-squeezed lemonade, is light, coconut-y, sweet and refreshing—but the sour finish is definitely the star. 2721 E. 86th St., Suite 100
Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery
Hotel Tango has a zero-proof menu at all three tasting rooms (Fletcher Place, Zionsville, and Fort Wayne). The Mad Hatter’s Tea ($8) is made with apple cider, chai, orange juice, and aquafaba, a delicious, comforting January mocktail. 702 Virginia Ave.
Punch Bowl Social
Known for its elaborate bowls of booze (and games!), Punch Bowl’s “built and mixed without” menu doesn’t hold back any punches in its complex recipes—liquor or not. For $6, take your pick from the Strawberry Rhubarb Fizz, Blueberry Lemonade Fizz, Watermelon Palmer, or Fresh Spritz. 120 S. Meridian St.
