While drinking and staying out late was a typical weekend in your 20s, your 30s seem to require a longer recovery. Unfortunately for those who enjoy craft cocktails, the zero-proof versions usually lack creativity, forcing customers to choose between boring drinks or battling a hangover the next day. Thankfully, for Portland residents, zero-proof cocktail menus are gaining popularity and not leaving creativity behind. Here are some of our favorite mocktails in Portland and where to get them.
Our Favorite Mocktails in Portland
HeyLove is famous for its vegan food, jungle-themed decor, and lively atmosphere, but it also has a few zero-proof cocktails for those choosing to enjoy a sober happy hour. They label their non-alcoholic drink menu: “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, No booze.” The menu features a watermelon agua fresca, coco joy coconut water, and a CBD tropical seltzer.
However, the real star here is the Sassy Tami. Living up to its name, the Sassy Tami is a surprisingly refreshing ginger tamarind-sarsaparilla lemonade. The tartness of the lemonade mellows out the sweet and powerful flavors of the sarsaparilla. Ginger shows up at the end of the flavor party to balance it out. If you’re looking for a refreshing and interesting take on lemonade that won’t break the bank, this $6 mocktail at HeyLove is a great way to start the zero-proof cocktail tour.
When a bartender recommends another bar, there is no doubt the drinks will be delicious. The Passion Fruit Cooler at Dead Shot is made with passion fruit, lime, and ginger. The first sip of this deliciously tropical drink feels like you are sitting on a Mexican beach, sipping some maracuya and feeling the salty breeze caress your skin as the sound of waves quiet all your thoughts. This mocktail isn’t your average, fake, processed passion fruit drink. It’s made with real passion fruit: sweet, tart, delicious.
If creative cocktails are your jam, this Sesame Situation at Dead Shot can’t be…beet. The Sesame Situation boasts innovation in every step of its creation. Lemon, sesame, beets, honey, and soda make this cocktail as special as it is delicious. If the idea of drinking beets turns you off, don’t worry. Dead Shot bartenders use a special formula of simple syrup and beet juice. The sugar they add mellows out the earthiness of beets while adding a little sweetness. Plus, the added toasted sesame seeds give the drink a smooth nuttiness. Somehow, the nuttiness of the sesame and the sweet-tartness of the beets combine to create a taste that emulates peanut butter and jelly in cocktail form.
Being sober does not have to mean being boring. In a city like Portland, where creativity oozes in every way, the zero-proof lovers are not forgotten. Flavor, presentation, and creativity are all present in the best mocktails in Portland.
