By Lisa Archer
Instead of Dry January, how about we call it Refreshed January? Often touted as the month to forgo alcohol and focus on health and wellness as you enter the new year, January is also notable as one of the slowest months in the restaurant industry. We want to encourage readers and our community to continue supporting their favorite night out spots and help support the businesses that make our community special. With this in mind, we reached out to beverage professionals across the region to learn what N/A drinks they are crafting this month.
Whether you’re forgoing alcohol for a day, week, month, or simply don’t feel like drinking during a night out with friends, these N/A beverages are refreshing and made with just as much care as a cocktail or local brew.
Readers are encouraged to tag photos of their mocktails on Instagram #ebrdrinks throughout the month to be entered to win a year long subscription to Edible Blue Ridge
Joshua Wilton House – Harrisonburg
A beautiful inn, fine dining restaurant, wedding venue and caterer, the historic Joshua Wilton House is a cozy date night spot and the perfect place to gather during these cold winter months. Their Temperance Menu is engaging with creative names and seasonal ingredients. Next time you visit, be sure to order:
Persephone’s Lament: Pomegranate juice, mint, lime, mint simple, egg white, tonic
So Hot Right Now: Raspberry and jalapeño shrub, lemon, simple, soda
Rosemary’s Baby: Rosemary and rhubarb shrub, lemon, rose water, simple, egg white
412 S. Main St, Harrisonburg
Tuesday-Saturday 4:30-8:30p.m.
Alley Light – Charlottesville
Tucked away in the sidestreets of Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall, The Alley Light is nationally known for its French-inspired dishes, curated wine menu and craft cocktail program.
This month, stop in and enjoy this delicious mocktail created by Assistant Bar Manager Andrea Roulliard who is a legend for making complex and delicious drinks.
Grapefruit Guava Soda – Housemade grapefruit cordial, grapefruit, guava, lime, jasmine tea, carbonated
108 2nd St SW, Charlottesville
Thursday 5-11p.m., Friday-Saturday 5-11:30p.m., Wednesday & Sunday 5-10:30p.m.
Lucky Restaurant – Roanoke
Arguably the most popular spot in Roanoke to grab a drink and chat with the welcoming bar staff, over the past year and a half Lucky has put an emphasis on expanding their N/A cocktail program. Guests have noticed and now N/A offerings account for almost 20% of cocktail sales. Options on this month’s menu will include:
Faded Flannel – Latch Key apple and pear cordial, Latch Key Camparish (n/a Campari made in Roanoke by Chris Tamplin, owner of Latch Key Bitter Company), Latch Key n/a Sweet Vermouth, flamed orange.
Stede Bonnet – Seedlip Grove 42, sorrel, jasmine green tea, green cardamom, orange, aquafaba, bubbles.
18 Kirk Ave SW, Roanoke
Tuesday-Saturday 5pm-Last Call
Sage Bird Ciderworks – Harrisonburg
Since 2020, Sage Bird Ciderworks has been crafting cider in downtown Harrisonburg and Cultivating a cider-centric community. While it’s often hard to find N/A offerings on taplists, owners Amberlee and Zach Carlson make a point to have over half a dozen non-alcoholic options for guests to enjoy. Next time we visit the taproom we’ll be ordering:
Hot Spiced Cider – hot cider mulled with a special blend of spices and served with a dehydrated orange and cinnamon stick
Autumn Spritz Mocktail – a fruity bubbly mocktail made with cranberry, orange, fresh cider, and tonic
325 N Liberty Street, Harrisonburg
Wednesday & Thursday 4-11p.m., Friday & Saturday 11a.m.-11p.m., Sunday 11a.m.-4p.m.
Zynodoa – Staunton
Veteran Staunton restaurant Zynodoa has been supporting Virginia farms and producers and offering seasonal, southern-inspired cuisine for over a decade. Beverage Manager Macon Gurley collaborates with the kitchen team to make from-scratch cocktails utilizing ingredients that can also be found on the dinner menu. This month you can enjoy three signature n/a cocktails:
Zyn’s Signature – cucumber, lime, mint, cranberry juice, ginger beer
Madison Street – grapefruit juice, rosemary simple syrup, tonic
Winter Warmer – rooibos tea, rosemary, lemon
115 E Beverley St, Staunton
Dinner service every day 5-9:30p.m., Saturday & Sunday brunch from 10a.m.-2p.m.
Blacksburg Wine Lab – Blacksburg
Don’t let the name fool you, Blacksburg Wine Lab has more than just wine on their beverage list. In anticipation of Dry January, they’ve increased the n/a options, with five mocktails on the menu, two house made shrubs and are also game for dealer’s choice, crafting a mocktail to suit a guests tastes. Our favorites from their menu include:
In Asking Land – Aplos ‘Arise’ hemp spirit, pineapple, toasted barley, bergamot, black salt
Stolen Moments – Aplos ‘Calme’ hemp spirit, grapefruit, cranberry, oolong tea
The Tippling Point – Roots Divino Aperitif Bianco, yuzu, calamansi, fermented honeysuckle, thyme, soda
223 Gilbert St, Blacksburg
January 4th-11th 4pm – 10pm. January 12th-31st (back to regular hours) – Mon-Sat 11:30am – 10pm; Sun 4pm – 10pm
bloom Restaurant & Winebar – Roanoke
Snuggled into the Main Street block of the Wasena neighborhood, bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar has been cultivating quite the following these past few years. Their N/A offering this season is a nod to the fabulous and tropical Mai Tai.
Driver’s Seat – Ritual Rum Alt, Seedlip Grove 42, Field Day Tiki Bitters, sunflower orgeat, orange oil, lime, and LOVE.
1109 Main St SW, Roanoke
January 10th-31st Wednesday-Saturday 5-9p.m., Saturday brunch 11a.m.-2p.m.
