“Dry July” may not have the same ring or following as the worldwide observance of Dry January. But for Alex George, chef and co-owner of Golden Brown & Delicious, taking a second month of the year to abstain from alcohol has become a ritual and the foundation for his restaurant’s non-alcoholic bar program.
He’s using the term “spirit free” to designate composed drinks on the menu that don’t contain alcohol. “After observing several dry months in 2022, I became my own target audience for a spirit-free program, which highlighted the need for spirit-free options that are equally as good as alcoholic versions,” he says.
During his dry months, he noticed how alcohol-driven every social gathering was, which often made him feel antisocial and less included in previously comfortable settings.
“Even as more awareness around alcohol moderation grows, there is a societal pressure to go out and drink to be social. For a lot of people who don’t drink, they don’t feel like they have equal opportunity to be social, and we need to provide a remedy for that,” George says.
He began working with his team on creating an inclusive bar experience at GB&D that isn’t only for the non-drinker. “For people who are looking for a balance, who want to enjoy one cocktail and then switch to a spirit-free version, there needs to be a menu robust enough to meet both needs without one feeling like the inferior option,” he says.
Because non-alcoholic spirits on the market tend to be extremely pricey and not cost-effective, George’s long-term solution is to have a full program of non-alcoholic, house-distilled spirits. The first, a non-alcoholic gin, will be available this summer. “Take a negroni, for instance. Our goal is for a non-alcoholic version to capture the same bitter quality as the classic version,” he says.
Many folks who order what many bars call “mocktails” resign themselves to sugary drinks, often more like a Shirley Temple than a classic cocktail. “Rather than leaning heavily on sugar as a primary component, we’re focusing on the more herbal and medicinal flavors that provide sophistication and are simply more interesting than a typical mocktail’s build,” George says.
His experience, both for his palate and soul, helped him empathize with and respond to his guests’ needs. “Expanding our bar program’s spirit-free category was also in response to the needs of these loyal guests, and we have become the safe place for them we’ve always hoped to be,” he says.
Golden Brown & Delicious, 147 Welborn St., Ste. B1, 864.608.9513, eatgbnd.com
More options for Mocktails
Enjoying a night out sans alcohol doesn’t have to be a buzzkill. Along with GB&D, many local bars have expanded options for the sober crowd. The cozy bar The Captain at Hotel Hartness dedicates an entire menu page to mocktails. Juniper, with one of the most enviable rooftop views downtown, offers tasty sips for all. Urban Wren seasonally updates their mocktail list, and their bartenders welcome special off-menu requests. Missing the brewery scene? Southernside Brewing is happy to craft an alcohol-free drink. And for some extra whimsy, the Bar Margaret staff loves to play around with flavors, with or without the alcohol.
The Captain at Hotel Hartness, 120 Halston Ave., Greenville, 864.686.8900, hotelhartness.com/dine
Juniper, 315 S. Main St., Greenville, 864.549.0000, junipergvl.com
Urban Wren, 116 N. Markley St., Ste. 102, Greenville, 864.867.1081
Bar Margaret, 1269 Pendleton St., Greenville, 864.735.0473, barmarg.com
