Embrace Sobriety With These Three Mocktails

As self-care becomes more and more a way of life — think yoga, meditation and healthier eating — it’s starting to reflect what we pour into our glass.

Sober-curious individuals are mindful of how much alcohol they consume, some eschewing beer, liquor and wine all together. That’s given rise to bartenders across the country — and right here in Cleveland — creating mocktails that still offer up lots of flavor, just sans alcohol.

“I think even as an industry, I’ve had bartenders come to me and say, ‘I’m changing my lifestyle and as much as I enjoy making cocktails for people, I’m actually choosing not to consume alcohol anymore,’ ” says Andy Hata, general manager at Urban Farmer. Here are three of our fave mocktails that you can sip worry-free.

Raspberry Beret Mocktail, $5 

This 10-ounce stunner from Urban Farmer downtown is all about highlighting local ingredients. Made with fresh muddled raspberries, lemon juice and ginger beer, it gets a sturdy shake to combine all the flavors before getting topped off with more soda.

“The beautiful sweetness and fruitiness of the raspberries comes through,” says Hata, who worked with the steakhouse’s bartenders to create this drink. “The ginger beer is going to give you that savory-ness in the background, and then it finishes with this beautiful, almost like a lemonade lemon finish.”

1325 E. Sixth St., Cleveland, 216-771-7707, urbanfarmercleveland.com 

Vanilla Agave Mojito, $3.50 

Muddled mint, lime juice and simple syrup are the perfect start to a mojito. However, at Lakewood’s Distill Table, the bartenders toss the rum to the side, using ginger ale and vanilla agave cream soda instead. After shaking it up, the drink gets poured over ice and then garnished with fresh mint leaves grown at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland.

“When using fresh lime juice, it really makes a difference,” says restaurateur Eddie Tancredi. “It brings a whole new element with that citrus in there and kind of heightens the flavor and it brings that vanilla out.”

14221 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-505-5188, distilltable.com

The Watermelon Wonder, $8 

A popular East Side watering hole, spa and salon hybrid, The Speakeasy at Quintana’s is known for its handcrafted cocktails. Guests looking for a refreshing sipper minus the alcohol can find seasonal mocktails, such as the Watermelon Wonder, which combines the juicy summertime fruit with the cooling taste of mint. A twist of tart lime juice and a dash of soda water complete the refreshing drink.

“You’re going to get mostly watermelon flavor, but it’s going to be a little bit tart because the lime juice brings out a little dimension,” says bartender Olivia Flanagan.

2200 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-262-8288, qbds.net/speakeasy