Is it dry January? NYC’s mocktail scene is exploding

Mocktails have non-drinking New Yorkers feeling high spirits.

There’s been an explosion of non-alcoholic cocktails in the Big Apple lately — and it’s not just for dry January, when the health-conscious trade their elixirs for Equinox. From those partaking in Dry January to year-round sober curios, 48% of Americans are interested in drinking less alcohol in the new year, according to Open Table.

But Big Apple residents hoping to imbibe without getting drunk want more than just a splash of grenadine in their sodas when they clink glasses with friends — and they’re willing to pay for it, too.

“Mocktails are no longer just substitutes — they’re a sophisticated choice in their own right,” said Dimitrios Michalopoulos, General Manager of Bemelmans Bar, where some options cost close to $40.

“You don’t want to diminish your experience just because there isn’t a non-alcoholic option that’s on par,” Hilary Sheinbaum, founder of GoingDry.co and author of “The Dry Challenge,” told The Post.

“You want something that will balance your palate, have the same quality and sophisticated experience as the people around you.”

Sheinbaum said that while people are indeed “reexamining their drinking habits” as part of the growing popularity of the Dry January tradition, it extends beyond the first month of the year.

And bars have taken note, which is why many have started offering more than just Shirley Temples and juices year-round.

“Now the menus are more comprehensive every month of the year, not just January,” she said.

So bars that charge at least $25 for a martini have found that tony New Yorkers are willing to pay just as much for creative mocktails.

“New York is a place where if you want something, you’re going to get it,” Sheinbaum said.

So raise a (non-alcoholic) glass and let’s dive into some of the city’s best mocktail options from under $10 to nearly $30.

Cocktail copy

“New York leads the charge for everything,” said Tim Sweeney, head bartender at Rockefeller Center’s Pebble Bar, noting a growth of the local mocktail scene in recent years.

Thus, the city’s iconic bar frequented by A-listers offers six mocktails on their menu priced from $14 to $16 curated by Sweeney.

The rise in modeling interest, he said, is a “natural evolution” as more become health-obsessed.

“Everyone should be able to go out and have a good time and no one should sit in a corner and feel like they can’t be part of the group,” Sweeney said.

“People have always said, ‘I can make you a Shirley Temple.’ And people walk around saying, ‘I don’t just want a Sprite and grenadine. What does this mean? I want something for an adult’s palate.”

That’s why its mocktail menu offers non-alcoholic cocktails for popular cocktails like the $16 Feign-Killer — a treat for a pain reliever — and a $14 Ness & Malone Spritz — a zero-proof spritz named after two Prohibitions lead in the movie “The Untouchables”.

But it’s not all about replica cocktails, Pebble Bar also offers some other original sips, including the Village Green and Garden of Dreams — both $15.

“What makes a good mocktail is people want to order a second one,” Sweeney said, noting that the $14 Dancing Barefoot would be their best mocktail.

N/A bar hopping

Marshall Minaya, beverage director of Lolita, Madame George and Valerie, has expanded non-alcoholic options at all of his locations—all within a five-minute walk.

“We definitely saw an increase after the lockdown, for sure. Whenever everyone went back in general, their perceptions of drinking and their drinking habits changed a lot,” Minaya told The Post, noting that people have stuck with their healthy habits.

He explained that mocktails in any country are “definitely very popular.” “If there is a table of five or six. Usually at least one of them has an N/A,” Minaya said.

Some of these options include Spanish Fly to Lolita, Paradise Garage at Madame George and Mary Ann Moriarty at Valerie — named after a bootlegger woman Moonshine Mary — all priced at $17.

“I think people are going out and they want to be out with their friends, but they’re also understanding [how alcohol impacts their bodies] more,” he shared.

A sober living room

Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge is an East Village sober bar and tea shop that serves herbal elixirs and was recently named the best sober bar in America for scratch-proof cocktails. Since opening two years ago, the intimate East Village spot has garnered a steady crowd of regulars and often welcomes curious newbies to explore N/A’s unique options.

“People want something sophisticated that respects them as adults,” bar manager Eliott Edge told The Post, noting that their drinks “don’t pile on the sugar.”

This weekend, the bar is announcing its new Dry Jan menu with Ritual Socialite and Sanito Coquito — both $13.

“People are willing to pay that extra dollar because they really enjoy the art and the taste. They are getting an experience watching us create a work of art that they can actually absorb. And the flavors they’re getting are not mass-produced things.”

“People are really happy again to hold something in their hand that is beautiful and tastes good. They are looking for the ritual.”

Affordable sips

A common complaint people have is about the price of a mocktail. Some just can’t justify spending nearly as much as they would on a cocktail for a drink that won’t get them buzzed.

If that’s you, go to JaJaJa. With locations in the Lower East Side, West Village, Hudson Yards, Williamsburg and Long Island City, vegan Mexican joints offer several mocktail options for $10 or less.

The $10 Miche-Nada mixes Michelada Criolla with non-alcoholic beer, and the $9 Grapefruit Y Ginger is a refreshing paloma-style mocktail infused with ginger beer.

Refined soft drinks

Those ready to splurge “but not dark” at a legendary NYC den should head to Bar Bemelmans.

The piano bar known for its iconic backdrop covered in doodles by Ludwig Bemelmans — the writer and illustrator of the children’s book “Madeline” — also honors its eponym with its mocktails. The $28 Pepito “The Bad Hat” and $22 Miss Clavel mocktails are named after characters from the popular series.

“At Bemelmans Bar, we create non-alcoholic and low ABV options with the same thought and craftsmanship as our signature cocktails, offering guests an enjoyable experience in our iconic setting, regardless of their beverage preferences,” said Michalopoulos.

Mocktails on the go

Weary travelers who don’t want to add a hangover to their jet-lag should make a pit stop at the Chase Sapphire Lounge from the Club at LaGuardia – the largest Chase lounge in the world.

The sparkling airport lounge offers mocktail options for all its cocktails designed in partnership with Apotheke Mixology, the crown jewel of which is the Sapphire Signature.

All drinks are complimentary for Chase Sapphire Reserve card members and their guests.

“Mocktails have evolved into an art form,” Nicolas OâConnor, Apotheke Mixology’s director of mixology, told The Post. “People are no longer just looking for ‘alternatives’; they’re looking for distinctive, vibrant drinks that stand on their own.”