Zero Chill: Why Non-Alcoholic Cocktails and Drinks are Here to Stay

No alcohol doesn’t have to mean no fun, or no flavor. Welcome to a party that everyone is invited to (plus they’ll be able to drive home after, too).

Once upon a time, non-alcoholic options at bars and restaurants revolved around three main categories: water, juice and Coke. Those times seem very, very distant. 

Today, (non) drinkers are spoiled for choice when it comes to no- and low-alcohol options, from thirst-quenching non-alcoholic beers and wines to imaginative booze-free cocktails that demonstrate as much thought and complexity as their full-strength counterparts. And how about the sharp spike in juice pairing sightings at fine diners everywhere? 

Stephen Zappelli, head bartender of underground cocktail bar Curious at W Melbourne has seen the rise of non-alcoholic everywhere. He’s seen it at cocktail bars in Australia (non-alcoholic drinks are a cornerstone of Curious’s offering) and abroad (while Zappelli was head bartender at London bar The Alchemist, the bar offered teetotallers a non-alcoholic alternative for many of its most popular cocktails). He’s seen it at winery restaurants. And he’s seen it at bottle shops that continue to stock a growing number of hip contemporary non-alcoholic products. Most important of all, he’s seen it in the guests he serves. 

The numbers back up Zappelli’s observations with estimates predicting the non-alcoholic market will be worth US$1.6 trillion by 2027, a significant jump from its current value of $US1 trillion. Factor in the growing interest in healthy living among younger generations and it’s clear that non-alcoholic drinks are here to stay. These are some of the places proving you can have your (thoughtful, considered) non-alcoholic beverage and should definitely drink it too.

Curious @W Melbourne

Curious 

The menu at W Melbourne’s underground cocktail haven is founded on three of Melbourne’s biggest influences: art, fashion and coffee. As it turns out, the menu’s fourth category – zero percent drinks – is giving these pillars a run for their money with drinkers snapping up libations such as the banana- and whisky-powered Top Banana and the Hop Skip and Jump, a winning combination of non-alcoholic beer and watermelon and basil.  

Aasmana @The Ritz-Carlton, Pune

Aasmana 

That’s some view of the Pune skyline isn’t it? And is that the golf course we can spy? Attention-to-detail is par for course at this futuristic rooftop bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Pune (India), whether it’s the cooking of the modern Indian small plates on the menu, or calibrating the watermelon agua fresca – perked up with honey and black pepper syrup and fresh watermelon juice – for maximum refreshment.

Summer Pavilion @The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

Summer Pavilion

For generations, drinkers turned to tea as a non-alcoholic companion for the dining table. Michelin-starred Chinese fine diner Summer Pavilion at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore - with no slouch in the drinks department – continues this tradition by carrying a range of artisan tea blends from Tea Bone Zen Mind. Ranging from lychee oolong to French rose buds, these teas cover a broad spectrum of tastes and textures.

Interior of The Bar @The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo 

The Bar 

How do you define a sophisticated hotel bar? The Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo would be a fine place to start. The aesthetic – deeply stained timber, floor-to-ceiling windows, glossy marble – is designed to shift your attention to those 45th floor views of Tokyo while impeccably dressed staff apply similar focus when making cocktails. Get a load of The Spiced Yellow, made with yellow tomato juice, a yuzu puree and sansho syrup.   

Mobo Bar @JW Marriott Hotel Seoul 

Mobo Bar

Every page of the menu at this modern garden bar at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul includes a “for drivers and minders” option: proof that Mobo takes non-alcoholic drinking seriously. And like the rest of the botanically focussed drinks on the menu, the choices here score big on both imagination and flavor, whether it’s the Red Cool lengthened with a blueberry hibiscus tea soda, or the FFBCD9: a fantasy of rose tea, fresh citrus and dried rose petal.

Astor Bar @St. Regis Kuala Lumpur

Astor Bar 

The signature bar at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur doesn’t do anything by halves, whether it’s the attention paid to the fit-out – brass accents, rich panelling – or the depths of its wine and whisky collection. Non-drinkers aren’t forgotten about either. A thoughtful edit of non-alcoholic drinks runs from high-end tonic waters to the Thai Collins, a Siamese riff on the classic gin cocktail starring makrut lime and rosemary syrup.

Songbird @The Ritz-Carlton, Perth

Songbird 

Native Australian birds and native Australian flavors are the two main motifs at The Ritz-Carlton, Perth’s breezy cocktail lounge. The menu here features a serious selection of non-alcoholic options ranging from the Albert’s Lyrebird – a pick-me-up featuring lime jalapeno soda and the native fruit, Davidson plum – to the Sacred Kingfisher: a bold spiced rum-inspired concoction made with Angostura bitters and finger lime.

Marriott Bonvoy Restaurants & Bars Benefits – Dine and Earn

Marriott Bonvoy is Marriott International’s award-winning loyalty program and app that allows members to earn and redeem points for hotel stays and dining, credit card spending, exclusive experiences, access to major events, and more. Available at over 2,700 participating restaurants and bars in Asia Pacific, Marriott Bonvoy members can savor year-round dining privileges, providing another way for members to dine more and earn points – even without a stay.

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