It’s 5PM Somewhere: New Ways to Cocktail
Cocktail hour has gotten a lot more interesting in the last few years. Low or no alcohol spirits? Yep. Hemp-infused? Yes again. Cocktail Kits that arrive direct to your door, ready to pour? You bet. Now more than ever, the variety and scope of spirits and cocktails has expanded; new start-ups are entering the market with beautifully designed bottles and distinct point of views.
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that the importance of food and drink and gathering is central to human nature. It might look a bit different these days, with a smaller squad, outdoor dining and Zoom cocktails. And, for sure, cocktail hour QUITE possibly might start a little earlier than 5pm (just sayin’).
Here are some of our favorites…
Free Spirits
Hand-crafted, small-batch…and non-alcoholic? That’s the ethos of Bay Area-based Free Spirits. Their line includes: The Spirit of Tequila, The Spirit of Bourbon, and The Spirit of Gin. For Free Spirits, it’s not about drinking fewer cocktails, it’s about drinking less alcohol. Also, they believe that a cocktail should have a benefit beyond the taste.
What kind of alchemy does it take to create Free Spirits? Well, quite literally, its alchemy. Instead of a fermentation process that generates alcohol, they simply skip that step and infuse the source liquid with B Vitamins and Amino Acids that help elevate your mood, your energy and your social experience. They source natural ingredients like American White Oak, European Juniper, and Mexican Blue Agave and distill their essential flavors. They then reconstruct that spirit to form something much bigger than the sum of its parts. Clean living that includes a non-alcoholic margarita? Sign us up!
Lowgroni
For a low alcohol negroni, mix equal parts:
3 oz The Spirit of Gin
3 oz Campari
3 oz Sweet Vermouth
For a “Nogroni” (it’s non-alcoholic cousin), simply replace the Campari and Vermouth with Grapefruit juice and a splash of OJ + Cran.
Futura Cocktail Club
Brooklyn-based Futura Cocktail Club delivers hand-crafted bespoke and ready-to-pour cocktails in elegant little wax-sealed bottles. Classic cocktails are given a fun and very drinkable twist— their Spicy Margarita incorporated habaneros, mezcal and clarified lime— while bespoke signature drinks like their 17031 feature vodka, papaya cordial, orange bitters, Peychaud and lime soda. The ritual of cocktail hour just became a lot more convenient, even more chic, and imminently more delicious.
Cocktail Courier
For those who long to shake a shaker, Cocktail Courier will satisfy your inner mixologist. They deliver cocktail kits with recipes from the nation's top bartenders right to your door. Each box contains absolutely everything you need— spirits, limes and all!— to make delicious and unique cocktails right at home. They feature award-winning recipes from over 30K+ top local, professional bartenders around the country. Their frequently rotating cocktail menu keeps your bar stocked with fresh, exciting recipes. What’s more, you can order a la carte, or for a subscription service, which will bring new kits to your door all year long.
Miami Cocktail Co
Miami Cocktail Co has perfected the art of the clean ready-to-pour cocktail. The bright sun-kissed cans take you straight to South Beach, and why not? Bright and fresh and all-too drinkable, they’re low-calorie, organic craft cocktails are made with clean ingredients. For their line of Organic Spritzes, all you have to do is open the can, pour, and cheer to cocktail hour (or any time of day, really!) in no time at all. Sangria Spritz is organic rosé wine paired with organic orange, lime and pineapple juices, while the Bellini Spritz pairs rosé with organic mango and peach juices. Other flavors include Mimosa Spritz, Margarita Spritz and Paloma Spritz. Well, it sounds— and tastes— like tropical perfection, let’s drink to that!
Aplós
Aplós is a hemp-infused, non-alcoholic spirit that calms and uplifts without the negative effects of alcohol. A new way to unwind? Yes, indeed. We all need it these days, don’t we? Aplós was designed to replicate and redefine the cocktail. Their debut flavor is citrus-forward with notes of ginger and rosemary. With 20mg of broad-spectrum hemp per serving, it may quite possibly be what you need to exhale after a long day. Just as with any traditional spirit, Aplós can be enjoyed neat, on-the-rocks, or mixed in an infinite number of cocktails. Their Unhurried Afternoon is a light and refreshing drink with hits of herbs and lemon. Good vibes, good drink, all good.
An Unhurried Afternoon
1 ¾ oz. Aplós
3 oz soda water
1 tsp agave nectar
5 pieces basil, sage, mint
3 lemon wedges, cut in quarters
Muddle lemons, with herbs and agave nectar. Add Aplós and ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass or stemless wine glass. Top with soda water and garnish with herbs.
Haus
Haus is the answer to cleaner, responsibly sourced low-alcohol aperitifs that will easily be your new bar staple. You can either pour, sip and enjoy or mix with soda or tonic. Derived from fruits, herbs and botanicals, their lighter alcohol content (less than whiskey, more than wine) will allow you to sip all evening. Natural ingredients (read: no artificial ingredients or refined sugars) will keep that hangover at bay. Flavors include Spiced Cherry, Ginger Yuzu and best sellers Citrus Flower and Rose Rosé. The founders are third generation winemakers based in Sonoma, so they know of what they speak. Haus about it? We say yes.
La Ultima Casa
3 oz Haus Spiced Cherry
Splash Mezcal
Splash Yellow Chartreuse
Mix in cocktail shaker with ice, strain into martini glass or coup. Garnish with a lime twist.