The Mardi Gras season may complicate the Dry January plans of people in the New Orleans area who are trying to get a sober start to the year.
In the Crescent City, where drinking is a tremendous part of the culture, observing Dry January can get dicey. Local bartender Chris Moran says a having a go-to alcohol-free alternative or a good mocktail can allow you to participate in the revelry without feeling out of place.
“I have a regular who comes in all the time," Moran said. "All she orders is cranberry juice in a martini glass, and you wouldn’t even know she isn’t drinking. She’s always the life of the party and talking to everyone, but she hasn’t had a drop of alcohol in around 30 years."
For those who may feel self-conscious about standing out when they’re abstaining from alcohol, Moran suggests ordering your drink
in a short glass.
“Even if you don’t want to go the mocktail route, you can order a drink like a soda water with lime or a Diet Coke with lime and ask the bartender for a cocktail glass or short glass," Moran said. "That way, it still presents as a drink to everyone around you and, you won’t feel like you’re sticking out in the room."
Moran also notes that there are a bevy of specialty alcohol-free liqueurs that have the same taste notes as their favorite alcoholic beverages without the buzz or the hangover. Moran adds that having those same flavor notes you’re used to tasting in your favorite cocktails can help you feel less self-conscious about standing out when mingling with friends who are not partaking in Dry January.
“Just like non-alcoholic beers, there are a handful of different brands out there offering non-alcoholic gin, tequila, rum, bourbon alternatives--as well as more--that are great for offering the same taste notes of your favorite beverages without the buzz," Moran said. "That way you can stay on track with your Dry January."
Moran also adds that these mocktail spirits are also beneficial for those who are used to having a drink to wind down after a long day. Moran says
those non-alcoholic drinks help those “who are used to their old rhythms in the evenings, even when just sitting at home.”