Dry January Taking Hold At Several MA Bars, Restaurants: MA Cheap Eats

MASSACHUSETTS — So you got a little too boozy on New Year's Eve?

Let's face it we've all been there, but a few Massachusetts bartenders and mixologists have you covered if you'd like to take a break from drinking.

January is also the month of Dry January, an annual activity for some that originated as a way for people to take a step back and look at their alcohol consumption.

The one-month sabbatical originated in the United Kingdom with a woman named Emily Robinson, who took a one-month break from drinking as part of a training regiment for a half-marathon.

That was in 2011, and a campaign for the month launched in 2013. Since, Dry January has grown in popularity, so much so that a number of area bars and restaurants have launched consistent activations for people participating.

Joel Atlas is a mixologist at Avery Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, in Boston. He's also one of the mixologists and bartenders who've tracked the rise in alcohol-free living, and is behind the a special, alcohol-free, drink menu at Avery Bar for January.

Atlas said he approaches making alcohol-free cocktails in the same manner as making any cocktail, with precision, creativity and passion.

“Just because the alcohol isn’t there, doesn’t mean I can’t be as creative and enthusiastic about what I’m offering guests who are abstaining for the month of January or who choose not to drink alcohol in general," he said. "We’re always upping our game when it comes to zero-proof cocktails, looking to impress our guests at Avery Bar with a mix of flavors and innovative profiles that will entice and delight, alcohol or not."

Atlas provided some tasting notes for new mocktails on the Avery Bar menu for the month of January, which include:

Day & Night Old Fashioned

"Surprisingly enough, this beverage uses concentrated decaf English breakfast tea. This is a great alcohol-free option for anyone who enjoys a traditional whisky drink."

Cucumber Gimless

"A refreshing and clean mocktail that features non-alcoholic gin and cucumber. This one is vibrant and elegant at the same time. It’s sophisticated, smooth and aromatic."

Painless Killer

"Tropical drinks aren’t just for the summer and yes, they can be alcohol free too. Let’s enjoy a moment of reprieve from a cold January here in Boston since this mocktail will remind you of sitting on the beach in the Caribbean. This is a big step up (flavor and component-wise) from your traditional non-alcoholic Pina Colada."

Penicillin

"Using the fragrant, aromatic non-alcoholic Scottish botanical spirit, Feragaia, this beverage is built exactly like a traditional Penicillin cocktail, which is a modern scotch-based drink that mixes smoke, ginger, and lemon, minus the alcohol, of course."

Atlas and Avery Bar aren't the only spot participating in Dry January specials for customers. Here are a few others that will have mocktails on the menu this month:

Bar Fellini

The cocktail lounge at InterContinental Boston will add a zero proof cocktail menu to its Itlaian-leaning cocktail offerings. These include the Giulietta, a spiced martini rossi vibrante, apple cider and oddbird blanc de be blanc ($17); Romantic Folly, fig dhos aperitif, gnista sweet vermouth and seedlip grove ($17); Penny for Your Thoughts, lyre's amaretti, honey syrup, lemon juice, egg white ($17); Passion of Life, vanilla bean infused cleanco vodka. lyres coffee liqueur and espresso ($17); The Testimony, spiritless kentucky 74, gnista sweet vermouth and maple syrup ($17).

Abe & Louie's, Atlantic Fish Co., Coach Grill, Joe's on Newbury, Joe's Waterfront:

This restaurant group of Boston-area's celebrated favorites have launched a zero proof cocktail menu this month at all locations featuring drinks including New Year, New Spritz, ritual tequila alternative, cucumber, mint, lime, zero-proof sparkling cava ($14); Spice Trade Tonic, ritual gin alternative, turmeric, black pepper, grapefruit ($14) ; Ginger Thyme Fizz, spice ginger, honey, lemon, thyme ($14).

La Padrona:

Situated on the first floor of Raffles Boston, La Padrona has prepared its first spirit-free cocktail options featuring "de-alcoholized" ingredients like the Vibrante Spriz, Martini & Rossi Vibrante, Fever Tree Elderflower, tonic; Sober Hemingway Daquiri, Fluere Spiced Cane, Grapefruit, Martini Rossi Vibrante, lime; NA Tangerine Margarita, Free Spirits Tequila, DHOS Orange, Tangerine, Lime, Bitter Agave; Fugazi Negroni, DHOS Gin Free, DHOS Bittersweet Aperitif, Free Spirits Vermouth Rosso; The Wright Flyer, Free Spirits Bourbon & Spirit of Milano, Fluere Bitter, Bitter Agave.

Trade:

Innovative Mediterranean and Greek-inspired, the dedicated mocktails include, Peach Lemonade, peach juice, mint, lemon; Greek Iced Tea, black tea, mint, lemon; Mandarin Mocktail, lime, mint; Passionfruit Mocktail, lemon, vanilla; Jody's Lemonade, cucumber, mint, lemon; Yuzu Mocktail, mint, ginger beer.

Porto:

In the heart of Back Bay, this coastal Italian and Mediterranean restaurant has several zero proof options using "de-alcoholized" ingredients like Falling Leaves, dhos gin free, orange, grapefruit, tangerine, ginger ($14); Flower Power, hibiscus, vanilla, ginger beer, lime ($12); Feelin' Prickly, prickly pear, agave, lime ($12).