Can’t Miss Mocktails in Portland
Bars and restaurants are embracing the artistry of non-alcoholic drinks for those seeking alternatives to boozy libations in Portland.
Amy Lam
Amy Lam is a writer and editor based in Portland. Read More
Call them what you like: mocktails, zero-proof, booze-free or non-alcoholic drinks. They are abundant on menus across Portland. Beyond craft breweries and artisanal coffee shops, a burgeoning community embraces the artistry of mocktails. This wave of creativity offers an alternative to those seeking more options to traditional libations and reflects a broader cultural shift towards mindful and inclusive drinking experiences.
Innovators in the Mocktail Scene
Talented Portland bartenders are redefining the boundaries of flavor and sophistication, proving that a night out can be just as memorable without a drop of alcohol. Two of Portland’s James Beard Award-winning chefs, Gregory Gourdet and Gabriel Rucker, have spoken about their sobriety, and their menus feature nonalcoholic drinks for their guests at Kann/Sousòl and Canard, respectively. Bar manager Cliff Seminerio is a bartender at Rucker’s Canard and founder of Worry Not!, which hosts pop-up events centering on non-alcoholic dining experiences. Sober restaurateur and bartender Eric Nelson co-owns, along with chef Earl Ninsom, several wildly popular Portland Thai restaurants, including Eem, which highlights “Clear Headed” cocktails.
Just an hour out of Portland, Wilderton produces botanical, non-alcoholic spirits in Hood River. The first zero-proof distillery in America, Wilderton redefines what cocktails can be with their innovative spirits. Leftover lime juice and soda water are the zero-proof cocktails of the past; using spirits from distilleries like Wilderton is essential for adding the bitters that give mixed drinks depth to pair with their sweetness and acidity. You can try Wilderton spirits at hip spots like Bar Casa Vale and Raven’s Manor.
On the horizon, Heck Beer — from the founder of buzzy non-alcoholic pop-up Suckerpunch — is launching in 2024, bringing another local non-alcoholic beverage to fans of zero-proof drinks in Portland.
Where to Find Non-Alcoholic Drinks in Portland
Either/Or
Hip North Williams Avenue coffee shop and bar Either/Or offers various rotating coffee mocktails, including a crowd-favorite, the Salty Russian. This non-alcoholic take on a White Russian is made with alcohol-free Kahlúa and coffee-based vinegar that emulates vodka. Shaken with vanilla cream and garnished with a chocolate coffee salt rim, it’s also available as the non-dairy Salty Philly. Their evening bar menu offers mocktail hits like DB Cooper with house-made tonic and botanical bitters. Nearby, get dinner at XLB for delightfully plump Chinese dumplings, then use your mocktail caffeine boost to catch an evening show at the Portland Playhouse.
Holy Ghost
This Creston-Kenilworth bar is a beloved neighborhood haunt; Holy Ghost features a fun, alcohol-free menu infused with zero-proof tequilas, gin, and bitters created by bar manager Sid Chi. The mocktails are complex and flavorful and never feel like an afterthought. Must-tries are the smokey chipotle Target Practice made with zero-proof gin and pineapple or the Last Summer Whisper with creamy coconut-y non-alcoholic tequila and rich, purple ube syrup.
The Sports Bra
For sports fans, The Sports Bra is a must-visit, if not for its amazing menu, for the fact that it’s the nation’s first sports bar to exclusively show women’s sports. Chef and owner Jenny Nguyen created a menu based on traditional sports bar fare with nods to her Vietnamese upbringing. Packed with vegan and gluten-free dining options, the drinks menu is equally inclusive, with great no-proof drinks. Try the Point, Set, Match, a sweet, tangy, aromatic drink featuring The Pathfinder Hemp and Root, a fermented and distilled hemp-based spirit.
Kann and Sousòl
Gregory Gourdet named his acclaimed restaurant Kann (meaning “cane” in Haitian Creole) as a tribute to his favorite childhood snack: freshly harvested sugar cane. The no-proof cocktail menu marries classic Haitian flavors like tamarind and passionfruit with creative ingredients like salted strawberry sugar, botanicals and house-made cordials and syrups. Try the Kowolsol with coconut milk, soursop and mint: refreshingly fruity with creamy, custardy undertones.
If you want to skip dinner (or can’t get notoriously scarce reservations), head downstairs from Kann to Sousòl for small plates and even more mocktail options. Gourdet curated a menu of zero-proof drinks to include non-drinkers like himself. Whether hankering for sweet and fresh or earthy and spicy, let the menu guide your order with its helpful taste directions.
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