Abstinence is back in style—at least when it comes to alcohol. In the midst of various health movements urging folks to live and eat more consciously, many are also choosing to ditch the booze, and cocktail enthusiasts in Las Vegas are catching on.
The nonalcoholic artisanal spirit Seedlip, for example, can now be found at spots like Jammyland and Esther’s Kitchen in Downtown Las Vegas. Esther’s bar lead Dave Klarer can whip up a booze-free mocktail version of most of Esther’s offerings, like the Mac in Slosh. The nonalcoholic version uses Seedlip Spice, fresh apple, lemon, cinnamon syrup, ginger and Peychaud’s Bitters (which do contain a marginal amount of alcohol but can be left out). Klarer says most cocktails on the menu can be made sans liquor using Esther’s selection of fresh herbs and house-made juices, at just $6 apiece.
Alcohol-free libations are also available at the Sam Ross-helmed cocktail collective inside the Venetian, proving that there can be just as much attention to detail with handcrafted mocktails as with their traditional counterparts. Currently found at the Dorsey is the refreshing Garden Party (fresh green apple, cucumber, mint and lime) and the Eastbound Cooler (fresh watermelon, lime, ginger, agave and chili salt). The art deco lounge Rosina features the Virgin Islands Cooler (pineapple juice, lime, house-made ginger syrup, Luxardo cherries) and the East Side Tonic (elderflower tonic, lime, simple syrup, cucumber, mint), while the futuristic Electra boasts three different boozeless varietals: the passion fruit-forward Byron Bay, the peachy Stone Fruit Season and the ideal poolside mocktail, the Post-Sun Reviver—all for $10 a piece.