NAN

Nonalcoholic News my Nan would approve of!

• 🍺 BEER: Newly launched, Tsingtao 0.0, has just hit the stores. (link)

• 🍹 COCKTAIL: Strawberry Guava is the new Hiyo flavor introduced at the beginning of last month. (link)

• 🍹 COCKTAIL: Newcomer, Dun, has just released two new cocktails—a Spicy Mango Marg and a Piña Colada. (link)

• 🍷 WINE: Four new wines were released by No Alc Co toward the end of last year. (link)

• 🥃 SPIRITS: Whiskey fans should get excited about this one, Nkd have revamped their whiskey recipe to intensify the flavor! (link)

• 🍹 COCKTAIL: Cali Spritz is a new RTD from Optimist.(link)

10 THINGS I LOVED ABOUT MINDFUL DRINKING FEST 2024

1. GIFFARD LIQUEURS

If you were to ask me the drink that surpised me most during the weekend, I would have to say the four Giffard liqueurs—pineapple, ginger, elderflower and grapefruit. The surprise wasn’t born from any preconceived notions or lack of interest, I just wasn’t expecting to love them quite to the extent I did. It was just one of those “oh wow” moments that came unexpectedly. An essential addition to the NA collection I would say.

2. BJORN TAYLOR

Walking out of the event space at Union Market on Sunday afternoon, Mrs. ModSub and I were glowing from the sense of community and connection we experienced throughout the weekend. There was such an overwhelming feeling of all being on the same team.

What was also in abundance was the strength of passion for these drinks. That was obvious from everyone involved from vendors, to store owners to the mixologists serving amazing cocktails throughout the afternoon.

However it was the passion exuded by Bjorn Taylor that really stuck with me. With 20 years of beverage and hospitality experience under his belt, and over four years of sobriety, his depth of knowledge in all things liquid, NA or not, was as impressive as his enthusiasm was infectious.

Aside from the many projects he’s working on, his current mission is to educate bar and restaurant owners on the efficiency and wisdom of carrying RTD NA cocktails. He can’t fathom why they wouldn’t. Nor can I. But thankfully he’s planning on changing it.

3. UNCLE WAITHLEY’S VINCEY BREW

If you like your ginger beer to have a proper kick to it, then look no further than Uncle Waithley’s Vincey Brew. The recipe blends scotch bonnet pepper, ginger, turmeric, lime and mineral water for a delicious but powerful ginger beer that rocks on it’s own but takes a cocktail into a different stratosphere. The first sip will be something you may never forget.

4. SIPSTEADY CREATIVE AGENCY

One of the seminars on Saturday focused on marketing NA products and joining Joshua Jones, owner of Ocean Beach Cafe, was Sarah Pretorius and Kayla Mason from SipSteady, the first creative agency focusing on nonalcoholic companies.

It was an engaging and enlightening conversation on the challenges of marketing a new subcategory within huge established beverage market. The key takeaways included consistency, customer engagement, authenticity and improving lifestyle — with social media and events at the forefront of their efforts.

One thing that resonated with me was Sarah’s hope that in the midst of all the identifying labels of this movement—sober curious, dry, damp, etc.—that everyone no matter who they are will just be drinking.

If I owned a beverage company, I would want my products in the Ocean Beach Cafe, but I would undoubtedly be talking to SipSteady to take my brand to the next level.

5. BARK & BITTER - NOVARA

For those of you on a quest to make the perfect NA Negroni, Novara by Bark & Bitter was one of my favorites at MDF. Switch out the Campari for Novara and you are a third of the way there to making the classic Italian cocktail! Or utilize it in all manner of lovely concoctions.

6. LAURA SILVERMAN - ZERO PROOF NATION

One of the highlights of the weekend, for Mrs. ModSub and me was getting to meet Laura in person. If there is a list of leaders in this blossoming industry, Laura is most definitely on it. She works tirelessly to promote the NA space and connect people within it. What a joy it was to meet her and witness her enduring enthusiasm. You can check out Zero Proof Nation for all things NA - here.

7. TENNEYSON

So excited was I to try Tenneyson, I completely forgot to take a photo at the event! I’m not going to give too much away as I want to save it for a recommendation in a future edition - but boy was it good. It’s a bold, citrus-forward sipper with a balanced ginger and pepper bite to it, that’s intense but never overwhelming. So good! I can’t wait to share more about this one with you.

8. KEYNOTE SPEAKER: TAWNY LARA

Saturday’s keynote speaker was Tawny Lara, author of Dry Humping - A Guide To Dating, Relating and Hooking Up Without The Booze, a light-hearted, warm look at navigating relationships without the crutch of alcohol. She’s kind of the Carrie Bradshaw of the NA dating world.

She is also the co-founder of (parentheses), who recently debuted two new botanical aperitifs, Before and After at the end of last year. Both were delicious and unlike anything I had tasted before. Super excited to watch this company grow.

WIN A COPY: Dry Humping - A Guide To Dating, Relating and Hooking Up Without The Booze.

We picked up an autographed copy of Tawny’s book for the ModSub community. Simply hit reply, email me the word ‘BOOK’ and I’ll draw a winner randomly and mail it to you.

9. MOCKLY MOCKTAILS

Gorgeous packaging and intriguing flavors, you couldn’t help but stop at Mockly’s booth. The recipes were created by New Orleans mixologist, Jesse Carr. While they are filling store shelves throughout the South, they are also beginning to pop up across the country. This is another one I’m excited to expand upon in a later edition.

10. NICK BODKINS - BOISSON

Boisson’s founder, Nick Bodkins, gave an impassioned speech highlighting both personal and professionals hurdles over the last year and pointed out that outward appearances often don’t reflect the reality of what goes on from day to day.

Nick also said that while global sales of NA drinks were significantly on the rise, it was still just a tiny fraction of overall alcohol sales. Like many in the business, his focus has gravitated toward helping bars and restaurants get these drinks on their menus. It’s an uphill struggle but he’s slowly winning the battle.