The Holidays no longer needs to be stressful: With the holiday season comes a lot of extra cheer — and, a lot more stress! Between finding the “perfect” gift, extra traffic, putting on that holiday smile, attending holiday work parties, family functions, those end of the year projects, and those darn Christmas lights, I think we can all agree, there is definitely a lot of EXTRA throughout the holidays. That is why this year we teamed up with Zenify Drinks to bring a little calmness & yumminess to your holiday cheer - Come Share a Mocktail With Us On Dasher (Zenify Original) 4 oz Zenify 1 ..read more

Optimistic about Optimist A.F. Spirits. In previous Mocktail & A.F. Spirit reviews, I’ve talked about non-alcoholic spirits best used in mocktails. In contrast, other A.F. distilled options mimic their traditional spirit and can be enjoyed either neat + ice or with a simple dash of bitters. I recently tried a new spirit called Optimist, a distilled non-alcoholic spirit that falls somewhere between the two: a botanical, booze-free spirit that cannot stand alone but doesn’t get lost inside your A.F. recipes. Optimist Spirit is a hybrid; it doesn’t try to be anyone or anything other than ..read more

An introduction to a world of flavor. . . What comes to mind when you think about creating The Perfect Puree? Do you start with fruit, vegetables, a tropical flavor that isn’t easily sourced at our local grocery store? Purres are often used in the culinary world, a smooth, creamy substance made of liquidized or crushed fruit or vegetables, but what about utilizing a puree inside your cocktails & mocktails? This January marked the 8th full year of Dry January, a worldwide campaign to go sans the booze for one full month. For me, Dry January is an extension of my everyday life. A ..read more

Spread the Christmas cheer with a round of these simple and refreshing alcohol-free mocktails. Mark Twain famously said: “The less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it.” For me, that means spending the holidays with my friends and family. . . And of course, enjoying an Ale-8-One throughout the holidays. Santa’s Helper ️ 4oz Cherry Ale8-One 2oz Apple Cider Squeeze fresh lemon Dash of @feebrothersbitters Black Walnut - Garnish with a Fresh Sprig of Thyme Mixing Directions: For this delicious holiday alcohol-free recipe, we utilized Cherry Ale-8-One. To ..read more

Creating During Crisis Creatives are delicate creatures. We are frequently in a battle to get the best version of what's in our head out into the physical world; a task that takes a clear mind and focus. But, how do you focus in a time full of distractions? By nature, creatives generally lead to repetitive surface-level lives. An intentional way of life. Having a minimalist lifestyle frees your mind to explore abstract possibilities and new ideas. However, in times of crisis (we are looking at you 2020), that clear space is fogged up with real world problems that cloud the mind, and making it ..read more

In life, one can choose to take one of two paths: to wait for some special day - or to celebrate each special day.   Hi friends, Jesse Hawkins. Many of you know me as the founder of The Mocktail Project. Others as an old friend, college, or high school buddy. Maybe you know me as a friend of Bill or just an acquaintance in life. For those who do not know me, I would like to be the first to say hello!       It has now been six long months since I have had the pleasure of sharing a mocktail with you that I did not craft on Zoom.  I have missed the festivals, cha ..read more

Hey, friends. Happy Derby Week! While just about everything in 2020 has been nontraditional, it only makes sense that this year's run for the roses will be held September.  For many Kentuckians like myself, The Kentucky Derby is one of my all-time favorite celebrations — and always will be. Personally, the Derby was my very first event I ever attended once I made the choice to become sober (I was only three weeks removed from my very last drink) It was that life experience that eventually led me to start The Mocktail Project. Just five years later, for the 145th Derby Day, Churc ..read more

“The service industry, as we know it, is changing before our very eyes. Fine dining restaurants have become quick-service takeout joints, bars are acting as bodegas, and bartenders have become online spirits instructors. It's wild how quickly a business model can change in moments of crisis. We'd like to believe that once we get past COVID-19 (Big Rona), everything will be back how it was, but I'm here to tell you: it won't. The entire structure of the hospitality industry is going through a forced remodel, and if you aren't careful, you'll be discarded with the scraps.” These are the words of ..read more

With the world on pause, I have been particularly concerned for one industry in particular. . . the non-alcoholic beverage space. Before Covid-19 placed the world in flux, as of February 23, 2020, sales of non-alcoholic beer at off-premise retailers were up a staggering 43% As a non-drinker myself, and founder of The Mocktail Project, I am constantly seeking out new (A.F) alcohol-free options. From non-alcoholic spirits like Seedlip & Lyre’s, to non-alcoholic beer like Gruvi & Athletic Brew Co, I am constantly on the search for the next A.F option that I personally enjoy sipping on ..read more

Hey friends. If you are like me and love to wait until the very last minute to do everything during the holidays don’t worry, you’re not alone. My house currently smells like warm cider, my floors are covered in wrapping paper and I am doing my best to finalize a very long to-do-list before I head back home to spend a few quality days with my family. Growing up in a large Kentucky family, the holidays can often feel like a beautiful dance between pure chaos and joyful laughter. My favorite part of the holidays are spent around our families table, filling up my belly: hours spent sharing old st ..read more