For those who don’t drink, can’t drink or simply take an occasional self-imposed exile from alcohol, the options out in the wild have long been disappointing. 

At Prime + Ember in Eastport, a juice and soda mixture with a lime garnish no longer cuts it.

Prime + Ember’s zero-proof menu offers drinks like Retirement Dreams, Lavender Lemon Fizz and even an Espresso Martini Zero. You’d never guess they were booze-free.

General manager Matthew Langler understands that the reasons someone reaches for a zero-proof menu are as varied as the guests themselves: conscious sobriety, pregnancy, being the designated driver or simply a teenager at the table who deserves something better than a sad Shirley Temple.

“We’re all about the experience for all of our guests,” says Matthew. “It seems natural to include everyone and make them feel at home and not left out.”

That approach is a genuine success.

“I can tell they are looking at that zero-proof menu because their faces light up,” says bartender Belle Jacobsen. “They’re so relieved not only because we have that option, but because the recipes are designed for excellent flavor.”

Zero-proof spirits aren’t simply alcohol-free versions of liquor. Many are crafted from botanicals, herbs, spices, citrus peels and natural extracts designed to recreate the complexity and mouthfeel of traditional spirits. 

Brands such as Seedlip, Ritual Zero Proof and Lyre’s have become staples, giving bartenders the tools to build sophisticated cocktails that rival their spirited counterparts in flavor, balance and presentation.

It may cost more than a plain lemonade, but it’s worth it. 

Pseudo Hugo

A light, refreshing zero-proof with delicate floral notes, sweet peach, fresh mint and sparkling soda.

Photos: Nicole Hamel