Local Non-Alcoholic Beverages To Enjoy All Year

Each holiday season I find myself eagerly saying “yes” to every festive gathering, fully embracing the holiday cheer, which inevitably means a steady flow of delicious food and celebratory drinks. By the time January rolls around, both my social calendar—and my liver—are ready for a little break.

While I don’t go all-in for Dry January, I do like to significantly scale back, easing into the new year with a little more balance. So, whether you, like me, are seeking lighter sips to start the year off right, or alcoholic beverages simply aren’t part of your lifestyle, here are some local zero-proof options worth exploring and the stories behind them.

Tilden Non-Alcoholic Cocktails

After Vanessa Royle gave up alcohol during the pandemic, she crossed paths with Mariah Wood, a lifelong non-drinker, at Harvard Business School. Both were frustrated by the lack of quality non-alcoholic options and felt inspired to create something better than the usual club soda with lime.

“Mariah and I were tired of drinking sparkling water while our classmates sipped elegant alcoholic cocktails and wines,” says Royle. “It quickly became clear we weren’t alone—a good number of our classmates were either quietly choosing not to drink or actively trying to cut back for various reasons.”

After jotting down their idea for a zero-proof adult beverage on a napkin, they spent a year pouring their energy into tinkering, testing and researching. The result was Tilden—a collection of distinctive craft cocktails without sugar, carbonation, adaptogens or preservatives. “We knew there was a market of people who work hard, play hard and want to be social without needing alcohol, and we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve created,” says Royle. “It wasn’t easy, but we did the work for people who, like us, are thirsty for a more inspired sipping experience.”

Though Wood is based in Boston, Royle is now based in Santa Barbara and is thrilled to see Tilden embraced by the local community. “People in Santa Barbara care about what they put into their bodies, and they’ve welcomed Tilden with open arms,” she says. “It’s amazing to see people of all drinking preferences ordering Tilden cocktails at some of the best restaurants and bars across the region.”

Tilden offers two delightful cocktails, each featuring no more than 15 ingredients: the fresh, herbaceous Lacewing, highlighting cucumber, basil, lychee, pear and Szechuan pepper flavors; and the savory Tandem, with bitter orange, tart cherry, smoky oak, lapsang and warming ginger. Bottled in 750ml, Tilden cocktails are designed to be served over ice with a simple garnish, making them nearly effortless additions to an alcohol free January and well beyond.

January Drinks

For years, winemaker Dave Potter has crafted acclaimed wines from Santa Barbara County under his popular labels Municipal Winemakers and Potek. During the pandemic, while many continued to enjoy his wines (perhaps a bit more often than usual), there was also a noticeable rise in interest for nonalcoholic alternatives. This growing demand inspired Potter to launch January Drinks in 2021—a boutique brand offering zero-alcohol aperitifs made from wine and botanicals.

Potter describes January Drinks not as a non-alcoholic wine, but as a kind of “non-alcoholic tea” crafted from Santa Barbara County grapes, thoughtfully blended with fruits, herbs, roots, barks and other natural aromatics. “The pomace is macerated for tannin and color extraction, and infusion ingredients are steeped in hot water like a huge cup of tea with herbs and spices,” he explains. “It’s a cross between how breweries add hops to beer, then strain them, and how traditional vermouth or aperitifs are made by macerating ingredients in a base wine.”

January currently comes in two flavors—Manzanilla Chardonnay and Juniper Grenache—with a third, Smoke Syrah, on the way. The Manzanilla Chardonnay, crafted from Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay, is infused with chamomile, Meyer lemon, gentian, cinnamon sticks and red peppercorn. It’s a refreshing, slightly bitter aperitif—a lovely alternative to a classic spritz. The Juniper Grenache is a crunchy red with a blend of juniper berries, bay laurel leaves, black tea, sumac, smoked sea salt and black peppercorns, designed to be served well-chilled.

Potter recommends serving January Drinks in a wine glass to “fully express the dimensions of flavor,” but emphasizes that these are not de-alcoholized wines. “Technically speaking, they’re closest to a cross between a piquette and a tisane—a refreshing and intriguing drink all its own,” he says. With their layered flavors, January Drinks are captivating nonalcoholic options—ideal for pairing with meals or savoring on their own.

Sideyard

Launched in 2020 by Sarah Bourke, Sideyard began as a creative experiment born from her growing interest in the bold, tangy flavors of fruit-based shrubs. “I first came across shrubs on a cocktail menu in 2019, and the flavors made my taste buds explode,” Bourke recalls. “I immediately wanted to learn how to make my own!”

She began foraging fruit from the front and side yards of her Santa Barbara apartment complex and experimenting with small-batch, fruit-infused vinegars. “The more I tinkered,” she says, “the more this fun creative outlet became a true passion.”

Today, Sideyard celebrates California’s bounty by championing local farms and sustainable practices. “Every
bottle directly supports a small-scale, community-based, regionally rooted farm, which is a great point of pride at Sideyard,” says Bourke, who adds that each label “prominently features” the name of the farm partner behind the flavor. Even more, Sideyard exclusively sources second-quality fruit—meaning, fruit that’s cosmetically imperfect yet still incredibly flavorful—to reduce waste and provide additional revenue for farm partners. “Sideyard exists to build demand for regional food systems, regenerative farming practices and organic growers,” Bourke says, “while sharing stories that celebrate our farm partners.”

Since launching Sideyard, Bourke has crafted over 20 unique flavors but recently narrowed her focus to seven offerings that showcase the best of each season: Yuzu, Kumquat, Pomegranate, Passion Fruit, Prickly Pear, Syrah Grape, and Strawberry—all organic, vegan and free of added sugars. While initially drawn to shrubs by way of cocktails, Bourke shares that she “hardly ever drinks alcohol anymore,” instead using her fruit-infused vinegars in marinades, vinaigrettes and mocktails. Indeed, Sideyard’s bright, complex flavors serve as a fantastic base for mocktails, offering a refreshing way to brighten up the winter season, sans the booze.

RESOURCES

Tilden Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
Available at many locations around Santa Barbara County.
www.DrinkTilden.com

January Drinks
Municipal Winemakers
22 Anacapa St.
Santa Barbara
The tasting room is open daily: noon–8pm.
www.MunicipalWinemakers.com

Potek Winery
406 E. Haley St. #1
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
The tasting room is open daily. Sunday–Thursday: noon–8pm
Friday and Saturday: noon–9pm
www.Potek.com

Sideyard
Popular spots to shop locally include all Oat Bakery locations, The Daisy, The Eddy in Santa Barbara, Elder Flat Farm in Los Alamos, and Los Olivos General Store. Or order online with free shipping for purchases over $50.
www.DrinkSideyard.com