Going Dry for July? These are the drinks you must try.
Dry July has arrived, which will see thousands of Australians give up alcohol to raise money for those affected by cancer, with funds being donated to organisations like Cancer Council, Leukaemia Foundation and the McGrath Foundation.
It’s a great cause, and having a month alcohol-free can do wonders for your health, but the reality of quitting alcohol cold-turkey can be tough, especially with all the excitement about hitting the bar for those post-iso catch-ups.
If Dry July has you more parched than ever and a glass of water isn’t going to make the cut, you’re in luck because Geelong is just bursting with delicious alternatives to alcohol. We’ve tracked down some of the best places to go for a tasty mocktail, which you can sip on while out with your crew without the nasty hangover impending.
You might be surprised at just how much you enjoy an alcohol-free version of your favourite drink.
Wah Wah Gee
Funky, fun and fresh. For the past few years Wah Wah Gee, and more recently Wah Bah, have been one of the best places to go in Geelong enjoy the coastal atmosphere, and a hot spot for friends to enjoy a casual dinner in a stress-free, fun environment! Perched out on a Cunningham Pier, the Wah family have a tasty list of tasty treats on offer, all for $14. Mocktails with a view. Yes please!
Here’s what you can choose from:
-Whisper Sweet Nothing – made with raspberry Kombucha, non-alcoholic gin, fresh lemon juice, and soda water, topped with Fairy Floss
– Shaken, Not Slurred – pineapple juice, sweet coconut milk, non-alcoholic gin, fresh lime and topped with toasted coconut
-Espresso Martini – coffee liquor, sweet white cane spirit, sweet vanilla
– Amaretto Sour – Sweet Amaretto, sour lemon
-Elderflower Spritz – non-alcoholic gin, elderflower, alcohol-free wine, soda water and fresh strawberry
Wah Wah Gee is located at Cunningham Pier, 10 Western Beach Road, Geelong and is open 12pm till late. Book your session via the website or call (03) 5222 6377.
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Recess Bar + Eats
Recess is Central Geelong’s only Gluten Free Restaurant offering you a space to run around, have a snack, play with friends and make new ones! While their food is A+, it’s also one of our favourite places to go for a cocktail night all year-round, including July thanks to their tasty mocktails on offer!
There are two options to choose from, both at $14. The Miss Rosie which is made with non-alcoholic London Dry, citrus, rose syrup and grapefruit juice, or the Kindergarten Cosmo, which is made with non-alcoholic Triple Sec, London Dry, citrus, bubblegum and cranberry juice! I don’t know about you, but these sound better than their alcoholic counterparts! Yummo.
Recess is located at 247 Moorabool Street, Geelong. They are open Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm and you can book online here.
Edge
Situated across the Geelong Waterfront, the aptly named Edge Geelong is one of the coolest venues for a few cheeky drinks with the crew, whether it be during the day, a Saturday night or Sunday afternoon. The vibes are high here and even if you’re off alcohol, you can still bask in the atmosphere with their dedicated mocktail menu.
For just $10 a pop, there’s a ‘dragonfuit lemonade’ made with dragonfruit, lime juice and lemonade; a ‘strawberry ginger’ made with strawberry puree, lime juice and ginger ale; or the ‘Summertime sober’ which has passionfruit pulp, pineapple, lime juice and lemonade. If you’re looking for a non-alcoholic trip to summer, this is it!!
Find Edge at 6-8 Eastern Beach Road, Geelong.
There There / Captain
Located in the heart of Geelong, this venue has become known as the place to round up a crew, grab a tinny from the bar and pull up a milk crate on a Saturday night.
With a pretty extensive drinks list, the legends here has you covered with their list of carefully curated mocktails. Ranging from $12 to $15, you can get your mitts on a ‘S’noe Gin Fizz’ made with cranberry, citrus, rhubarb, raspberry florets and Aquafaba; or the ‘Sober Harvey’ with Vanilla syrup, housemade grenadine, fresh orange and Maraschino cherry; or the ‘Soft-Core Martini’ which has apple, passionfruit, citrus, white chocolate and Aquafaba. So. Good.
Open Friday through to Sunday, find There There / Captain at 8 Malop St, Geelong.
Bob Sugar
Nestled in Torquay, Bob Sugar isn’t exactly close but it’s seriously worth the drive. Boasting a dream combo of curated Asian feeds with fresh cocktails across from the beach, Bob Sugar hits the Melbourne restaurant trends to a tee with a HUGE focus on super-fresh ingredients and authentic techniques.
Pretty much everything you’ll find within the four walls of Bob Sugar is mouth-wateringly delicious, including their mocktail list. Ranging from just $9 to $11, you’ll find the likes of the ‘Thai Guy’ with mint, lime, and Capi flamin ginger beer; ‘I Lychee’ with ginger beer, lychee juice, bitters, lime and mint; or the ‘Lovely Bunch’ made with coconut water, pineapple, mint, lime and ginger. Fresh!
Find them at 17 The Esplanade, Torquay.
Sailors’ Rest
Located just steps away from the heart of the Geelong Waterfront, Sailors’ Rest has become a serious hot spot for a night out – especially with their expert bartenders and lengthy cocktail list.
On the mocktail front, they’ve got two mouth-watering options for just $10. There’s the Apple Punch which is made with apple juice, lemon juice, sugar, bitters and Dry ginger, and the Peach Iced Tea which is made with Peach and Earl Grey syrup, lemon juice and soda water. Yummo!
Sailors Rest is located at 3 Moorabool St, Geelong and the bar is currently operating Friday and Saturday nights. For bookings, call (03) 5224 2241 or visit the website.
ALMA
Geelong really scored big when chef Jesse Hughes (formerly Vue Grand Queenscliff) opened up ALMA, a contemporary South American shared-style restaurant back in 2017. In what was Hughes’ first venture, ALMA has become one of Geelong’s best dining destinations, earning a solid reputation for their South American flavours featuring the best produce served in an unadulterated way, edgy styling and exceptional service.
With great food comes delicious drinks and the ALMA team have earned a reputation around town for their delicious mocktails. For just $10, the bartenders can whip customers up a non-alcoholic version of something sweet, sour or bitter. You just say the word and they’ll work their magic. Date night well and truly sorted.
ALMA is located at 93-95 Ryrie St, Geelong.
18th Amendment
As if these guys weren’t going to make the list! Founded by Australian hospitality veteran, Gorge Camorra, Geelong’s famed 1920s Prohibition-style cocktail bar The 18th Amendment is renowned for its expertise in mixology – and you can bet that extends to mocktails too.
Alongside its listing of unusual ingredients, including Camorra’s own range of liqueurs, to the hundreds of spirits behind the bar and the house-concocted barrel aged cocktails, 18th Amendment has a dedicated menu of ‘Teetotaller’s’. From the Fleur Collins (cheeky twist on a Tom Collins), and the Plane Without Wings, to the Jamaretto Sour and Blueberry Nojito, you’ll be in your element sipping on these babies while munching on the courtesy popcorn.
Good vibes, incredible service, delicious drinks – what more could you want?
You can find 18th Amendment at 82A Little Malop St, Geelong.
Frankie
Since opening back in 2017, Frankie has become Geelong’s premier cocktail and wine bar, function venue and pan-Asian restaurant. With award-winning staff on hand to make some of Geelong’s (if not Victoria’s) best cocktails, you’re in good hands when it comes to an expertly crafted mocktail.
With 20 cocktails on the list, you’ll be pleased to know that Frankie can create a non-alcoholic version of almost any of them. Standout cocktail concoctions that can be turned into a tasty mocktail include the Clover Club (usually made with Bombay Sapphire Gin, Lemon Juice, Raspberry Syrup, Aquafaba), the Cosmo (42 Below Vodka, Lime Juice, Cointreau, Cranberry Juice), Expresso Martini (Vodka, Fresh Expresso, Crème de café, Baileys Irish Crème) and the Bees Knees (Bombay Sapphire Gin, Lemon Juice, Honey Syrup). They’ll just swap out the alcohol and you’ll be knocking them back all night.
You can find Frankie at at 9-11 Little Malop Street, Geelong. Book your table here.
The Sporting Globe
Located at the top end of Geelong’s inner CBD, The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill is Australia’s most loved sports bar and grill synonymous with great food in a casual bar environment and sporting entertainment. While the food and entertainment are all good and well, it’s their mocktail list that had caught our attention. It’s one of the longer Geelong mocktail lists, and there’s a definite lean towards fresh, fruity and cleaner flavours.
For $8.50, you can indulge in the Pineberry (Pineapple juice over ice with raspberry, lemonade & fresh lime), the Bubblegum Pop (Bubblegum syrup with lemon juice, soda water & fairy floss), Mango No-Mo-Jito (mango with lime, mint & lemon squash), Watermelon Spritz (watermelon, apple, lime & lemonade) and Tropical Punch (tropical syrup & coconut puree with pineapple juice, lime, lemonade & toasted coconut).
The Sporting Globe is located at 175-177 Ryrie St, Geelong.
Sweet Cheeks Cocktail and Desserts Lounge (currently closed)
Opening just last week, Sweet Cheeks has is the new go-to destination for cheeky cocktails, in-house crafted desserts and even pancakes to cure any sweet tooth.
While their cocktails are to die for, they’ve also got two extremely appealing mocktails on the drinks list to make your July nights fun and flavoursome. Choose between the ‘Sunrise’, made with watermelon, hibiscus tea, lime and orange juice, or the ‘Hot and Spicy’, made with orange juice, spiced syrup and lime.
Find them at 71 Yarra Street, Geelong.
Don’t feel like going out? That’s cool. You can still find non-alcoholic versions of the things you love for those Friday nights at home with the crew thanks to two local bottleshops.
Bottles and Barrels
These guys have long been a favourite of ours. If not for their coffee and delicious brunch options, then for their carefully curated selection of boutique wine and craft brews. Now they’ve given us one more reason to love them with their non-alcoholic drops for all those participating in Dry July!
They currently stock Sobah non-alcoholic craft beers, non-alcoholic wine (set to arrive this week) and our pick, the non-alcoholic G+T from Geelong-born business Monday Distillery. This G&T is made from carbonated Australian spring water, juniper berry, lemon, lime, rosemary, sea salt, citric acid, stevia quinine and cinchona bark, and is a leader in revolutionising the way people look at having a night out with friends. Yep, it tastes THAT good!
Bottles and Barrels is located at 132 Aberdeen St, Geelong West.
Nardi’s Cellarbrations
Nardi’s Cellarbrations down in Newcomb (there’s also one in Highton) have you covered if you’re looking for a non-alcoholic alternative to beer. There’s three options to choose from – Carlton Zero, Heineken Zero and Peroni Libera.
You can find them at 4/27-37 Bellarine Highway, Newcomb.
For more information on Dry July, visit the website.
