Basic information courtesy of a press release that has been HIGHLY edited by Angela Perez; there were way too many self-congratulatory adjectives in the original and zero introspection

Raleigh, NC, welcomes its first non-alcoholic bar, Umbrella Dry Bar, which brands itself as a place where “mindful drinking meets intrigue.” Hmmm….I’ve always relied on alcohol to create intrigue where there was none. Perhaps I have been underestimating public leisure. The bar opens December 31st, 2023, at 14 W Martin St. in the former Garland space with an opening party and then reopens permanently on Friday, January 5.

What is a non-alcoholic bar? What are non-alcoholic spirits? Meg Paradise, the owner and founder of Umbrella, sums it up in a recent statement:

"Our mission is to redefine the social drinking experience by offering zero-proof craft cocktails and functional, restorative, alcohol-free beverages. We believe in evolving the ritual of ‘having a drink’ into a more inclusive and health-conscious experience. It’s all about conscious sips, clearer connections and cultivating community. We don’t serve drinks, we serve guests."

She emphasizes a philosophy that might tend to annoy alcohol lovers (which I still am, even though I no longer drink alcohol). But given my desire and demand for great hospitality, I am down with her little manifesto of “leading with love and belonging” when hiring, training, and opening this space to the community. Umbrella Dry Bar is poised to be THE destination for exploring an alcohol-free experience, THE retail location for sourcing spirit-free wines, beers, and liquor-inspired products, and THE event venue for spirit-free events.”

A lot of bold statements. I look forward to describing such a scene. You know I will be honest and fair.

Looks like for their kickoff, they are holding the Umbrella Dry Bar’s New Year’s Eve Opening Party. The $100 tickets will include two cocktails, a midnight bubbly toast with an “intention setting for the new year,” and music by DJ Pdogg. (Guests may order additional drinks and bar snacks from an abbreviated menu.) www.umbrelladrybar.com/NYE

Umbrella Dry Bar’s official opening is Friday, January 5. Reservations are available for table and lounge seating. Umbrella Dry Bar will offer a full cocktail menu with bar snacks will be available Tuesday through Sunday (Tues through Thursday, 4-10pm), (Friday, 4-midnight), (Saturday, 11-Midnight) and (Sunday, noon to 5pm). Check out the menu here: www.umbrelladrybar.com.

The place has seating for 70, and the front lounge is designed to encourage interaction and conversation. Both cocktail service and counter service will be available, and the exterior window (that Garland used during the pandemic) will be open for serving on special occasions. In addition to cocktails, the menu will feature casual bar snacks – like falernum popcorn, warm olives, hummus, charcuterie, cheese sorbets, and chocolate pudding – all engineered for a full-service hospitality experience.

Umbrella Dry Bar demonstrates an understanding of the various reasons for sober behavior (I could write a book on some of those reasons), so alcohol-free cocktails and products will be identified with:

• 0.0 designation for those seeking to have strictly alcohol-free experience
• as opposed to trace amounts – less than .5% in non-alcoholic beverages)
• all products will be available for sampling, sale, and to take home

In addition to house made cocktails, guests can explore spirit-free brands, including Katy Perry’s alcohol-free ready-to-drink apertif, De Soi, Phony Negroni, Ghia — a sparkling aperitif, wine expressions by Joyus, and the spirit alternative, Tenneyson. Umbrella will offer a lightly flavored water, Eleve Beauty Water, which benefits from crisp bubbles and adaptogens.*

*Adaptogens are herbs, roots and other plant substances (like mushrooms) that help our bodies manage stress and restore balance after a stressful situation. People take adaptogens as herbal supplements in capsule form, drink them in teas or in a powder added to soups, smoothies and other foods. – UCLA Health

Cocktails on the opening menu include:

Cran-pagne
Spiced cranberry, Joyus rose bubbles, All The Bitter aromatic bitters (v, gf)

Gold Buzz
Beeswax-washed Free Spirits bourbon, honey simple, aquafaba, bee pollen. (v*, gf)

Clarified Chai Colada
Chai, coconut milk, lime, fresh pineapple, cinnamon simple, vanilla oil (0.0),
el guapo holiday pie bitters. (v, gf, 0.0)

Surely’s temple

Surely red blend, Tenneyson Black Ginger, citrus lactoleo, Roots Divino Bianco vermouth,
All the Bitter lavender bitters, dehydrated citrus (v*, gf)

I am Mr McGregoroni
Free Spirit Gin, Wilderton Bittersweet Aperitivo, Everleaf Forest saffron vanilla. (v, gf)
*Make it a buch-liato – add local kombucha (v, gf)

Leo Sour: Amaretto sour
Lyre’s Amaretti, lion’s mane extract, Free Spirits bourbon, lemon, aquafaba, bitters

Shimmering Pomm Pomm
Mulled red wine vinegar, pomegranate mollases and juice, soda, glitter. (V, gf, 0.0)
Add Spiritless Jalisco 55 tequila (v, gf)