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Holiday Gift Guide: #2020 (pt. 1)



Let's be honest. This holiday season is MUCH different than any other season we've seen in our lifetimes, holiday or not. We started 2020 with hope for a new decade and are ending it with hope for a new year, except now we're wearing face masks, elbow bumping friends, and Zooming with family. That is, of course, if we're lucky enough to still have all our family with us. The stark reality is that 281,000+ Americans died this year of COVID-19 out of a global 1.53+ million deaths.


While there's no way we can get those precious people back, we can do our part and listen to public health guidance. We can stay 6 feet apart. We can wash our hands. We can wear a damn mask (stay tuned for pt. 2 for some super fun #madeinDC masks!). And by helping those in need, supporting our local businesses, and giving ourselves the gift of health by taking a break from booze, we can make an impact both within our communities and on ourselves.


So if you're looking for holiday spirit (without the spirit!), we bring you our Booze Free in DC Holiday Gift Guide (pt. 1 - Everything You Need to Stock Your Booze-Free Bar). Just in time for the holidays and #DryJanuary2021, our guide is chock-full of locally made/sourced alcohol-free sips for the winter months, bar accessories created by DMV neighbors, recipe books, and promo codes galore. 2021 will be the year of a new presidency, the first brick and mortar booze-free bar and event space in DC -- meet ✨ Binge Bar ✨ -- and well, a new calendar year (which we all need!).


Until then, happy shopping -- and stay safe out there, y'all. 💋

 

Everything You Need to Stock Your Booze-Free Bar

2020 is enough to give all of us a migraine, so why make it worse with booze? Prep yourself for #DRYJanuary and beyond with the bread and butter of Booze Free in DC: beverages, baby! And because we hope you'll love these local brands just as much as we do, we've included some fantastic promo codes for your shopping pleasure, courtesy of the businesses below.


Happy gift-hunting...and feel free to get your (#zeroproof) drink on!


// LOCAL BOOZE-FREE BEVS //

1. Element Shrub - Complexity doesn't have to be complicated with these gorgeous shrubs!

Arlington, VA based Element Shrub is growing, and fast. A Sans Bar national pop-up tour sponsor and frequent collaborator with Lyre's Non-Alcoholic Spirits, Element Shrub is everywhere these days. But Charlie Berkinshaw of Element Shrub doesn't forget his DMV roots. Our fave flavor: Chai Pear. But also Peach Tamarind, Ginger Lime, Grapefruit Vanilla, Honeydew Jalapeño, Blood Orange Saffron....


👏 Family-owned


2. Mocktail Club - For fun without the hangover, try this ready-to-drink sparkling bev!

Pauline Idogho, founder of Washington, D.C.-based Mocktail Club, couldn't find anything healthy and delicious to drink while pregnant. So what did she do? She started a beverage company out of necessity. From those efforts came Mocktail Club, a line of premium crafted non-alcoholic cocktails with bold and daring flavors. We love this product and love Pauline.


Use promo code BOOZEFREEDC for 15% off your order! ♀Womxn-owned | ✊🏿BIPOC-owned


3. Mad Magic Kombucha - Sip the stark raving goodness of this magical local booch

This Virginia kombucha darling out of Vint Hill means business -- Mad Magic Kombucha has 19 (we repeat, 19!) different flavors. What's most ingenious is that you can create a custom pack or choose a seasonal pack -- of all different flavors. Or just one flavor. Harvest Spice only? Or Coffee? Or Hops? Or Mint? Or Strawberry? Or....you get our drift.


👏 Family-owned


4. Apothekary - Get Wellthy from the inside out with these edible, elixable powders

Shizu Okusa's Washington, D.C.-based Apothekary is 100% natural, fair-trade and sustainably sourced, dairy/gluten/ands free of dairy/gluten/sugar. Depending on the issue you want addressed (e.g. anxiety/stress, gut health, immunity/anti-inflamation), gussy up your smoothies/coffees/teas/zero proof bevs with Apothekary's signature blends. Remember, Self-care is the new Health-care.™



5. Bay Leaf Bitters Co. - Nothing bitter about this bar!

New bar on the block Bay Leaf Bitters Co. is a Washington, D.C.-based cocktail delivery service (within DC city limits) and virtual women’s sports bar. You'll find a space that "celebrates athletes of all genders without shame, fear, or marginalization." Check out the bar's weekly virtual sports and social justice events and if you're not in DC, pick up your goodies directly from owner Laurel Oldershaw.


♀ Womxn-owned


6. Blue Ridge Bucha - So fresh it's brewed from mountain water!

Hand-crafted in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this small business has a BIG impact. Since Blue Ridge Bucha's inception, they've saved over 1 million bottles with their refillable glass bottle model. Taproom is open for curbside pickup; buy (or bring) those growlers!


From now until December 15th, save big in two different ways:

Whole Foods - 25% off

MOM's Organic Market - 30% off

(MOM's In VA: Alexandria, Arlington, Merrifield; in MD: Jessup, Gaithersburg, Hampden)

👏 Family-owned


7. Zurena - Experience the beautiful + joyful melody of this tropical elixir

Founder Nigel Smith named Zurena after his two daughters, Zuri and Rena, whose names come together to form the name of this Silver Spring, MD beverage company (Zuri, beautiful in Swahili and Rena, joyful melody in Hebrew). Mix Zurena into a zero proof cocktail or sip over ice; the flavors are a "rhapsody of tropical fruits and Caribbean spices."


Use promo code BFDC2020 for 20% off your order via Zurena or Amazon.

✊🏿BIPOC-owned | 👏 Family-owned


8. JRINK - Drink up, y'all. Juices for everyone!

JRINK is a DC staple for all juice lovers. Known for its bright colors and bright flavors, this homegrown juicery serves up delicious flavor combinations and gorgeous branding to its devoted clientele. When you need something healthy to sip on, drink JRINK. / 🎤


♀Womxn-owned IG: @jrinkjuicery


9. Icaro Yerba Maté - Artfully brewed, sparkling tea offers up natural energy

If you're fans of Baltimore-based Wild Kombucha you'll absolutely love their Icaro Yerba Maté product line. Signature flavors Hibiscus and Mint deliver in flavor and give you a caffeine boost (derived naturally, of course). This brand gives back too: Icaro Yerba Maté donates 1% of all sales to Living Classrooms to support arts education in Baltimore.


Use promo code BOOZEFREEDC for 15% off and free shipping on your order! (Free DMV delivery when you order 3 or more cases).


10. Where the Good Grows - Let your goodness grow - and glow!

This Maryland-based natural wellbeing company offers herbalist-formulated organic therapeutic botanical products, personalized wellness consultations, and fun virtual wellness programs (corporate and private). From calming herbal teas to therapeutic herbal latte blends, herbal infused zero proof cocktail vinegars to botanical chocolate making kits, Where the Good Grows is tasty, fun, healthy, and booze-free!

Use promo code BOOZEFREE for 10% off* your entire order! Expiration: December 15th, 2020. *Promo excludes gift certificates.

♀Womxn-owned


11. Delmosa - Terroir-driven sophisticated NA beverages. Mmm.

You're probably asking yourself, what the heck does terroir-driven mean? Terroir is a French term that basically means everything about the natural environment where a wine is produced. So any drink you can find at Bristow, VA-based beverage importer Delmosa will be the non-alchoholic cousin of wines and ciders. And it'll be damn good. Husband and wife team Bruce and Tammy Blosil are passionate about sharing non-alcoholic beverage elegance with the Washington, D.C. area and beyond.


👏 Family-owned


12. Charismatic Creations - Say hello to zero proof infusions!

Founder Chrissy of Washington, D.C.-based Charismatic Creations, a mobile bartending service, is all about making sure the drinking experience is an inclusive one. That means providing options that have booze and options without -- and her zero proof infusions sound heavenly: Apple Cinnamint and Hibiscus Rose are just a few of her flavor combos. Learn more about her inclusive bartending services & shop here! ♀Womxn-owned | ✊🏿BIPOC-owned IG: @charismaticcreations


13. Show of Hands - Perhaps the finest of (booze-free) hands

Nick Farrell of Neighborhood Restaurant Group was going open a brick and mortar spot at The Roost this year called Show of Hands, a place that would be known for innovative no and low ABV cocktails. Well, we all know what happened in March of 2020 that kind of derailed everyone's plans. Using the buzzword of the year, Nick pivoted -- and fast. He bottled Show of Hands cocktails and now sells them for pickup and delivery throughout the DMV via Neighborhood Provisions.


14. Columbia Room / Your Only Friend - Birthplace of a movement

Derek Brown of Drink Company and Columbia Room fame is known as one of the ultimate masters of mixology in DC. His book Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters: How the Cocktail Conquered the World, published in 2019, is basically like a sexy history book on drinks. But Derek is also known for being vocal about not drinking as much as he used to and his zero proof menu at Columbia Room, crafted with beverage director Paul Taylor, reflects pillars of creativity and inclusivity. When COVID hit, Taylor opened a sandwich pop-up at Columbia Room called Your Only Friend. Besides the delicious between-bread treats, some of the greatest hits of the zero proof menu are available in bottled form.


15. sunōmi - WTF is switchel?

WTF is switchel, you ask? That's the question Nikki Blank's company poses on sunōmi's site. Historically consumed in colonial times as basically the haymaker's Gatorade, switchel is an apple cider vinegar, ginger, molasses, and citrus based drink. You can still sip up post-workout these days, but it's not the switchel of olden days. This one is sparkling and modern and delicious.


16. NOPE - Hangovers? Nope. Full on flavor? Yep!

New beverage on the block, NOPE, is making a big splash already. Be one of the very first to say YEP to Strawberry Basil Smash, Raspberry Lime Ginger, Mango Margarita with Jalapeño, and Rosemary Vanilla Lemonade. If anyone ever asks, does this have booze in it? The answer is NOPE.



17. Jícara Ancestral Remedies - Sip on some ancient wisdom

Jícara Ancestral Remedies gives old life -- and we're talking legit ancient -- new meaning. Cultivating the wisdom in wellness practices and serving up kombucha, cacao, and mavi to DMV neighbors is what owners Linaan and Lucas are all about. What we put in our bodies affects not only our physical health, but our mental health too (fun fact: most serotonin lives in the gut microbiome). This is why Jícara exists: to give us healthy options and honor the past.


Shop online here and visit Jícara at Femme Fatale DC open markets!

👏 Family-owned IG: @drinknope


18. HEX Ferments - If it's pickled, we want it

Baltimore-based HEX Ferments are "food alchemists, dedicated to sourcing from local and organic farmers using regenerative farming practices." Once upon a time pre-COVID, we would travel to Belvedere Square in B'more just to pick up batches of multi-colored kombucha and the best kimchi and fermented veggies EVER. But fret not. There are still ways to get HEX into our bellies -- and as we know, our bellies are fans of fermented goodies.


All products available for pickup and local delivery on orders of $95+. Shipping available on all non-kombucha products. More details at HEX Ferments.

👏 Family-owned IG: @hexferments


19. Blue Henry - Level up your zero proof cocktails

You'll find fruit infused simple syrups, candied + dehydrated fruits for garnishes, and rimming salts + sugars at Blue Henry in Capitol Heights, MD. Be your own mixologist and take charge with these flavors and drink accoutrements that'll have you saying, "I'm a bartender!" in no time.


♀Womxn-owned | ✊🏿BIPOC-owned IG: @bluehenry


20. Main Street Pearl - A bar just for bubbly stuff (no, really!)

If you're into carbonation, you'll absolutely love Main Street Pearl coming to the heart of historic Takoma Park, MD in February 2021. As a bubbly drinks bar, Main Street Pearl will feature booze-free bubble tea, scratch sodas, kombucha (and their higher ABV cousins beer, cider, and sparkling wine). As a noshery and tuck shop, it'll have yummy grab-and-go snacks, candies, and treats by local foodpreneurs.


♀Womxn-owned IG: @mainstreetpearl


21. Everyday Kombucha - A kombucha a day keeps the doc away

What happens when Yerba Maté and kombucha have a baby? You get Everyday Kombucha, proudly brewed in the District. Founder Chris Williamson is also a personal trainer, so he gets that health starts from the inside out. When your gut is healthy, your mind is healthy. When your mind is healthy, you're more likely to want to move your body....and such is the positive feedback loop. If you love ginger, score that Lemon Ginger. Lime Mint is our current boo.



* not an actual substantiated medical claim


22. Nesis Tea - Hibiscus 🌺 Refresca...mmm

Whether you're into unsweetened or lightly sweetened tea, this hibiscus refresher will not only hydrate you -- it'll give you serious island vibes. Another new beverage on the block, Nesis Tea is here to spill the (hibiscus) tea right into your glass. And we are HERE for it all. We don't know about you, but we're already brewing up ideas for hibiscus-inspired zero-proof cocktails...

♀Womxn-owned | ✊🏿BIPOC-owned


23. Salacious Drinks - Like the Cristal of H2O 💦

Think it's just water? Think again. Salacious Drinks makes water sexy -- and we all know hydration is the ultimate aphrodisiac. Just go with us here. If you're into bubbly water, Salacious has you covered. Still water? Yep, that too. Water-based flavored mixers? Mmm hmm. Mix and match your own custom 6 pack -- OF WATER, or order a case if you're feeling lucky. Co-founder Ashley Epperson knows a think or two about H2O, so slide into her DMs if you have any questions about which luxury water you're jonesing to try.

♀Womxn-owned | ✊🏿BIPOC-owned

 

Bonus: coffee + tea (and baked goodies)



Compass Coffee - All fans of coffee in the DMV will know where to go -- because the compass points to this local gem. With spots in the District and Virginia, Compass Coffee not only has a bevvy of beverages but roasts its own coffee too. Sign up for Compass Coffee's newsletter and get a BOGO promo on your first order. 🇺🇸 Veteran-owned IG: @compasscoffeedc


Teaism - Calling all coffee and tea lovers in Montgomery County, MD! Use promo code BFD10 for 10% off all online orders. Expires in March 2021.

♀Womxn-owned


Calabash Tea & Tonic - Dr. Sunyatta Amen's Calabash empire sells everything from sage to herbal tinctures, but is best known in town for the teas, tonics, and community she fosters at her DC teahouses. Shop online here! ♀Womxn-owned | ✊🏿 BIPOC-owned



Rose Glow Tea Room - Owner Fallon Kiplinger takes her CBD-infused oolong, rooiboos, and green teas seriously. Delicate flavors and mellow effects. Our pick: BREATHE.

♀Womxn-owned | ✊🏿BIPOC-owned


The Red Bandana Bakery - All gluten-free, all delicious. Jaimie Mertz's The Red Bandana Bakery in Bethesda, MD is a happy healthy little bakery. Use promo code BOOZEFREEDC online (delivery) or in person (takeout) for 10% your order!

♀Womxn-owned


Java Nation - Calling all coffee and tea lovers in Montgomery County, MD! Get 15% of all menu items on Mondays and Tuesdays at Java Nation when you order for takeout and delivery. ♀Womxn-owned



Whisked! - This local darling founded by Jenna Huntsberger is renowned for its scrumptious cookies. We're talking Pretzel Cowboy, Vegan Chocolate Blackout, Molasses Spice -- and much, much more. Save 20% off your first order when you sign up for Whisked!'s newsletter.

♀Womxn-owned


Sweets by Caroline - What goes better with coffee and tea than macarons? Caroline bakes, we eat. Yum. Shop here!

♀Womxn-owned


Cry Baby Snax - Formerly known as Cry Baby Waffles, this DC-based company is all about the cookies -- and the crazier the concept the better. We're jonesin' to try their Cinnamon Butter Latte cookie. Mmm. Use promo code HAPPY10 for 10% off!


 

// NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE MARKETPLACES //


While not #madeinDC, our friends at Better Rhodes, Alena Botanica, and The Open Road all want to give YOU the very special gift of shopping their online zero proof marketplaces at a discounted rate.


Better Rhodes - this curated marketplace for NA beers, wines, spirits and more is guaranteed to please.

Expiration date: never!

Alena Botanica - this womxn-owned plant-inspired design studio and NA beverage boutique is home to drinkware, syrups/mixers, and gift boxes. Fun fact: our custom cherry blossom 🌸 mason jar is an Alena Botanica collab.

Expiration date: never!

The Open Road - this queer womxn-owned bar and bottle shop carries many independent (and larger) NA brands.

Expiration date: December 31, 2020


Extra Bonus! Listen Bar - The Bar Shop Shop NYC's Listen Bar - promo codes from across the globe. IG: @listenbar


 

// BAR ACCESSORIES MADE/SOURCED IN THE DMV //


DC Flag/Map Etched Glass Painted Palettes - Samantha Testa

Buy via Shop Made in DC / IG: @shopmadeindc Use promo code SMIDCFIRST for 10% off your first order!

Expiration: January 31, 2021


Booze Free in DC Cherry Blossom Mason Jar

Alena Botanica x BFinDC collaboration. Only 15 left!

Buy via Booze Free in DC Use promo code BOOZEFREEDC10 for 10% off!

Coasters (Bottle Opener Base) Adam Godet Woodworking

Use promo code SMIDCFIRST for 10% off your first order!


DC Icons Coasters Anastasia Lynn Richeal Buy via Shop Made in DC / IG: @shopmadeindc

Use promo code SMIDCFIRST for 10% off your first order!

Expiration: January 31, 2021


Cherry Blossom Coasters

Mann Made Designs / IG: @mannmadejewelry


Bottle Opener (Magnet Drop-Catch) The Nimble Barber

Use promo code SMIDCFIRST for 10% off your first order!

Expiration: January 31, 2021


Washington Nationals Bottle Stopper

Mann Made Designs / IG: @mannmadejewelry


Peak Sphere Ice Mold

W&P Design


Barconic Stainless Steel Boston Shaker Set

Modern Bar Cart / IG: @modernbarcart


DC Tea Towel Naked Decor

67 Use promo code SMIDCFIRST for 10% off your first order!

Expiration: January 31, 2021


DC, MD, and VA Dish Towels

Catstudio / IG: @catstudiodesigns

Buy via Catstudio - DC | MD | VA

 

// RECIPE BOOKS //


Good Drinks: Alcohol-Free Recipes for When You're Not Drinking For Whatever Reason

by Julia Bainbridge / IG: @juliabainbridge Buy here.

The Guide to Zero-Proof Cocktails

by Sharelle Klaus + Kira Bottles | IG: @drysoda

Buy here.

Seedlip Cocktails: 100 Delicious Nonalcoholic Recipes from Seedlip & the World's Best Bars

by Seedlip / IG: @seedlip_NA

Buy here.


DRY: Non-Alcoholic Cocktails, Cordials and Clever Concoctions

by Clare Liardet / IG: @clareliardet

Buy here.


ZERO: A New Approach to Non-Alcoholic Drinks

by The Alinea Group / IG: @thealineagroup

Buy here.


Seedlip Cocktails at Home

By Seedlip / IG: @seedlip_NA

Free e-book. Download here.

 

We can't wait to hear what kind of fun you get up to in your kitchen / bar. Be sure to tag us on Instagram (@boozefreeindc / #boozefreeindc) and stay tuned for the next installment of our holiday gift guide!


Until then, take care of yourselves. And each other.

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