Dry January is ooooover, and that means you might be looking to jump back into responsible sipping. Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Enjoy a bevy of cocktail suggestions from area bars and restaurants, as well as trends on the rise, new watering holes to visit, mocktails galore plus home bar cart essentials. Cheers!

Cocktail Corner

Mocktail Madness

Speaking of cutting down on alcohol consumption, why not opt for a mocktail at dinner tonight? Luckily, Oklahoma’s bars and restaurants are teeming with them. 

Duet Jazz

Moscowless Mule
Lime juice, ginger beer, club soda, simple syrup

Faux-Jito
Lime, agave nectar, seltzer water, mint

The Pump

Barbarella
Non-alcoholic strawberry lemonade

Phony Negroni
Non-alcoholic gin, vermouth, non-alcoholic aperitif, blood orange bitters, simple syrup 

Red Rooster, OKC

Marvin Berry
Blueberry and blackberry syrup, lemon, club soda, basil

Joshua Tree
Topo Chico, orange, Angostura bitters, lime

Tellers, OKC

Blackberry Buck
Blackberry, fresh-squeezed lime, honey, ginger soda

Beer ABCs

If you’re a fan of a great brew, here are some words to use at your next gathering to seem in-the-know.

  • Alcohol by Volume (ABV) – A measure of the alcohol content of a liquid. The higher the ABV, the stronger the drink.
  • Bottom Fermentation – One of two fermentation methods for beer. This one is characterized by the tendency of yeast cells to sink to the bottom of the vessel.
  • Top Fermentation – The other of the two fermentation methods. This one is, if you can believe it, characterized by the tendency of yeast cells to rise to the surface of the vessel.
  • Carbonation – Introducing carbon dioxide into a liquid. See also: bubbles! 
  • Draught beer – Beer drawn from kegs, casks or serving tanks.
  • Fermentation – The conversion of sugars into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide gas through yeast.
  • pH – Short for ‘potential Hydrogen,’ pH shows the degree of acidity and alkalinity in a beer.

What It Takes to Be A Sommelier

Do you love wine? Want to do more than just drink it with your pals? The idea of becoming a sommelier might have crossed your mind – but it’s harder than you’d think. Are are steps to get certified: 

1. Take courses: Yes, you have to get to class! Find a reputable certification program and enroll in classes like winemaking and wine tasting.

2. Pass your exams: After you’ve taken the courses to aid in your certification, it’s time to study for, and pass, the sommelier exam, which typically takes a few days. There are differing levels of sommelier, with ‘Master Sommelier’ as the highest title you can earn.

3. Network and gain experience: Learn from experienced sommeliers, work in a restaurant, bar, winery or vineyard, and hone your craft.

Cocktail Spotlights

Photo by Stephanie Phillips

The Winter Spice Negroni
Ti Amo Ristorante Italiano, Tulsa
Persimmon puree, winter spice gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, persimmon slice and/or twist of orange peel

Photo by Stephanie Phillips

The Tuaca Lemon Drop
Ti Amo Ristorante Italiano, Tulsa
Lemon juice, simple syrup, vodka, tuaca

New Spots to Visit

Oklahoma’s liquor landscape is ever changing. Below are a few new additions to the scene.

Tiny Bubbles
OKC

Once a mobile wine cart, Tiny Bubbles has set up a brick and mortar in OKC’s Shoppes at Northpark. The namesake bubbles are varied, and the menu also includes signature cocktails, wine, beer, after-dinner drinks and zero proof mocktails. There are ample shared plates, pizzas, salads and desserts should you need a respite from all the carbonation. 

Maple Ridge Grocer, Tulsa; photo courtesy the McNellie’s Group

The Pump
Tulsa

At Sixth and Lewis, The Pump has truly made a name for itself in the Tulsa bar scene. Not only is the ambiance retro-cool, the food is delicious. Try the smash burger, brisket grilled cheese or the loaded tots. Featured cocktails include the Peach Flamingo, with citrus vodka, amaretto, orange, peach and prosecco; and the Golden Driller, with rye rum, pineapple syrup and bitters. 

Barseo
OKC

Perched beautifully on the edge of OKC’s Paseo District, Barseo offers plenty of craft cocktails, mocktails and shared bites. Highlights of each include the Razzle Dazzle, with mescal, Mazzura, raspberry, lemon, absinthe and pink peppercorn; the Strawberry Moscow Mule with strawberry hibiscus, lime and ginger beer club soda; and the chicken wontons, filled with achiote chicken, fire roasted poblanos and Mexican cheeses.

Cheever’s
Tulsa

Yes, this is a restaurant – but the bar is gorgeous and the tasty drinks are sure to hit the spot. Head to the Cherry Street locale for
cocktails like the Motto, with citrus vodka, blueberry syrup, lemon juice, soda water and mint. Starters include the roasted chicken and pepperjack strudel and the crab cakes. 

Millennium Lounge
OKC

Live music, happy hour and vegan dishes make Millennium Lounge a popular OKC spot on Western. Wings, flatbreads, salads and various dips are all found on the menu, as well as craft cocktails galore. 

Maple Ridge Grocer
Tulsa

A sprawling bar welcomes you at Maple Ridge Grocer, an enticing bistro on 18th and Cincinnati. Alongside bakery, breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner items, enjoy cocktails, beer, wine and desserts, too.

Mindful Drinking

You may roll your eyes when you hear the term “mindful drinking.” But, with a little research, you may realize this concept isn’t as silly as you think. 

Firstly – let’s look at the facts. Alcohol sales, per capita, went up more from 2019 to 2021 than in any two-year period since 1969. COVID-19 and quarantining did, indeed, do a number on folks and their alcohol consumption. Additionally, alcohol just isn’t great for you – it causes dental decay, breaks down skin’s collagen, slows down your metabolism, increases anxiety and disrupts sleep.

With that said, are you more open to the concept of mindful drinking now? I thought so! 

Mindful drinking is, at its core, very simple; it’s just the practice of being aware of how much alcohol you drink, and why. It often lends itself to healthier relationships with booze – and less consumption in general. A great way to practice mindful drinking? Ask yourself before you order your next round if another drink would really serve you well. Why are you ordering another? Most of the time, just taking a moment to ask yourself those questions will help you cut back on binge drinking.

At-Home Spirit Sensations

Looking to practice tending bar at home? Here are some items you may need to get you started:

Bar storage
Whether that’s a bar cart, hutch, buffet or other piece of furniture with storage.

Bottle openers and corkscrews
Because you can’t be a home bar specialist if you can’t open your bottles.

Various glassware
For all your different kinds of drinks! Think highball, rocks, wine, martini, champagne and shot glasses.

The hardware
Get all the equipment you’ll need to tend bar, like measuring cups, jiggers, shakers, strainers, stirring spoons, ice molds, peelers and cutting boards.

Liquor and mixers
Yes, this one should be fairly obvious. Get your main attractions, like tequila, vodka, whiskey and gin. Then get the mixers you’ll need, like Cointreau, St. Germain, Campari, soda water and ton. Bonus points for dehydrated fruit and mini umbrellas!

A nice draft beer or a dry martini will always hit the spot, it’s true. But if you want to stay atop the alcohol trends in 2025, here’s what you’re be seeing a lot of this year: 

Mixers and Enhancements
Soda water, tonic, juice – all great mixers, but drinkers this year are looking to spice things up a bit. Consider aromatic bitters, dehydrated fruits and florals floating in your cocktail. You’ll also see ferments as mixtures, like kombucha, as well as house-made tonics and coconut water. 

Diversifying Alcohol Brands
Very few spirit brands are sticking with one product these days – mostly out of necessity in a saturated market. Many beer labels are branching out into hard seltzers, and even names that are known for one type of liquor are starting to diversify their portfolios. Additionally, you’ll start seeing cocktails on draft at breweries, helping them to stay competitive in a market that’s waning on craft beer. 

Canned cocktails
Some say a canned cocktail is lazy – others say it’s convenient. No matter which way you lean, you’ll be seeing more of these on the menu at restaurants and bars statewide. 

Direct-To-Consumer Alcohol Sales
If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to cut down on food delivery, beware of booze delivery! Direct-to-consumer alcohol sales are spiking in popularity this year, as more opt to drink at home with pals than visit bars. 

Eco-Friendly Packaging 
Being wasteful? Out. Caring for the Earth? In. We’ll be seeing a downturn in glass bottles this year, as well as more sustainable, reusable packaging for take-home booze. 

THC Cocktails
Cutting calories, helping the liver and avoiding hangovers are all pros of THC cocktails. You’ll still get the buzz without the sobering (see what I did there?) side-effects.

Online Bonus Recipes

All photos courtesy the respective bar/restaurant group unless otherwise marked

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