A Fully Non-Alcoholic Drinks Event is Headed to 99 Bottles Later This Month
Image: Courtesy Photo
99 Bottles owner Mark Tuchman has never shied away from an inventive event. Now, in response to the non-alcoholic trend that has been embraced by millennials and Gen Z-ers, Tuchman is partnering with Tap & Toast Mobile Bar owner Jessica Dell’Amico to host a 100 percent non-alcoholic drinks event called “N/A." It'll happen on Monday, April 28, beginning at 5 p.m..
Image: Courtesy Photo
Dell’Amico and Tuchman met at 99 Bottles, where Dell’Amico has been a longtime regular.
“I found familiarity in Mark," she says. "We both went to school in Long Island. His banter, humor and the overall environment he created at 99 Bottles has been an awesome addition to Sarasota."
The N/A event was inspired by a 2019 news article that Tuchman read about a non-alcoholic spot called Listen Bar in New York City.
“That article resonated with me because in the development of 99 Bottles, we have always had a better-than-average selection of non-alcoholic beverage offerings,” he says. ”In the last 12 to 18 months, those non-alcoholic beverages seem to be in the news even more. It seemed like the right time to highlight the quality at which [non-alcoholic] drinks are being made today.”
Image: Courtesy 99 Bottles
Offerings at the N/A event will include a robust selection of 99 Bottles’ permanent non-alcoholic beer and wine offerings, which Tuchman and his team have painstakingly selected through intense tasting panels. Dell’Amico has also created six mocktails for the event, including her signature “Watermelon Crawler,” made with watermelon juice, mint and lime.
“When I started Toast & Tap, I wanted to emphasize inclusion," she says. "Rather than just serving cocktails, I wanted to stretch my creative side to offer non-alcoholic drinks, too. I’ve been surprised to find that mocktails are my most highly requested drinks.”
“We're recognizing that this movement is not a fad,” Tuchman adds.
While the event will be fully non-alcoholic, Tuchman emphasizes that it isn’t a “sober” event, as some of his offerings are THC-infused. 99 Bottles’ tap kombuchas, for example, have a small percentage (less than 0.5 percent) of alcohol, which is part of the drink’s natural fermentation process.
“We want our guest to find comfort in coming into a bar and enjoying a non-alcoholic beverage without getting an eye roll,” Tuchman says. “Jess and I are utilizing our partnership to spread awareness and accessibility.
N/A will begin at 5 p.m. on Monday, April 28, at 99 Bottles, 1445 Second St., Sarasota. For more information, click here.
