ChampionSip: Mocktails

Sixteen Mocktails. Thirty-one days. Three ways to win.

Back for the fourth year in a row, the Edible Memphis ChampionSip: Mocktails has become a New Year’s tradition for many Memphians. Join in the fun and spend Dry January hopping from one favorite drink spot to another—without a hangover!

Whether you’re sober, sober-ish, sticking to a New Year’s resolution, or just wanting to support local businesses during the January slump, ChampionSip: Mocktails is for you. Readers are encouraged to tag photos of their mocktails on Instagram throughout the month to be entered to win a $150 gift card to the participating restaurant/bar of their choice. 

Readers who sample all 16 mocktails before January 31 will be invited to cast a vote as an official judge.

The bracket-style competition begins on January 17. Voting for each individual matchup will take place exclusively in an Edible Memphis Instagram Story poll over an assigned 24-hour period. Here’s what to expect:

• January 1-16: Competitors introduced one by one on social media
• January 12: Bracket announced
• January 17-24: Sippin’ on Sixteen
• January 25-28: Icy Eight
• January 29-30: Pour of Four (Semi-finals)
• January 31: ChampionSipper (Finals)

There are three ways for restaurants to win: Overall Bracket Winner, Most Tagged Mocktail, and Judges’ Choice.

See below for descriptions of the participating restaurants and their signature mocktails.

Photography by Ziggy Mack

Andrew Michael
Better with Sage

Open since 2008, Andrew Michael is the flagship restaurant of Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman’s Enjoy A|M Restaurant Group. Andy and Michael are born and bred Memphians, trained as chefs in both South Carolina and Italy. Reflecting Andy and Michael’s roots, Andrew Michael features innovative Italian cooking seeped in Southern tradition. The large, welcoming bar in the back is the perfect place to enjoy a mocktail.

Better with Sage features sage-infused Lyre’s non-alcoholic bourbon alternative, with its flavors of vanilla and toasted nuts with herbal notes. Added to that are grapefruit, lime, and salted honey syrup. Candied grapefruit adds a sweet, festive flair.

712 West Brookhaven Circle
Monday – Saturday 4 to 10 p.m.

The Archives Bar & Bistro
The Blue Dream

Diners looking for a casual but elevated experience will find it at The Archives Bar & Bistro, located inside downtown’s Hotel Napoleon. Phillip Dewayne—owner and renowned chef—has created a menu centered on creative dishes with Southern charm. Whether you’re dining solo or sharing a drink with friends, The Archives invites you to savor and enjoy.

The Blue Dream is a beverage designed to surprise your palate. It features blueberry puree, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, pineapple juice, and egg whites—all served in a rocks glass over fresh ice, garnished with a lime wheel and blueberry.
 Each taste of the Blue Dream starts with the bright, fruity burst of blueberries, sparking curiosity with every sip. As the drink settles, so does your perspective. It’s creamy, satisfying and reminiscent of a milkshake, but without the heaviness of dairy. Smooth and frothy, it’s a treat that’s enjoyable to the last drop. Available daily in January after 10 a.m.

179 Madison Avenue
Monday – Thursday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday & Saturday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Art Bar
Figgy Stardust

Located inside Crosstown Arts—a nonprofit contemporary arts organization dedicated to cultivating the creative community in Memphis—Art Bar is a full-service bar that reflects that spirit of creativity. Art Bar serves a curated list of wines and craft beers and a menu of artful, cutting-edge cocktails. The cocktail menu features drinks made with local, fresh, and foraged ingredients from Memphis and around the world.

Figgy Stardust features house-made nonalcoholic blackstrap rum, balsamic fig syrup, lime, and pomegranate, topped with house-made rosemary peppercorn sparkling water. The rich, flavorful syrup paired with herbaceous bubbles is a nod to everyone’s favorite snack—the charcuterie board. And Figgy Stardust pairs well with cheeses found on Art Bar’s charcuterie plate. Head bartender Spencer Fong says, “My inspiration came from chasing the idea of making a cocktail you can eat.” 

1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 280
Tuesday – Thursday 5 p.m. to midnight, Friday & Saturday 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Sunday 5 p.m. to midnight, Closed Monday

Bar Hustle
The Yuzu That You Do

Bar Hustle is an intimate neighborhood cocktail bar nestled in South Main’s Arrive hotel. Whether you’re out for happy hour or a nightcap, you’ll enjoy this lobby bar where the atmosphere and the drinks are equally cozy. Bar Hustle’s menu features creative cocktails, local beer, a dozen wines, and—if you’re hungry—light snacks and Roman-style pizzas from the kitchen.

The Yuzu That You Do features house-made nonalcoholic kava kava bourbon, a mulled non-alcoholic wine float, and yuzu coconut milk foam—and it’s garnished with grated lemon peel. Their committed, health conscious bartender, Cooper Bradshaw sought to recreate the spirited experience, sans the spirits, with The Yuzu That You Do. He focused on the mouthfeel and overall experience of the drink, beyond simply being non-alcoholic. The drink recreates a take on a New York sour, done like a proper egg white style, but accessible to a vegan palate as well.

477 South Main Street
Sunday – Thursday 4 to 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 4 to 11 p.m.

Bari Ristorante e Enoteca
The Apollo Spritz

Bari Ristorante e Enoteca is Memphis’s only southeastern Italian restaurant and wine bar. Chef Jason Severs creates the regional cuisine of his family with fresh, simple antipasto, salads, meats, and seafood. Bari also features more than 50 Italian cheeses, plus homemade pasta, bread, and desserts.

With The Apollo Spritz, bar manager Hunter Coleman wanted to build a drink that captures the full-bodied depth and complexity of a real cocktail. “My house N/A limoncello was developed through a careful infusion of herbs and spices, giving it a bold, zesty bite that mimics the complexity of its alcoholic counterpart,” Hunter says. “The Lurisia aperitivo adds a subtle yet pronounced bitterness, perfectly balancing the limoncello’s citrusy vibrancy, while the non-alcoholic prosecco provides a delicate effervescence. Topping it off with a light, aromatic air foam elevates the entire drink. It’s a mocktail that doesn’t just taste like a cocktail—it feels like one too.”

524 South Cooper Street
Monday – Saturday 5 to 9 p.m., Closed Sunday

Biscuits & Jams
Unfashioned

If you think breakfast—or brunch—is the best meal of the day, you need to get yourself to Biscuits & Jams, with locations in Bartlett and downtown, inside Hotel Indigo. This popular spot’s specialties include Rise & Shine (fried chicken dipped in hot sauce and served on a biscuit), Rum Boogie French Toast, a plant-based Chickless Waffle, and so much more!

Any of these dishes will be just right with an Unfashioned, an espresso Old Fashioned-style drink, featuring notes of espresso, cocoa, brown sugar, and citrus. It’s made with Lyre’s Coffee Originale zero-proof spirit and garnished with an orange wheel topped with caramelized brown sugar.

24 North B.B. King Boulevard
Monday – Friday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

5806 Stage Road
Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cameo
DJ Fedora Dog

Cameo promises fancy drinks and a party time, and they deliver, night after night. And mocktails are never an afterthought at Cameo. In fact, they have a full menu of low-proof and zero-proof cocktails, along with non-alcoholic beer options. Food options range from their cheeseburger, made with Home Place Pastures ground beef, to a vegan buffalo dip.

Just for the ChampionSip, they’re adding the DJ Fedora Dog to the menu. Co-owner Paul Gilliam experimented with persimmons—a flavor he says is fun for fall and winter—to create the drink. DJ Fedora Dog features Seedlip Spice 94, Lyre’s Coffee Originale non-alcoholic spirit, spiced persimmon pepper syrup, and lemon.

1835 Union Avenue, Suite 103
Daily 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Catherine & Mary’s
Third Time’s the Charm

Catherine & Mary’s, part of the Enjoy A|M Restaurant Group, combines family heritage with modern creativity. Named for the owners’ grandmothers, Catherine & Mary’s brings the heart of Tuscan and Sicilian “nonne (‘grandmother’) cooking” to downtown Memphis. They have a full menu of wines, spirits, and other drinks, and the large bar is a great place to sip, taste, and chat.

Third Time’s the Charm features flavors of winter. You’ll taste chocolate-covered orange, non-alcoholic amaro, espresso, cream, and spiced vanilla in this seasonal take on an espresso martini.

272 South Main Street, Suite 105-A
Daily 5 to 10 p.m.

Global Cafe
Prickly Pear Spritzer

At Global Cafe, you’ll find an eclectic food hall where immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs sell authentic dishes from their home countries. This Crosstown Concourse staple aims to be a gathering place for guests who want to learn more about different cultures and enjoy wonderful ethnic food.

Prickly Pear Spritzer is the brainchild of bar manager Juan Viramontes, who was raised on prickly pears. “As a child, we were very poor and my grandmother grew them. She would peel them off the cactus with prickles and all,” he says. “Besides the great memories, it remains one of my all-time favorite fruits.” The Prickly Pear Spritzer features fresh-made prickly pear puree and sparkling water and is topped with a fresh cactus pear and mint for garnish. 

1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 157
*Closed until Tuesday, January 7, 2025*
Tuesday – Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Closed Monday

Hog & Hominy
Miss Mary

When Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman opened Hog & Hominy, adding it to their portfolio of restaurants, they knew they wanted it to have its own unique vibe. “We wanted to make Hog and Hominy a statement that we’re committing to the community, to Memphis,” says Andy. “We wanted to build our restaurant group, but at the same time, we wanted it to be casual and fun and whimsical.”

Hog & Hominy’s Miss Mary is the perfect accompaniment to the restaurant’s fun vibe and delicious menu, best known for its wood-fired pizzas. Miss Mary features ginger-infused Lyre’s non-alcoholic spirit, blackberry, sage, lemon, and nutmeg. Enjoy it with friends at the table or while watching a game at the bar.

707 West Brookhaven Circle
Lunch: Tuesday – Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Brunch: Saturday – Sunday 10:30 a.m.to 2:30 p.m.
Dinner: Sunday – Thursday 4 to 10 p.m., Friday – Saturday 4 to 11 p.m.

The Lobbyist
Jet Set Radio Future

At The Lobbyist, their mission is to create joyful moments for their guests by sharing their passion for their craft. They say they built their restaurant—located in the Chisca building downtown—to share art, food, and friendship. 

Jet Set Radio Future is a work of art itself! Ingredients include watermelon infused with Thai chili peppers and mint leaves, lime juice, agave syrup, a dash of rice vinegar, and egg whites. And they haven’t forgotten the vegans! Jet Set Radio Future also comes in a vegan version with no egg whites.

272 South Main Street, Suite 101
Monday – Saturday 5 to 10 p.m., Closed Sunday

Mary’s Bar of Tropical Escapism (B.O.T.E.)
Clear Skies Ahead

Did you know that Midtown has a Polynesian-inspired bar? At Mary’s B.O.T.E. in Midtown, you can find a tropical escape almost every day of the week! Their drink menu includes titles like Alpine Tradewinds, Jungle Bird, and Cobra’s Fang. And a small food menu features choices like personal pizzas, pot stickers, and tropical salsa.⁠

For Clear Skies Ahead, co-owner Paul Gilliam has combined Lyre’s non-alcoholic Dark Cane Spirit, Lyre’s non-alcoholic Italian Orange bitter, spiced pineapple vanilla shrub, macadamia orgeat, and lime. “I wanted to add some fun seasonal flavors and kick them into a lil tiki mocktail,” says Paul. “Shrubs might be a little played out, but they can really pump depth and complexity into an N/A bevvy without it leaning too sweet.”

588 South Cooper Street
*Closed January 5-9*
Tuesday – Thursday 4 p.m. to midnight, Friday & Saturday 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday 4 p.m. to midnight, Closed Monday

Restaurant Iris
The Irish Ballad

At Restaurant Iris, you’ll find a Memphis take on classic Creole dining. After 15 years in Midtown, Kelly English moved his restaurant to East Memphis’s Laurelwood Shopping Center in 2022. There you can have lunch or dinner any day of the week, and their East Memphis location offers plenty of space, even for a large group.

For The Irish Ballad, bartender Jordan Tidwell was inspired by his Sailor on Shore Leave cocktail that shares the same smoked pink peppercorn guava syrup, which felt like something a naval sailor might enjoy off-duty while at port, according to Jordan. The mocktail is named from a song about a sailor who met his demise due to his transgressions ashore—when a zero-proof cocktail might have served him better. The Irish Ballad features Seedlip Garden zero-proof gin, smoked pink peppercorn guava syrup, lemon, orange, grapefruit, orange flower water, fee foam, and pink peppercorn garnish.

4550 Poplar Avenue
Daily 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Second Line
Royal Roast

When Chef Kelly English opened The Second Line, it was in hopes of creating something casual, honest, delicious, and true—and authentically reminiscent of his New Orleans childhood. Straightforward poboys are a menu staple, along with favorites like BBQ shrimp, cremini mushroom ravioli, and crawfish etouffee.

Ruben Tree, the bartender who crafted Royal Roast, lived in New Orleans for several years and wanted to come up with a drink that reflects the city and The Second Line well. The Royal Roast mocktail is made with chicory espresso, winter demerara, and vanilla syrup. It’s topped with super-shaken heavy whipped cold foam and garnished with coffee crumbles.

2144 Monroe Avenue
Lunch: Monday – Friday 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Brunch: Saturday & Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dinner: Daily 4:30 to 10 p.m.

Swamp Bar
Balli Balli

Located right next door to The Second Line, Swamp Bar—another Kelly English concept—features craft cocktails and an eclectic, global creole menu you don’t want to miss. This fusion menu stretches beyond traditional creole fare with options like Creole Rangoon, Korean Red Sauce Shrimp Banh Mi, and Steak Saigon.

Balli Balli translates to, “Hurry hurry” and is often used to describe Korea’s fast-paced culture, says bartender Sam Reeves Hill. She lived in Korea when she was young, and her father—the cook in her family—was impacted by the flavors there. “I’ve also seen gochujang being used more in cocktails, and with our menu being global creole, and with a lot of Asian influence, it sounded like a fun combination,” she says. Balli Balli features grapefruit juice, lime juice, raspberry gochujang syrup, and Martini & Rossi Vibrante.

2146 Monroe Avenue
Wednesday – Sunday 5 p.m. to midnight (later on Friday & Saturday)