5 possibilities in Orange County for Dry January

Nonalcoholic cocktails at Duke’s Huntington Beach include the Volcano, Mint Lemonade and Pog Slushie. Jeff Gritchen — Staff Photographer

A co-owner of Strong Water Anaheim says mocktails can be harder to construct than conventional mixed drinks because of the loss of the alcohol flavor. Mindy Schauer — Staff Photographer

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By Brock Keeling

bkeeling@scng.com

With the alcohol industry seeing a slight slump of late (a 2024 Silicon Valley Bank “State of the Wine Industry” report showed a sharp decline in domestic and international sales, with California restaurants echoing the trend) and Dry January here again, alcohol-free beverages and mocktails have picked up the slack.

No longer the glorified juice of yore, mocktails are just as complex, varied and downright delicious as their boozy forebears. Orange County has a slew of spots with mocktail sections on their menus. Here are five to put on your temperance radar.

Duke’s Huntington Beach

This surf-themed eatery named after Duke Kahanamoku features a mocktail menu that includes the Volcano (which includes blended coconut and strawberry), a Mint Lemonade (watermelon, mint and lemonade), the Pog Slushie (Hawaii-grown fruit juice slushy) and Bundaberg sodas (ginger beer or guava). Duke’s also has a Run Wild nonalcoholic IPA from San Diego-based Athletic Brewing Co.

317 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach. 714-374-6446, dukeshuntington.com

Khan Saab

“When we opened Khan Saab in February of 2020, our nonalcoholic bar program was the first of its kind in Southern California and only the fourth in the nation,” chef Imran Ali Mookhi said in 2022. The 100% halal restaurant, where everything is prepared in accordance with Muslim tradition, offers a bevy of cocktails minus the liquor. Booze-free highlights include a Smoked Negroni, Peshawari Mule, a brut, a rose, beer and even mimosas.

229 E. Commonwealth Ave., Unit A, Fullerton. 714-853-1081, khansaaboc.com

Solstice Seasonal Kitchen & Bar

This spot offers a menu known for using seasonal flavors in mocktails — or “uncocktails,” as they call them — each for $9. Booze-free cocktails include the Un-Daquiri (featuring aloe vera juice, toasted sesame syrup and lime juice), the Un-French 75 (aloe vera juice, ginger pear syrup, lemon juice and sparkling water), the Un-Tequila Cocktail (aloe vera juice, housemade grenadine, hibiscus tea mix and lime juice) and the Cranberry Sage Spritz (cranberry sage syrup, simple syrup and Fever Tree soda water).

18555 Jamboree Road, Irvine. 949-241-7088, dineatsolstice.com

Strong Water Anaheim

This shipwreck-themed, James Beard Award-nominated restaurant and bar, owned and operated by Ying Chang and Robert Adamson, created two zero-proof cocktails under its mocktails menu: the Anana Rising (a bright and juicy beverage with pineapple, lemon, cinnamon and walnut bitters) and the Tarobi Colada (tropical, rich and creamy with pineapple, lime, coconut, taro cream and sugarcane). Strong Water also offers two low-alcohol drinks, the Bitter Mai Tai and the Fernet Swizzle.

270 S. Clementine St., Anaheim. 714-844-1875, strongwateranaheim.com

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar

Mocktails here are inspired by the Jungle Cruise ride. At this Tiki bar, which is part of the Disneyland Resort property, teetotalers can order the Skipper Sipper (tropical juices, agave nectar, falernum, mint and lime juice topped with soda water), the Schweitzer Falls (tropical juices, Sam’s Gorilla Grog and Sprite) or the Polynesian Punch (Sam’s Gorilla Grog with hibiscus grenadine). Sam’s Gorilla Grog is a puckering powerhouse with passion fruit, orange, guava and pineapple juices; orgeat and falernum syrups; and freshly squeezed lemon.

Disneyland Hotel, 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim. 714-781-4636, disneyland.disney.go.com