Never in history have more consumers been interested in nonalcoholic beverages. Between the rise of Dry January and the proliferation of mocktail menus at bars across the country, drinkers have begun to demand a new kind of spirit — one that pulls double duty as functional and fashionable, healthy and — one can only hope — wholesome. A spirit that never leaves you with a hangover the morning after.
In honor of the movement, Bottle Raiders is proud to present New York City’s inaugural zero-proof festival, Drinks With Benefits.
The event will be held at the Altman Building in Downtown Manhattan on Sept. 27, 2025, just a few days before the beginning of Sober October. Throughout the afternoon and evening, guests will have a chance to sample over 30 brands at the forefront of the zero-proof movement. Solo pours will be available alongside a mixology bar curated by top local bartenders.
Best of all, no two brands on display are quite alike. Unlike established spirits like tequila and whiskey, the playbook for zero-proof beverages is a veritable Wild West. Producers are experimenting with everything from mushrooms to juniper berries in search of the next perfect sip, resulting in a category as varied as it is inventive. The only thing that matters to the festival is that the drinks taste good.
Featured exhibitors include Parentheses, a vinegar-based botanical aperitif founded by “sober sexpert” Tawny Lara, and Aplós, a CBD-infused non-alc spirit perfect for winding down without a nasty bite. For whiskey fans (or the formerly whiskey-curious), be sure to check out Feragaia, a distilled nonalcoholic beverage teeming with flavors of peated scotch. Interested in adaptogenic ingredients like L-theanine and lion’s mane? Grab a sip of pop star Katy Perry’s De Soi.
To make the dream a reality, Drinks With Benefits is partnering with Third Place Bar, an events company founded by Sam Bail that brings alcohol-free pop-ups to hotspots across the city. The festival is also proud to work alongside Proof No More, one of the largest dedicated nonalcoholic spirits distributors in the world.
Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy all this and more alongside food, DJ sets, shopping opportunities and a guided meditation session led by a surprise influencer.
Those who purchase tickets before April 30 can access General Admission for $75 or a General Admission + Omakase food pairing for $99. After May 1, those ticket options will cost $99 and $125, respectively, so don’t wait too long! Tickets are available for purchase at the door or can be picked up online here.