Sober gin or sober whisky would most likely be confounding misnomers to bona fide gin and whisky drinkers. But imagine the possibilities when these ‘sober’ libations actually do the trick of inducing feel-good moments without the morning-after, hell-takes-no-prisoners hangover. Brian Gonzalez Fernandez, the mixologist at Sin, the open-air nightclub-meets-lounge at Avani+ Riverside Bangkok, seems to think so.
A year into the job, Fernandez, a transplant from Madrid and London, began to notice a definite trend amongst Sin’s clientele of going for non-alcoholic drinks. It makes sense—the extremely Instagram-able location sees Thai and international influencers trotting up the lift in six-inch heels, mentally prepping their poses. “What started as the Dry January movement has fuelled a drastic lifestyle change across all age groups, including millennials and Gen Z,” Fernandez said. He added that more and more people are choosing not to drink alcohol but still want to be part of the social experience.
The Wellness And Cocktail Connection
Cue Sober Sips, a layered ensemble of funkily named drinks that includes the likes of Forbidden Nectar, a compelling if light-tasting drink made from sober whisky, miso, caramel yogurt, and carrot. To the uninitiated, sober whisky tastes nothing like the original. Yet, with Fernandez’s expert tempering, the drink resembles liquid alchemy. In fact, after a few sips, one notices a slight but noticeable buzz occurring in different parts of the brain, generating a relaxed yet totally composed sense of well-being. Should we call this a ‘sober’ high? Well, the science behind this could well intersect with and complement the wellness world with its ‘my body is my temple’ philosophy. While alcohol in excess might impair a person cognitively and physically, drinks containing zero-proof versions, with their unique blends of various botanicals, will not.
The trend of zero-proof alcohol began with the likes of Sentia Spirits, with its range of GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, a neurotransmitter that recalibrates the connection between the brain and the central nervous system.
View some of the signature cocktails available
When it comes to sober gin, a key ingredient of Fernandez’s other mocktail The Temptress, the feel-good sensations could, to some, feel more energising than that of sober whisky. Fernandez blends the sober gin with an afternoon tea-like concoction of sober amaretto, raspberry, lemon, matcha, and foam. All the while, he employs mixology techniques such as infusion and ingredient clarification to conjure drinks that could well pull the same weight as their alcoholic counterparts. And, from experience, the effects of these zero-proof drinks last a good two to three hours—more than enough time for snacks and a knee-bopping to the DJ at Sin.
Over at Seen, the similarly sounding one-syllable open-air restaurant located one floor below, Fernandez devises equally fun and literal-sounding mocktails. The straight-up Beautiful Liar is both smile-inducing and packs a sober punch, featuring sober whisky and soda with a splice of dill. Does it taste like a real whisky and soda? No. But it does provide light but still discernible tingles in the brain even when on the shuttle boat back to central Bangkok from the resort.
“I wanted to be able to give all our guests that exhilarating feeling of being part of something bigger than themselves—of connection and celebration,” Fernandez explains.
A Different Type Of Bangkok Stay
The Avani+ Riverside Bangkok’s scene-stealing rooftop venues, Seen and Sin, are reservations-only. In fact, both places get busy during the week, attracting both locals and hotel guests, all of whom come for the food (order the chef’s favourite: the black Angus beef cheek), the drinks, the invigorating views of the Chao Phraya River that snakes elegantly upstream, and the City of Angels’ glitzy lights beyond.
The 250-room property, on the other hand, is a popular destination in itself. With buzzy nightlife on its doorstep, hotel guests need not venture far. Sin’s roster of futurist DJs, who play atop a podium reminiscent of silent film director Fritz Lang’s art deco masterpiece Metropolis, is both a time-traveling audio and aesthetic extravaganza.
While at the Riverside Plaza next door, a vibrant cabaret scene takes place at Lost & Found—a showcase of Bangkok’s most credible and show-stopping performers, who channel Lady Gaga and Madonna, taking life by its horns and revel in the night scene of which Bangkok is legendary for.
Lead image: Skyline dining & rooftop revelling at Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel.
