Past the cheeky florescent-pink “I’d tap that” sign, across the sprawling dining room floor and behind a sliding bookshelf, sits the newest sober speakeasy in NYC. Zero Proof serves up “handcrafted mocktails” and “elevated elixirs” alongside tasty bites with total jazz lounge vibes. Nestled in the backroom of Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails in Gramercy, you can either sit at the five-seat bar in the corner providing an intimate drinking experience or at one of the six, wooden tables punctuated by the soft glow of low-light lamps.
A navy, cushioned banquet lines the royal blue wall, making the space feel cool and like the perfect spot for a secret rendez-vous. Drinks range from a non-alcoholic Aperol Spritz to a no-booze Old Fashioned. The latter uses Ritual whiskey, a spirit substitute that contains capsicum (the same ingredient found in spicy peppers) to replicate that signature burn a spirit-forward cocktail often leaves.
“We figured, let’s try to do something and try to get a different clientele and put people into the mix,” said Chad Gaudet, owner of the nearly decade-old Handcraft Kitchen and mastermind behind the new pop-up bar at 367 Third Ave. Other alcohol-free cocktails at Zero Proof are the Espresso Brewtinis. Photo ET Rodriguez Zero Proof is a new sober speakeasy nestled in the back room of Handcraft Kitchen and Cocktails at 367 Third Ave.
in Gramercy. Photo ET Rodriguez Drinking is undoubtedly a big part of social life in the U.S.
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