Spirited Away

Holiday season incoming!

Big thanks to Nicole Young for highlighting her Spirited Away picks on PIX11's Sober October segment! She selected some favorites from our shelves, including Casamara Club, Blue Cliff, and Seraphim Social Beverage—all brands that have taken part in our monthlong Showcase program. This segment is exactly what we’re here for: helping non-alc brands gain more visibility. Love when we're able to do that beyond what's already included in our Showcase program. We have one slot open for December. Shoot me a DM if you're ready to put your brand in front of an engaged audience this holiday season.

INCLUDE NON ALC AT CORPORATE PARTIES!!! It finally feels like fall here in NYC and you know what that means-- Holiday event planning has taken off in full swing. Luckily that means me and the staff at Spirited Away are in our element ??????????? I can't tell you how many customers come into the shop with a corporate/office background saying how tired they are of the problems alcohol brings to the office, especially during the holidays: It's such a liability, it's always hard to please everybody, it's kind of boring doing the same thing every party (like what even IS that punch???), not to mention the constant call outs from the post Christmas Party hangover... That's where we come in. Me and my incredible staff at Spirited Away would love to help bring non-alcoholic products and tasting experiences to your happy hour or office party! The category is so new, and most people in big cities are now experimenting or have at least heard of mindful drinking. The last couple events we've facilitated have felt like the most organic team bonding and the coolest, unexpected happy hours ever because there were so many fun questions and attendees were able to chat to each other about their favorite drinks, preferences, restaurants to get them... It just felt way more connected to me than any raucous, HR nightmare holiday get together I've seen in the past. And careful! None of this is to say that these events can't be fun and dynamic- they're a blast. Because when you invite Non-Alcoholic, elevated beverages to the party, suddenly everything becomes a little more human and little less intimidating. And also, you can have both (gentle reminder that 9 out of 10 of the customers at Spirited Away still drink alcohol!). If you know someone in corporate event planning, or you're in charge of your company Holiday events, or you'd like me to meet that person, hit a gal up! There's flexible pricing and loads of beverages to choose from, as well as a number of formats to facilitate large and small groups of all sizes (We love a remote zoom happy hour)... Let's make this holiday season inclusive, fun and delicious all at once, eh? PS If that's not for you, check out Spirited Away's event calendar because it's stackkkked this szn. Happy holidays! PPS thanks to the folks at the prestigious Macquarie Group for kicking off our fall just right

Calling all NYC non-alc industry folks! I'm co-hosting a special edition of our monthly non-alc industry happy hour at Spirited Away on October 25. The event will feature Nic Townsend-Falck and Sandra Mills, CMA of 0.0 CF? who provide financial services to non-alc businesses. Stop by any time 5-7.30pm to learn more about how 0.0 CF? can help you while sipping complimentary drinks! RSVP to save your spot: https://lnkd.in/gHbqymnW

Continually bullish on premium non-alcoholic wines at premium price points. From Oceano Zero to ZERONIMO to Sovi Wine Co.'s Reserve Red, these are some of our most-loved products at Spirited Away. The key is getting consumers to sample them (all three of these brands were Spirited Away Showcase participants, our brand activation program that includes tasting events). This week, I'm excited to see the launch of Society De La Rassi's Neue Brut Vintage 2023. At $70 a bottle, it’s a premium Champagne alternative made from 100% Chardonnay grapes sustainably sourced in Spain. Congrats, Steve Jackson and team! Plus Zeronimo launched US pre-orders for its?Grüner Veltliner 2023?and?Zweigelt 2021. Katja and team show no signs of slowing down. Four other non-alc developments to know this week: 1. Aplós unveiled its latest ready-to-drink cocktail, Kola Fashioned. Made with their Arise non-alcoholic spirit, it features kola nut, smoked cherrywood, cardamom, toasted coconut, and ginger. 2. Little Saints launched its limited-edition Spiced Old Fashioned. The ready-to-drink mixes notes of fall spice, cloves, and orange peel with a flavor reminiscent of a sweet bourbon. 3. Luna Bay launched Cranberry Sangria Spice, a ready-to-drink brewed with yerba mate, cranberries, and a hint of orange zest. 4. WYNK? announced its latest limited edition THC-infused seltzer: Cran-Blood Orange. Each can contains 5mg THC.

Join us for this month’s Industry Happy Hour at Spirited Away, where we'll be co-hosting alongside Nic and Sandra of The NA CPA and Sam Bail from Third Place Bar. It's the perfect chance to enjoy delicious non-alc beverages, swap business tips, and connect with fellow innovators in the space. When: Friday, October 25, 5:00 - 7:30 PM Where: Spirited Away (177 Mott Street) Who’s coming? Drop a comment if you’ll be there or tag a friend who should join!

Non-alc red wines are consistently the most sought-after recommendations at both Spirited Away and Dry Atlas. It’s an emerging category, and while production techniques are improving rapidly, many consumers still find it tricky to land on the perfect bottle. That’s why, at Spirited Away, we love featuring top non-alc reds as part of our monthly Showcase program. It offers customers a chance to taste for themselves with the help of our knowledgeable staff. In fact, our most successful Showcase to date (in terms of dollar sales, across all categories) was for ZERONIMO—a testament to the power of trial in this category specifically. Here's Joshua James doing his thing at one of the tasting events. Over at Dry Atlas, we’re always eager to share expert picks in this category. This week, Nicole Jaques, The Home CEO, revealed her five fall favorites, including J?yus's Cabernet Sauvignon. Which non-alc wine brands do you think will end up on top? Curious to hear your thoughts. (Photo credit: Mark LaFaro)

Spirited Away customers are loving this: Casamara Club launched its first non-alcoholic cocktail, Superclasico, an Italian-style aperitivo. Made with red currant juice and extracts like Italian chinotto and kola nut, it's a smart more cocktail-forward extension of their leisure soda line. If you're in New York, swing by October 19 (1:00 - 3:30 PM) to sample Casamara Club yourself. They're one of our four Showcase brands this month. Other non-alc launches to know: 1. BRēZ launched a reformulated blend called FLOW, a THC-free functional beverage with 2200mg of Lion’s Mane, black seed oil, and L-theanine. Lightly sparkling with lemon and elderflower notes, each can contains 35 calories and 8 grams of natural sugar. 2. 7UP announced a limited-edition Shirley Temple flavor, combining pomegranate and cherry soda. This release will be available in both 12 oz. cans and 2-liter bottles later this year. 3. Aura Bora re-launched its popular Olive Oil Martini, a sparkling, non-alcoholic cocktail made with real juniper, yuzu, and Graza’s extra virgin olive oil. It contains 0g of sugar and no sweeteners. 4. Upland Brewing Company launched HopRX, a non-alcoholic beverage with lime and citrus flavors from hops. Described as more of a sparkling water than a beer, it promises a light, floral taste with the added benefit of vitamin C and hops’ anti-inflammatory properties.

I recently met Alex Highsmith and Lindsey Peecher of Spirited Away thanks to a lead by World Taste & Smell Association Board Member Amy Marks-McGee. "Rewriting revelry since 2020, Spirited Away is America’s first booze-free bottle shop, dedicated to non-alcoholic spirits, wines, beers, and cocktails, in the heart of downtown Manhattan". Check out Spirited Away if you're in the NYC area for a new world of beverages for the connoisseurs. I can't wait to collaborate with them again! https://lnkd.in/gAC7qC9T #DeliciousForAll

Ready-to-drinks are winning over non-alc consumers, but months like Sober October and Dry January are when non-alc spirits take center stage. According to our Dry Atlas data, this is when customers are exploring, experimenting with, and stocking up on spirit alternatives. That's why, this week, we were particularly excited to share the guide Christine Wayne wrote for our Dry Atlas audience:?https://lnkd.in/gD3fbE4F At Spirited Away, I've seen customers stock up like this year after year. One moment that stuck with me? My first $1,000+ order back in 2020: a customer who completely overhauled her entire bar cart with non-alc spirits ahead of Dry January. These seasons are prime time for brands to engage curious, open-minded consumers—and Dry January will be here before you know it. If you’re a non-alc spirits brand fine-tuning your Q4/Q1 strategy, let’s connect! We have two Spirited Away Showcase slots remaining between now and February, plus some Dry Atlas partnership opportunities.