In our latest instalment of #LysEats, we’re putting a focus on Revelstoke’s growing selection of mocktails for those looking for a crafted drink without alcohol as a star ingredient.
The mocktail industry shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon, and Revelstoke establishments are working to hone their own offerings. Whether it’s a case of sobriety, health concerns, acting as the designated driver or another one of the various reasons for not consuming alcohol, a mocktail provides one more element of an evening to experience.
“We don’t want anyone to come in here, regardless of whether you want to drink or not and be left out,” Jesse Moore, Monashee Spirits bartender told Revelstoke Mountaineer. Thanks to a growing group of distilleries perfecting the art of non-alcoholic spirits from triple secs to white rums to gins, mocktail options are expanding at a rapid rate.
So often I am the guy relegated to a can of pop while friends and family learn about the notes, science and care that went into their wines, spirits, beers and cocktails. Mocktails give folks the chance to enjoy the art and detail that goes into a cocktail.
As mocktail popularity grows and distilleries work to create zero-proof options, I, along with many others in the low or no-alcohol scene,now get to experience that neat feeling of gratitude when someone puts so much effort and thought into one single drink.
In this summer rendition of Lys Eats, I hit the streets to try out some of the mocktail offerings in Revelstoke to give others a jumping off point before the next evening out.
Monashee Spirits
Revelstoke’s award-winning craft distillery doesn’t shy away from putting the same care and creativity into its mocktails as the rest of its drinks. With the core goals of sourcing ingredients as locally as possible, matching elements across menu items to cut waste and keep it evolving with new creations, Monashee’s mocktail offerings don’t feel like an afterthought.
The School Night Spritz is a spin on the Italian drink that’s a cornerstone to pre-dinner socializing and evening snacks. Mixing non-alcoholic aperitif, raspberry oleo, soda water and a fresh lemon circle as a final garnish, Monashee’s take could pair well with some take-out from one of the local restaurants in town.
If you get a chance to watch the preparation of your spritz you’ll notice the thicker syrup that makes the oleo, possibly giving the impression that raspberry will be the flavour diva of the drink. Instead, a careful balance of fruity sweetness, a shade of bitter and crafty dryness keeps the mocktail from being too sweet and turns it into an easy sipper.
The MG&T (Monashee Gin and Tonic) uses Vancouver Island non-alcoholic distillery Lumette’s London Dry as the core of the mocktail, stirring in some grapefruit bitters, craft tonic water and a sprig of rosemary to finish off the drink. On the sweeter end of the spectrum, the MG&T is a nice introduction to mocktails if you’re used to nursing a soda for the evening. While the scent might make you brace for a sharper drink or even a bite at your first sip, you’ll instead end up focusing on the herby taste that settles at the top of the throat.
Quartermaster Eatery
Similar to a menu that shifts with the seasons, Quartermaster Eatery offers a rotating selection of mocktails. Come in with a flavour profile or drink in mind and the bartender will even work to make a mocktail just for you based on your request.
I got to try that out myself, reminiscing with bartender Cody Davis about a pink lemonade-style drink offered during the YETI Natural Selection 2025 Revelstoke stop. While he wasn’t able to entirely recreate the drink, I was served a grapefruit berry tea sugar mocktail. With a tea concentrate used as the main note and a syrup used as a bit of a stylish flair over the berry garnish, the drink was higher on the sweet scale than previous drinks, giving a quick rush that would probably get you back to touring around Revelstoke’s downtown for the evening.
Similar to some of the strong chai lattes in town, the ginger in Quartermaster’s Moscow Mule gives a bit of a punch to the back of the throat, nearly overshadowing the rest of the drink. But fans of a more refreshing ginger element instead of a more sugary subdued ginger will appreciate the freshness.
The star drink currently offered was a Chamomile Spritz, with the subtle flower tasting notes paired with a yuzu citrus base, it’s a drink that requires being nursed as to not rush through the delicate profile, making it an easy companion to stretch out the night either in Quartermaster’s main dining area or out on the patio for the summer evenings.
Old School Eatery
Maybe you’re looking for a stronger mocktail to pair with a heartier meal. While Old School Eatery’s mocktail menu might not be as robust as others in town, some flavours are bright and bold.
That might be to the detriment of the Mango Breeze with its mango juice, simple syrup, lime and mint elements all competing for attention. While the mango is able to take the mic for the first couple of sips, eventually the crushed mint and lime peel overwhelm things with a greenery taste instead of specific notes.
The Pink Pather doesn’t hide the fact that it’s going to be on the sweeter side, with a sugar rim and bright colouring. Even the lemon slices in the drink can’t quite temper down the sweetness, but instead adds a base to it. All around, the drink is perfect to get the energy going before heading out on your next adventure.
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