This past August, I was at a mocktail-making class hosted by Priyanka and Chirasmita from ZeroProofed in the charming backdrop of a West LA hotel. That’s where I crossed paths with Elizabeth Levitt, the visionary behind Dri/kit. Elizabeth and her husband, much like myself, had come to absorb the intricate secrets of non-alcoholic cocktail mixology and extend their support to fellow female entrepreneurs within the thriving alcohol-free space.
The seismic shift towards going alcohol-free or sober curious has become increasingly mainstream, marked by the emergence of sober bars nationwide and the proliferation of non-alcoholic pop-up bars. Fortunately, these establishments aren’t just serving virgin piña coladas; the growing landscape of no and low-alcohol beverages has evolved. It seems like every day, a new non-alcoholic wine, spirit, elixir, or beer comes onto the market.
With all the innovation and buzz, it can be hard to know what’s worth trying. That’s why, when Elizabeth told me she was curating non-alcoholic cocktail sets at Dri/kit, I knew I wanted to learn more!
In this review post, I’ll share my Dri/kit experiences, how they compared to another NA cocktail kit company, Raising the Bar, and my final verdict.
Contents
What is Dri/Kit?
Dri/kit is dedicated to guiding you through the vibrant realm of non-alcoholic drinks with meticulously curated cocktail kits, incorporating pre-vetted ingredients, predominantly sourced from other female and minority-owned businesses.
On the website, you can find a non-alcoholic cocktail kit for any taste or occasion that looks beautiful in your space.
In my interview with her, Elizabeth told me, “I’m all about an aesthetic bar cart since some of these things live in our homes and on our counters for a long time. And that’s my approach when I’m designing packaging.”
How Dri/kit Works
Dri/kit is an e-commerce site offering high-end, non-alcoholic cocktail kits and accessories. In addition, it boasts custom corporate gifting and event services.
With these offerings, it’s clear that Dri/kit is moving towards a world where it’s normalized to have sophisticated non-alcoholic options and to create more inclusive spaces for those who don’t want to drink.
Dri/kit Pricing
Dri/kit gift sets start at $25 and go up to $110. Besides the cocktail kits and sampler sets, you can find luxurious accessories like finishing sugar (for the rim of your cocktail glass) and cocktail picks as well as branded merch.
My Dri/kit Box Review
I have been fortunate enough to try two different sets from Dri/kit. I bought the first order for myself, and the second was a gift from Elizabeth to give this review.
My First Order: Weekday Vibes Bitter Orange Spritz 4-Pack
Nothing used to taste as good to me as a refreshing Aperol Spritz (a mix of prosecco and Aperol, which is an Italian bitter) on a hot summer night. Since I quit drinking, my desire for alcohol has disappeared, but unfortunately, I still crave the delicious flavor and tang of the orange, bitter apéritif.
So, when I saw the Weekday Vibes Orange Spritz four-pack for $25.00 on Dri/kit, I was super excited and decided to order it.
Not long after, the package arrived at my door. I popped the cans in the fridge and then put on a brand-new dress I had bought that day. In no time, I was enjoying a fancy faux-Aperol Spritz that took me back to my days of backpacking through Europe, when I would have an Aperol Spritz (or five) in each city I visited.
If you’re looking for a good, non-alcoholic day party drink, I highly recommend this. It delivers on all the good things about Aperol Spritz, minus the hangover and next-day effects. The fake prosecco was not too sweet and had just the right amount of bubbles.
Interested in trying it for yourself?
My Second Order: The Cucumber Lychee Sour
Next, I got to try the newest addition to Dri/kit’s collection, the Cucumber Lychee Sour. If you’ve ever had a Pisco Sour, this is like its young and sexy yet alcohol-free (and probably Gen Z) cousin.
The star ingredient is the Lacewing expression of Tilden, a 2023 LA Spirits Awards Gold Medal-winning, ready-to-drink NA cocktail without the typical added sugars.
Inside this $90 kit was:
- A whole bottle of Tilden Lacewing
- Cheeky Cocktails lemon juice
- A stainless steel peeler (a real bonus for me as it was a big upgrade from my plastic peeler)
- Teaspressa luxe gold cocktail picks for a cucumber ribbon garnish
Again, the kit arrived in just a couple of days and was wrapped in eco-friendly packaging. Everything made it to my house in perfect condition.
This recipe and instructions were given on a beautiful paper drink coaster:
Ingredients:
- 4oz Tilden Lacewing
- .75oz Lemon Juice
- 1 egg white
- 1 cucumber for garnish
Instructions:
Add 4oz Tilden Lacewing, .75oz lemon juice, and one egg white into a cocktail shaker. Shake for 30 seconds, then add ice to the shaker and shake for an additional 20 seconds. Pour into a coupe glass. For garnish, peel a cucumber ribbon, fold “accordion style,” and spear with a cocktail pick. Place the cocktail pick on the edge of the coupe glass and enjoy.
In addition to what was included in the kit, the recipe called for a cucumber and an egg for the egg white. It was also crucial to have a shaker to properly mix the ingredients and create the foam.
Overall, creating the cocktail was easy! Peeling the cucumber with the peeler was oddly satisfying. The only tricky part was separating my egg yolk from the white, something I hadn’t done in quite a while. It might have taken me a couple tries… 😅
When I poured the cocktail into my coupe glass, I was surprised by how much foam was produced; a pretty good amount! The whole drink was pretty rich. One of my favorite flavors; you could definitely note the cucumber in the Tilden.
While I love a good sour, it might only be for some. I experimented a little bit and decided to see what would happen if I added a little tonic water. Turns out, it still tastes great and it balanced out some of the sourness.
Who Dri/Kit is Good For
Dri/kit is an excellent choice for anyone who wants an easy way to level up their non-alcoholic home bar or to give a thoughtful, classy gift to someone who’d appreciate an elegant NA cocktail.
Dri/kit is also a great choice if you love interior or graphic design and are more drawn to aesthetically pleasing alcohol-free products.
Dri/Kit vs Raising the Bar
Dri/kit is not the only alcohol-free cocktail kit vendor you might find online. For example, there is also Raising the Bar, which is a great option but works differently.
Raising the Bar offers a monthly subscription in addition to one-time boxes. As of yet, Dri/kit has no subscription options, but check back later—you never know!
Regarding Dri/kit’s cocktails versus Raising the Bar’s, Dri/kit’s will feel more extravagant, and I’d even say they are more health-conscious.
I made some Raising the Bar boxes (read my review here) whose ingredients were quite creative but were only sometimes health-conscious. Some of the garnishes were loaded with sugar, and one of the syrups had red-40, something I usually avoid like the plague.
Another significant difference between the two is that Raising the Bar’s monthly subscription kits come as a surprise. Each box is a mystery until you get to open it. While I do love the surprise element, you don’t get to have control over what you get.
The Final Verdict on Dri/kit
Pros
Cons
Overall, I highly recommend Dri/kit. I am keeping this brand at the top of my list of gifts for friends who don’t drink or are taking a break from drinking.
I’ll probably order some kits for the holidays to contribute some delicious drinks to the festivities. I know that not only will they taste good, but they will add a fun way for everyone to come together by mixing drinks.
Have you ordered from Dri/Kit? What did you think? Also, what should I review next? Let me know in the comments!
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