With alcohol use down about 20 percent among Gen Z compared to millennials, Eagles are thirsty for what JR Denson, CAS/MS ’16, is serving up.
About six times a semester, Denson and an intern set up a makeshift bar on campus stocked with shakers, ornate bottles of faux spirits, and festive, fruity garnishes. Featuring a menu of six free cocktails—from an apple martini to rum punch to the latest edition, a classic Tom Collins—it’s a happy hour indeed for students.
The only thing that’s missing (besides a tip jar)? Alcohol.
Community outreach is an important aspect of Denson’s job as an alcohol and other drugs prevention specialist. He enjoys giving students who want to curb their consumption—whether for health, financial, or other reasons—more options and showing them that skipping booze doesn’t mean that they lose.
“I think many of them are surprised at how much mocktails taste like the real thing,” he says. “They can still go out and have fun with friends who are drinking.”
Denson, who also meets individually with students—some through referrals from the conduct system, others who want help reevaluating their relationship with drugs or alcohol—crafts many of the mocktail recipes himself. The adjunct professor, part-time EMT, and graduate of AU’s health promotion program is particularly proud of his Kentucky(like) mule.
“People that like bourbon really like the taste of bourbon, and that’s hard to replicate,” says Denson, who’s also perfecting his version of an old-fashioned. “There was a lot of trial and error, but people seem to enjoy it.”
Cheers to that.
Raise a glass to AU students’ 10 favorite mocktails:
1. Tequila(ish) sunrise 1 ounce nonalcoholic tequila, 2 ounces orange juice, 1 ounce pineapple juice, 1 ounce club soda, and 0.5 ounce grenadine (add last; don’t stir)
2. Lemon drop (adjacent) 1 ounce nonalcoholic gin, 1 ounce lemon juice, 1 ounce club soda, 1 ounce lemon-lime soft drink, and 0.5 ounce simple syrup
3. Cherry blossom 1 ounce nonalcoholic gin, 1 ounce light cranberry juice, 0.5 ounce lemon juice, 1 ounce club soda, and 0.5 ounce dark cranberry juice (add last; don’t stir)
4. Pomegranate apple spritzer 1 ounce nonalcoholic vodka, 1 ounce pomegranate juice, 1 ounce apple juice, 0.5 ounce lime juice, 1 ounce club soda, and 0.5 ounce honey
5. Apple cider martini 1 ounce nonalcoholic vodka, 1 ounce apple cider, 1 ounce club soda, and 1 ounce ginger ale
6. Kentucky(like) mule 1 ounce nonalcoholic bourbon, 1 ounce cranberry juice, 0.5 ounce lime juice, 1 ounce ginger beer, 1 ounce club soda, and 0.5 ounce mint simple syrup
7. Rum(like) punch 1 ounce nonalcoholic rum, 2 ounces orange juice, 1 ounce pineapple juice, 0.5 ounce lime juice, 1 ounce club soda, and 0.5 ounce grenadine
8. Aperol(ish) spritz 1 ounce nonalcoholic orange aperitif, 1 ounce nonalcoholic vermouth, 1 ounce orange juice, and 3 ounces club soda
9. Jolly Rancher 1 ounce nonalcoholic rum, 0.5 ounce nonalcoholic peach schnapps, 1 ounce cranberry juice, 0.5 ounce lemon juice, and 1 ounce club soda
10. Appletini 1 ounce nonalcoholic apple vodka, 1 ounce nonalcoholic vermouth, 1 ounce apple juice, 1 ounce club soda, and 1 ounce ginger ale