Drinks with Benefits
We’re not just trying to make one-hit wonders for Dry January, we’re trying to release classics for the ages. Side B: Drinks with Benefits is sticking around.
At Sidecar Cocktail Lounge, we’ve always believed cocktails should make you feel something—connection, nostalgia, joy, surprise. Lately, we’ve been asking a deeper question:
How can drinks take care of you?
Side B is our answer. These aren’t mocktails meant to imitate alcohol or feel like a consolation prize. They’re thoughtfully built, zero-proof cocktails with intention, flavor, function, and a soundtrack that shaped how each one came together. This menu is about taking care of the community we love so much, whether you’re pacing yourself, staying sober, or just craving something that hits right without the buzz.
The Tracks (Mocktails)
ISLAND IN THE SUN
Flavor Profile: Juicy · Bright · Refreshing
Functional Focus: Hydration · Electrolytes
hydration fruit punch
“This one starts with a memory. Long summer days. Windows down. That easy, warm optimism you get when a song makes everything feel lighter.
The Weezer track “Island in the Sun” has always felt like effortless joy- sun-bleached, nostalgic, and uncomplicated. We wanted that same feeling in a glass, but built for real refreshment. The result is a bright, citrus-forward fruit punch layered with tropical juices and finished sparkling. It’s playful and familiar, but quietly smart.
Himalayan pink salt adds electrolytes for hydration, while Topo Chico gives it lift and crispness. It’s the kind of drink you can crush on a hot Arkansas night and feel better afterward.” - Trey Fincher
KIND OF BLUE
Flavor Profile: Blueberry · Lavender · Lemon
Functional Focus: Anti-Anxiety · Stress Reduction · Relaxation
stress reducing blueberry lemonade
“The thrust of this drink was to make a blueberry lemonade that could be equal parts herbaceous and soothing with an uplifting tartness that would excite your palate as your muscles relaxed. Named after the dulcet 1959 Miles Davis classic, which features a swath of stylistic intrigue and modal expression, we hoped to capture the contemplative calm of “Blue in Green”, the confident strut of “So What”, and everything in between.
The base is an in-house herbal tea blend combining verbena leaf, lavender, chamomile, and blueberries to promote stress relief, relaxation, and boost antioxidants. That herbal tea is then blended with agave nectar and lemon juice to give a smooth lemonade drinkability without the extra processed sugar. Plus, it’s ‘kinda blue’, if not quite.” - Jonah Thornton
SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS)
Flavor Profile: Tart Cherry · Hoppy Citrus
Functional Purpose: Sleep Hygiene · Metabolism · Relaxation
tart cherry nightcap
“When talking about sleep hygiene and diet, you're mostly going to be considering melatonin (the bodies natural sleep hormone used to manage circadian rhythm), tryptophan (an essential amino acid that helps mood, sleep, and appetite), magnesium (a mineral that is essential for healthy muscles, nerves, bones, and blood sugar levels), and potassium (essential mineral and electrolyte that helps with nerve and muscle function).
We were looking for inspiration for a nightcap, and when the drink began to take shape with the deep red tone of tart cherries, Eurythmics’ synth-pop epic ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)’ felt like an obvious direction. It’s brooding and sharp, like the house made cherry/orange shrub (a natural source of melatonin, tryptophan, magnesium, and potassium) but hypnotizing and smooth, like citrus-forward hops (a nerve relaxant that also contains magnesium and potassium).” - Reese Roberts
SUNSHINE DAYDREAM
Flavor Profile: Roasted · Chocolatey · Bittersweet Citrus
Functional Focus: Focus · Mental Clarity · Sustained Energy
nootropic mushroom-coffee carajillo
“The Grateful Dead’s “Sunshine Daydream” isn’t about speed, it’s about flow. A calm, focused energy that lets you stay present without tripping into chaos. That idea guided every decision here.
This is a zero-proof carajillo that doesn’t pretend to be alcoholic, it stands on its own. Mushroom coffee and cold brew give depth and structure, while burnt orange-vanilla syrup and raw cacao add warmth and complexity. You get focus and sustained energy without the spike-and-crash cycle.
It’s a thinking drink. A creative drink. Something you sip slowly while talking too long at the bar or zoning in on a great record.” - Trey Fincher
EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNING
Flavor Profile: Black Pepper · Jasmine · Sharp Citrus
Functional Purpose: Anti-Inflammation · Gut Health
turmeric & green tea half-flip
“If there’s seven wonders of the world, then I know she’s gotta be number one.”
Stevie Wonder wrote “Ebony Eyes” as a warm-hearted, playful tribute to the kind of love that feels impossibly charming—smooth, smiling, and a little mischievous. Buried on Songs in the Key of Life’s bonus EP, the track has always felt like one of the album‘s secret treasures: upbeat, flirtatious, stacked with harmony, and delivered with that signature Stevie glow.
Our Ebony Eyes cocktail takes that same energy—comfort, charm, sweetness, and warmth—and puts it in a glass. Built on Planteray 3-Star Rum and rounded with Oak & Bean Cold Brew Liqueur, Banana Liqueur, Macadamia Nut Liqueur, and a touch of Tiki Bitters, this drink is all about soft richness and cozy familiarity. It’s banana-bread meets iced-coffee. -Trey Fincher
PINK MOON
Flavor Profile: Soft Coconut · Strawberry · Agave
Functional Purpose: Glycemic Control · Heart Health · Digestive Health
tropical glycemic control spritz
“Our idea here was to capture the flavor of a Tiger’s Blood snow cone without sacrificing the bold flavors brought in by the excessive sugar content of a snowcone. Strawberry and coconut, both of which are low on the glycemic-index and compliment each other well, are paired with fig leaf, which helps promote glycemic control and added a lovely earthy character and complexity the drink needed. With fig leaf-infused coconut water, our house strawberry vanilla agave nectar, a touch of lime juice for focus, and topped with a sparkling water to excite the palate, Pink Moon was born.
Named for Nick Drake’s 1972 track of the same name, Pink Moon captures the jagged edges of the human experience with a hopeful outlook, inherent in the sweetness of the song’s arrangement.” - Jonah Thornton
HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
Flavor Profile: Spicy · Tart · Tropical Heat
Functional Focus: Digestion · Metabolism · Gut Health
wellness / gut shot
“This one doesn’t mess around, and neither does the Pat Benatar anthem it’s named after.
‘Hit Me With Your Best Shot’ is bold, defiant, and unapologetic. We wanted a wellness shot that matched that energy. No watered-down “health drink” vibes, just a quick, bracing hit that wakes you up and does the job.
Pineapple brings enzymes for digestion, ginger and cayenne fire up metabolism, lemon sharpens everything, and honey smooths the edges just enough. It’s spicy, tart, and intentionally intense. You feel it, and that’s the point.” - Trey Fincher
Why Side B Matters
“These drinks come from the same place as everything we do at Sidecar: care, creativity, and respect for the people who walk through our doors. I didn’t want non-alcoholic options that felt like copies of “real” cocktails. I wanted real drinks designed with purpose, inspired by music, and built to support how people actually live.
Whether you’re taking a night off, focusing on your health, or just want something delicious that loves you back, Side B is for you.” - Trey
~ See You at the Bar ~
