Listen, besties. Happy hour is officially getting a makeover. A glow-up. A reinvention. A renaissance, even. Because thanks to Raising the Bar, you can roll up to 5 PM with the same vibe, the same energy, the same clink… but with zero alcohol and all the flavor.
Same time. Same vibe.
The difference is zero.
And honestly? Zero has never tasted better.
Why Raising the Bar Is Basically the Fairy Godmother of Zero-Proof Life
Raising the Bar started with one bold, modern-day heroine: Abbie, who quit drinking and quickly realized that the non-alcoholic beverage scene was giving “room temperature tap water in a solo cup” instead of “sophisticated adult with agency and taste buds.”
So she (and partner Devin) solved it. Like the sober MacGyvers of mixology.
Every month, subscribers receive a curated zero-proof cocktail kit with premium spirits, creative ingredients, thoughtful tools, and recipes that make you go, “Wait, I made this??”
It’s elevated, it’s thoughtful, it’s fun, and it says:
“Everyone deserves a good drink.”
And as someone who knows a thing or two about sober joy? I raise my glass (my zero-proof glass, obviously).
Sober Curator Fun Fact: Raising the Bar is AWARD-WINNING
Yes, darling. AWARD. WINNING.
This November, I got to hang out with Abbie herself at the 3rd Annual Sans Bar Academy Awards in Austin, TX — the Golden Globes of sober nightlife — where Raising the Bar won “Group on the Rise.”
You heard it here first: this brand isn’t just trending. It’s ascending.
✨ Zero-proof royalty energy only. ✨
If you missed the recap, here you go.
And while we’re awarding things…
- Cut Above NA Gin, featured in the December kit, won Best NA Spirit at the Sans Bar Awards.
- All The Bitter Cherry Coffee snagged Best New Product (and yes, it makes the PERFECT stocking stuffer).
- And if you haven’t seen the lightning bolt stir sticks — a Raising the Bar x Zero Proof Nation collab — prepare your cart and your heart.
Become a Subscriber (Your Future Self Says Thank You)
Want to never miss a sip again?
Become a member and get a monthly zero-proof experience delivered straight to your door.
Want to be the best gift-giver in your entire friend group?
Gift a subscription. (Your recipient will think of you every cocktail hour for months.)
Options include 1, 3, 6, or 12 months — because commitment looks different for everyone.
Why Raising the Bar Gifts Hit Harder Than a Holiday Hangover (Without the Hangover)
When you gift Raising the Bar, you’re giving:
⭐ An Elevated Experience
Premium spirits, mixers, garnishes, tools, and three mix-worthy recipes. This is not some “throw it in a basket and hope for the best” situation. This is curated joy.
⭐ Celebration-Worthy Moments
For the sober, the sober-curious, the pregnant, the host-with-the-most, or the ritual-lover.
⭐ Stress-Free Curation
You buy once. They receive monthly magic. You look like a legend.
⭐ A Personal, Thoughtful Surprise
Each box feels intentional — like you took the time to choose something wonderfully unique.
A gift that arrives over and over? That’s love, baby.
HELLO DECEMBER! The “Shaken & Stirred” Zero-Proof Cocktail Kit Has Entered the Chat
This month’s box drops around December 10, and let me tell you…
This kit has big holiday mood energy.
Two iconic cocktail profiles — a shaken martini and a sparkling botanical spritz — plus a smoky, desert-inspired Spiced Piñarita ready-to-drink moment.
Your holiday hosting? Leveled up.
What You’ll Be Mixing:
- Shaken (Dirty Martini Style): Cool, crisp, briny, and shaken icy cold with the perfect olive finish.
- Stirred (Bubbly Thyme Spritz): Effervescent AF with apple, thyme, and alcohol-removed sparkling wine.
- Spiced Piñarita: Smoky pineapple-prickly-pear perfection with a dash of cayenne heat.
What’s Inside the Box:
- Freixenet Alcohol-Removed Bubbly (x2)
- Cut Above NA Gin (hello, Sans Bar Award winner!)
- PARCH Spiced Piñarita RTD (x2)
- Lemon Thyme Woodster Bitters
- Sweetheaven Apple Thyme Cardamom Tonic
- SaySo Dirty Martini Sticks (x4)
- POSHI Green Olives
- Raising The Bar Gold Cocktail Picks
- Tasting Notes Brochure + playlist + garnish inspo
It’s giving “shaken, stirred, AND slayed.”
BONUS ROUND: For My Wicked Fans… This Mocktail Box is Spellbinding
Raising the Bar released a “Wickedly Good Mocktail Box” and I don’t mean to alarm anyone, but…
WHICH WITCH ARE YOU?
Are you Elphaba (bold, practical, delightfully defiant)?
Or Glinda (bubbly, optimistic, sparkly chaos in human form)? More importantly, do you travel by bubble?
This box lets you choose your magical destiny with TWO spirit options:
Option 1: Kin Euphorics Matchatini
Creamy matcha, vanilla, maple, functional ingredients, a little caffeine buzz… perfect for the glam witch burning the candle on both ends. Sober Curator Fun Fact: Sans Bar Academy Leader of the Year Award when to Jen Batchelor, Founder of Kin Euphorics.
Option 2: Tilden Lacewing
Cucumber, basil, lychee — elegant, herbaceous, caffeine-free, and award-winning. Ideal for the minimalist witch with impeccable taste.
Plus More Magical Mixers:
- Siponey Roots (ginger, turmeric, lime, and wildflower honey)
- Devil’s Foot x RTB Cosmopolitan RTD (collab magic!)
- Dappled Floral Tonic
- Royal Rose Syrup (Rose!)
- Rose petals
- Mini broomsticks (I repeat: MINI. BROOMSTICKS.)
- Witchy napkins
- A playlist that is equal parts Wicked, Oz, and Garland
It’s theatrical. It’s whimsical. It’s spellbinding.
It might even make you the most popular witch at the party.
Too much? Maybe.
But isn’t that the fun?
Oh, and Another Flex…
Raising the Bar has been featured in:
BuzzFeed
Oprah Daily
Vanity Fair
Good Morning America
GQ
Today
Thrillist
Business Insider
Brit + Co
AND The Sober Curator (obviously) A few times, actually! 2022, 2023, and 2025.
We see the glow. We celebrate it.
FINAL POUR
From zero-proof martinis to Wicked-inspired mocktails to Sans Bar–approved stocking stuffers, Raising the Bar is leading the joyful, inclusive, elevated movement we’ve all been waiting for.
They’re not just raising the bar —
they’re redefining it.
Ready to shake, stir, sip, and slay?
Because this holiday season, sober is sparkling brighter than ever. #ADDTOCART friends!
Welcome to HAPPY EVERY HOUR, your go-to hub for all things NA (non-alcoholic). We review alcohol-free beers, ciders, wines, spirits, RTDs (ready-to-drink), and share NA cocktail recipes that taste just as good—if not better—than the boozy originals. Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or just taking a break, this is where great taste meets zero proof.
TRIGGER WARNING: People in early sobriety may want to proceed with caution. Always read labels. Please hydrate responsibly … #becausedrunkneverlooksgood.
SOBRIETY IN THE CITY – AUSTIN: The 3rd Annual Sans Bar Academy Awards Weekend — A Glitter-Dipped, Zero-Proof Celebration in Austin, TX
SOBER POP CULTURE at The Sober Curator is where mainstream trends meet the vibrant world of sobriety. We serve up a mix of movie, podcast, fashion, and book recommendations alongside alcohol-free cocktails, celebrity features, and pop culture buzz—all with a sober twist.
We’re here to shatter the “sobriety is boring” myth with a mash-up of 80s neon, 90s hip-hop edge, early 2000s bling, and today’s hottest trends. From celebrity shoutouts to red-carpet style inspo, this is where sober is as chic as it is fun. To the celebs using their platform for good—our Sober Pop Trucker hats are off to you!
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
