Hotel Revival Launches Spirit-Free Cocktail Program Led by Sober Bartender Anna Welker

1/27/20

Anna Welker

When a conversation surrounding “ Dry January,” a public health campaign urging people to abstain from alcohol for the month of January, came up during a team meeting at Hotel Revival, bartender Anna Welker’s ears perked. In active recovery herself, Welker is not only passionate about providing options for people who don’t or can’t drink alcohol, but she is dedicated to offering a safe space for people to be social without feeling pressured.

Finding support in her colleagues, Welker volunteered to take the lead in the creation of a spirit-free cocktail program, one that would go beyond the Dry January effort. The program's first menu, which debuted at Topside earlier this month, consists of five creatively crafted cocktails, some of which mimic popular beverages such as an Old Fashioned, Mai Tai and Moscow Mule.

“As someone who is in active recovery and comes from a fairly teetotal family, I’m very excited to offer options to those who abstain from drinking,” said Welker. “I’m hoping the addition of the spirit-free cocktail program changes the conversation and stigma for those who don‘t want to drink alcohol--for whatever that reason is--while also allowing those of us in the hospitality industry to accommodate every guest, regardless of their drinking preference.”

The debut menu, titled “Zero Proof and Zero Judgment,” aims to both comfort and excite guests, using familiar flavors like vanilla, lime and ginger, while introducing several unusual ingredients, such as falernum, Lapsang Souchong (a smoky tea from China), Giffard Apertif Sirop (similar to a non-alcoholic Campari), and a house made orgeat. The cocktails have creative names such as the “Fizzy Lifting Drink” and “Just Ask Ralph” and are just as visually intoxicating as their alcoholic inspirations. The cocktails are priced at $8.

“It would be great to see a shift in our culture where it’s just as normal to have alcohol-free options on a menu as it is to have vegetarian or gluten-free options,” said Welker. “It’s incredibly meaningful to see the conversation around mental health shifting from secrecy and shame to curiosity, importance, and even celebration of taking active care of oneself. I believe that the hospitality industry has a unique position and responsibility to support the community in any way we can.”

Since getting sober at an outpatient recovery center in May 2019, Welker has spoken to other bar professionals at bar guild meetings in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, aiming to address the unique challenges of mental health issues, including addiction and substance abuse, while maintaining a career in food and beverage.

“The more I speak with other bartenders and hospitality personnel, the more I’ve had fellow professionals reach out to me, eager to be a part of the conversation,” said Welker. “I’ve been talking with other bartenders, servers, chefs, and managers from Baltimore to Alexandria who have faced their own mental health battles and want to provide a judgment-free environment and support system where we let people know that it is still possible to work in the industry and find healthy alternatives to drinking or substance abuse.”

In addition to supporting Welker and the spirit-free program beyond just Dry January, Hotel Revival has also agreed to offer Welker and colleagues one of the hotel’s conference rooms as a space for the growing group to meet and continue supporting one another on an on-going basis.

"The hospitality community is a tightknit community–like family–and we are happy to provide the space as a resource to allow them to come together, support one another and work towards their common goals,” said Donte Johnson, general manager of Hotel Revival. “I’m just so incredibly proud and impressed by Anna and everyone who is working through whatever the load is they carry.”

“The industry is full of passionate, talented people who are more susceptible to mental health issues due to the inherent nature of the work environment and irregular schedules,” said Welker. “It’s important to face it head-on, together.”

Those interested in ordering a spirit-free cocktail can do so at Topside during the restaurant’s standard hours of operation. The Zero Proof and Zero Judgment menu will change seasonally.

About Hotel Revival

Hotel Revival is located at 101 West Monument Street, in the heart of Baltimore’s historic Mount Vernon neighborhood. The 107-room, 14-story boutique hotel is contributing to the renewal of the area through a vibrant guest experience, thoughtful design, and new restaurants and signature bars. The property embraces Mount Vernon’s notable history of art and culture by featuring an extensive array of local artists and artisans. It also embodies Baltimore by showcasing local products, the city’s history, and native cuisine. Topside, the hotel’s year-round rooftop restaurant and bar, showcases the distinct flavors of Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay. Revival offers four event spaces, totaling 4,000 square feet, accommodating a range of guests, from 10 to 200. The hotel was developed by Denver-based real estate company NuovoRE and is the first Joie de Vivre property in Baltimore. For more information, please visit  www.jdvhotels.com/revival.

About Joie de Vivre Hotels

Since its founding in San Francisco in 1987, Joie de Vivre Hotels, a Hyatt brand, has made curating authentically local and eclectic experiences its signature. Each one of Joie de Vivre's hotels is an original concept designed to reflect its location and engage the five senses. The brand has a collection of boutique hotels and resorts in California as well as properties in Chicago, IL, Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, and New York. Joie de Vivre Hotels is establishing its foothold on the East Coast with two new properties in New York City – Hotel 50 Bowery and Park South Hotel – and the now-open Revival at Mount Vernon Place in Baltimore, MD. Follow @JDVHotels on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for news and updates. For more information, please visit  www.jdvhotels.com.

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