You can take a drink from a girl, but you can’t get the girl to stop drinking.

Although I stopped drinking for nearly five years, my oral fixation remains seemingly incurable. I chew gum, bite my fingernails, and have a profound, incurable need to drink something all the time. 

I typically nurse three or four drinks at once: my water bottle, coffee, and kombucha (or diet soda if I’m desperate).  I have a friend who says she needs one drink to stay awake, one to enjoy, and one to hydrate.

Because I no longer drink alcohol, I’ve had to get creative. Just because I’ve quit drinking doesn’t mean I have to quit partying—and I love to party.

And partying, for me, means dancing for days at music festivals! In honor of the upcoming festival season, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite non-alcoholic beverages. 

Because getting sober shouldn’t mean you stop having fun. 

1. Aura-Bora Sparkling Water 

Aura Bora is your new favorite sparkling water.

With its botanical blends of fruits, herbs, flowers, and spices, Aura Bora offers a refreshing alternative to tired sparkling water flavors (uh, Pamplemousse?).

I discovered this company’s creative takes on the timeless drink at Lightning in a Bottle 2022 when I was offered a Lemongrass Coconut drink that instantly nixed my heat exhaustion.

When you’re spending over 10 hours a day shuffling, staying hydrated is essential. But if you’re anything like me, you find the taste of water underwhelming.

I know, I know, but try as I might, I can’t seem to get myself to like it. 

Thankfully, Aura Bora offers three delicious flavors of sparkling water that rival even the best mocktail. 

Flavors 

• Cactus Rose: A delicious, desert-inspired beverage–perfect for Coachella.

• Peppermint Watermelon: I drank so much of this one I had to switch to a different flavor–it’s a combination you’ll never forget.

• Basil Berry: This drink is perfect for mixing with your favorite 0-alc spirits.

• Lavender Cucumber: This drink epitomizes self-care—a spa day in a can!

• Lemongrass Coconut: This drink tastes the way a Caribbean beach looks.

• Lime Cardamom: This one reminds me of spring!

• Ginger Meyer Lemon: This is my favorite flavor–ideal for boosting immunity after a long weekend!

Features to Consider 

• Ethically Sourced Ingredients: The company uses organic, ethically sourced botanicals and extracts in all its recipes. 

• Charitable Donations: Aura Bora’s founders donate 1% to environmental causes.

• Free Shipping on 2+ cases 

Mitra-9 

Anyone who knows me knows I don’t go anywhere without a Mitra-9.

Mitra-9–a cute play on the Latin name for the active alkaloid in the Kratom plant Mitragynine–offers the best kratom and kava drinks.

Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia with a mild, relaxing effect. It is an herbal alternative for those seeking anxiety and pain-relieving remedies. 

Kava is a root native to the Pacific islands that promotes euphoria and social behavior. Both substances have the same effect as caffeine, and neither is mind-altering. 

Although I drink both, some people prefer to stay away from mood-enhancing substances. Only you and your team know your boundaries around implications.

Should you choose to partake, Mitra-9 offers the best product I’ve had the chance to try. Their drinks are clean, relatively strong, and affordable. They are also delicious and have a slightly sour kick–like candy or kombucha! 

Note: Please set clear boundaries around your recovery before trying controversial substances like Kratom, kava, and hemp-derived products. Ultimately, only you and your support team can determine what threatens your sobriety.

Flavors 

• Tropical Kratom Seltzer 
• Raspberry Lime Kratom Seltzer 
• Tangerine Kratom 
• Watermelon Kratom
• Kava Lemonade
• Kava Orange Dreamsicle
• Kava Strawberry Watermelon
• Kava Kandy

Features to Consider

• More potent than most other kava/kratom beverages, so sip slowly! 

• Be cautious in mixing kava and kratom–it can upset your stomach!
• Based in Fort Myers, this company was heavily affected by the recent hurricane, so your patronage helps them get back off the ground! 

3. Leilo 

I’ve loved Leilo since I first discovered the company’s light and airy take on a kava mimosa in 2019. 

Since then, I’ve consumed hundreds of their delicious drinks. 

In 2022, I was drinking a Leilo at Lightning in a Bottle when a young woman unexpectedly asked if she could take a picture with me. She was an executive at Leilo! She gifted me a whole box of drinks. 

In my experience, Leilo offers unparalleled customer service–in addition to their incredible drinks. It’s a win-win situation. 

Try Leilo if you want something light and sweet with a slight euphoric effect. While some compare kava to mild amounts of alcohol, it makes me feel stimulated (it could just be an ADHD thing). 

Always start slow! 

Flavors 

• Blackberry Orange
• Lemon Ginger
• Tango Berry
• Raspberry Hibiscus
• Coconut-Pineapple (Lite) 

Features to Consider

• Excellent Customer Service–this company has unparalleled customer service, and its team is reliable, responsive, and professional.

• Diet Options: Although most cans contain 60 calories, the Coconut Pineapple flavor boasts 10.  

4. Odyssey Mushroom Elixir 

Odyssey’s Mushroom Elixir is the only thing that got me through yet another Bonnaroo.

Every year, I say I’ll never go back. It’s too hot, too intense, too windy, etc. And yet each lineup seems to get better than the last. I just can’t stay away! 

So this year, when I packed for Bonaroo, I knew I needed a staple drink that packed a punch. Enter Odyssey’s Mushroom Elixir, a focus and mood-boosting elixir in a can fill with over 2500 milligrams of a bioavailable mushroom extract, including Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps. 

I brought 30 and left with exactly none–once my crew got a taste, they couldn’t get enough. 

These are perfect for long, hot mornings and ideal for those looking to replace coffee or a quick pick-me-up! 

Flavors 

• Blackberry Lemon Twist
• Orange Ginger
• Passion Fruit Orange/Guava
• Dragon Fruit Lemonade

Features to Consider

• Prime Ingredients like Cordyceps,  which boosts energy, Lion’s Mane, which has nootropic properties, and adaptogens, which help your body fight stress.

• Relatively Affordable compared to similar options–a case goes for $15.99! 

5. Amaz Yerba Mate 

I was first introduced to maté at a festival in Columbia almost ten years ago–and it’s been a staple in my cooler ever since.

Mate is a traditional Brazilian beverage rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and caffeine. It’s as hydrating and healthy as a caffeinated beverage can get. 

Amaz Yerba Mate is made with a traditional mate and a proprietary mix of Amazonian adaptogens, including Yanomami mushrooms, Suma root, Guarana, and Acerola cherry–all of which boast excellent properties to tend to your brain during your party night and day.

Flavors 

• Lemon Ginger
• Peach Mango
• Acai Blueberry

Features to Consider 

• Diet Friendly: These are sugar-free and calorie-free! 

• Energy Boosting–depending on your sensitivity to caffeine, these can offer a powerful kick (without the crash later). 

Before You Go

Remember to stay hydrated and bring your sober buddies <3

If you need help prepping for a festival in recovery, reach out to me directly here!