Don't Mock the Mocktails
While it’s fun to go out with friends, alcohol doesn’t impress me much. Now don’t get me wrong, I think it’s alright, but I’m in it much more for the fun of gabbing, hanging out, and the eye-candy. And by eye-candy, I mean attractively presented drinks.
I was excited to try the new dry bar in downtown Davenport called Unimpaired. It’s the first one in Iowa; they don’t even have a liquor license. Unimpaired uses unique non-alcoholic spirits to create artisanal cocktails. I was impressed with the drink menu. In addition to mocktails, they have non-alcoholic beers, frozen drinks, energy drinks, and kombucha.
They even have the classics on the menu like a margarita, old fashioned, and Manhattan. They’re all poured with non-alcoholic substitutes from companies like Seedlip, Stryyk, Lyres, and Arkay.
We tried the pear mojito, hibiscus mojito with a candied hibiscus flower, blackberry Moscow mule, Eastside martini with cucumber and mint, and the new seasonal offering that tastes just like apple pie and warmed you right up. Everything was really fresh with a mix of flavors that wasn’t masked by alcohol. The hibiscus mojito was my favorite. There were many others on the menu I wanted to try. The bartender was also willing to make something with the flavors I typically enjoy. They plan on doing a seasonal menu. You can also get drinks to go.
Owner Amber Haines has been a bartender for over 20 years and owns another bar, Main Street Pub & Grub, in Blue Grass. “Being a neighborhood bar [in Blue Grass], I’ve seen time and time again where somebody comes in just to socialize and get dinner, not necessarily to drink,” Amber says. “Then they end up having a beer or drinks just because everyone else is, somebody bought a round, and they don’t want to be the only one not drinking.” Unimpaired takes away the pressure. “What we have created here is a bar and social environment, one in which alcohol isn't involved.”
Amber shares, “I personally don't drink; I'm not in recovery; I just prefer not to do it. That doesn't mean I don't like to go out and dance, sing karaoke, play trivia, shoot pool, and be social. I don't believe that alcohol HAS to be involved for one to be social.”
Unimpaired has a pool table, trivia on Thursday nights, live music, and they serve pizzas and salads. We tried the BLT pizza and it was exceptional with plenty of bacon. It came with a cracker thin crust and the other pizzas have a thicker crust. They also have the option of cauliflower crust. Get the single serving for a lunch combo.
Unimpaired Dry Bar
246 W. 3rd Street, Davenport, Iowa
Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11 am-11 pm; Fri.-Sat. 11 am-3 am