Aberdeen’s alcohol-free bar SOBR has launched The Functional Edit, a 12-cocktail menu which encourages guests to choose a drink based on how they want to feel.
Available at the Thistle Street venue, the £10 cocktails are presented as a travel itinerary, split into Energise, Elevate and Unwind. The menu uses premium zero-alcohol spirits alongside ingredients including lion’s mane, cordyceps, lemon balm, valerian and butterfly pea flower.
SOBR founder Kate Kenyon told Larder Magazine: “We really wanted to create a menu with a difference. Ever since I founded SOBR in 2025, this is what I wanted the menu to look like, something not many people have seen before.
“It’s unique to the city, and it focuses more on how people want to feel, rather than just drinking something for the sake of getting drunk.”
I was invited to try the new menu with my mum. With its colourful interior, upbeat music and warm atmosphere, SOBR feels like a proper cocktail bar rather than a compromise for non-drinkers.
Energise
The SOBR Inferno, the bar’s bestselling take on a spicy mango margarita, combines Crossip Pineapple, mango, lime and chilli with Brookside’s Courage tonic. As a regular spicy margarita drinker, I found it one of the best alcohol-free versions I have tried, with a proper chilli kick balanced by fresh mango and lime.
Kate said: “Everyone loves it because it packs a punch.”
The Lemon Soufflé offered a softer contrast, combining Tanqueray 0.0%, lemon, agave and Everleaf Forest before being topped with meringue and flambéed at the table.
The flame wasn’t just for effect; it created a toasted-sugar flavour reminiscent of crème brûlée, while the sharp lemon kept it from getting too sweet.
Elevate
The Discoball was one of the menu’s most playful drinks, with tropical flavours similar to a pornstar martini. Its generous size felt like good value at £10, while an accompanying alcohol-free prosecco-style shot added to the occasion.
The Prism was the most interactive serve, with butterfly pea tea served separately so guests could add it gradually and watch the drink change colour.
There was something slightly Alice in Wonderland-like about it, making it one of the most memorable drinks of the night. I found it light and fresh, with cucumber and lemon providing lift while basil added an earthier finish.
Unwind
SOBR’s spin on an espresso martini, the Coconut Noir combines Smiling Wolf alcohol-free vodka, Lyre’s vanilla, Love Mushroom coffee from Elgin, lion’s mane and cordyceps with coconut and vanilla ice cream.
My mum chose the Coconut Noir, which sits closer to a dessert cocktail than a straightforward espresso martini. She enjoyed how the melting ice cream created a richer, creamier texture without losing the coffee flavour.
Kate said: “It’s a really unique and creative way of making an Espresso Martini, while also supporting local, independent businesses.”
I chose the Night Shift, made with alcohol-free rum, vanilla, lion’s mane and bitters. It was darker and less sweet, with a richer coffee flavour that made it feel closer to a classic, spirit-led espresso martini.
Both were enjoyable takes on one of my favourite cocktails, but they offered different experiences. The Night Shift was the better choice for anyone after a more traditional coffee cocktail, while the Coconut Noir made for an indulgent final drink.
The shots
A separate Functional Shots menu offers smaller serves from £5. The Almave Slammer, an agave-based 0.5% shot with salt, lime and Courage tonic, was a convincing tequila-style alternative with a fresh, sharp finish.
Karma Kicks Back, made with Karma Cola, apple cider vinegar cordial and spicy Mary syrup, delivered a sour chilli kick best suited to fans of bolder flavours.
The visual drama is deliberate, although several theatrical elements also affect the drinks themselves.
Kate said: “One of the things I really wanted when we first opened SOBR was the dramatic effect of the cocktails, and that’s what this menu gives you. But, of course, it’s not all just about the aesthetics.”
The travel concept came from SOBR general manager Jane, who wanted the menu to read as “a journey of discovery, of both our drinks and oneself.” Lucid Spice takes inspiration from Thai tom yum, while the Kilted New Yorker is SOBR’s version of a New York Sour.
Verdict
At £10 each, SOBR’s cocktails offer generous portions, thoughtful presentation and plenty of interaction. The Functional Edit makes alcohol-free drinking feel like an experience in its own right.
The SOBR Inferno was my standout for flavour, Prism was the most memorable, and Coconut Noir is ideal for a richer, dessert-style serve.
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With its upbeat atmosphere and knowledgeable staff, SOBR is well suited to date nights, pre-dinner drinks or a different stop on a city-centre night out.
SOBR was recently named Jump Ship Brewing Best Lo and No Destination at the Scottish Bar & Pub Awards 2026.
