“We just missed having the experience of a really beautiful craft cocktail,” says Kelly LaPlante, co-founder of Eighteen Thirty-Three, a non-alcoholic craft cocktail pop-up event every Thursday from 5-10 p.m. at Eclipse House in Salt Lake City.
Non-alcoholic spaces and events are few and far between, and when Curiosity SLC — one of the city’s only zero-proof bars — closed, it left non-drinkers without a social place to congregate. “And Matthew just had this idea — he was like, ‘What if we just open one?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, absolutely,’” says Kelly.
Eighteen Thirty-Three elicits the same vibes as an upscale bar, but without the alcoholic booze. Photo: India Mendoza.
Siblings Kelly and Matthew LaPlante’s event creates a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere where people can gather, drink and skip the alcohol breath, the $30 Uber ride home and the scary drunk men.
“When you’re creating a space and you’re creating a vibe and you’re creating drinks, we want people to come in and feel like they got their soul fed.”
“A lot of people have either stopped drinking or cut back, but we still need beautiful third spaces where people can have a lovely time, and they shouldn’t have to be centered around alcohol,” says Kelly.
My favorite drink of the night was The J. Strang, which had a little kick and little spice — it was fun and gorgeous. I also think the Lyre’s spiced cane and mint tea dusted lime on top cleared my sinuses. As I watched Matthew make this drink, Kelly shared a funny childhood memory with me. Both Kelly and Matthew used to play bartender at their grandparents’ home, and the painting that hangs on the wall next to the bar belonged to their grandparents. I felt a sweet, full-circle moment within that story.
The G. Taranto was another favorite of mine, a mellow and smooth orange drink that Kelly describes as “an adult Shirley Temple.” And I couldn’t agree more. The G. Taranto had a mixture of Lyre’s Italian orange and San Pellegrino sparkling mineral water, making it enjoyable. Come summertime, I’m going to need about five of these while I lie poolside, absorbing the sun.
Eighteen Thirty-Three is doing more than creating a safe third place, though. The LaPlantes foster a community through donating their proceeds to charities each month. Initially, this wasn’t the plan, but after their first event, when they donated to the Salt Lake Harm Reduction Project, they decided to continue supporting charities within the community because “it felt so good,” Kelly says. This night’s charity was Amplify Utah, an organization supporting and facilitating dynamic journalistic storytelling to celebrate diverse points of view.
“A lot of people have either stopped drinking or cut back, but we still need beautiful third spaces where people can have a lovely time, and they shouldn’t have to be centered around alcohol.”
The J. Strang gets blasted by a smoke machine, adding some extra flavor and an element of fun. Photo: India Mendoza.
Another drink I quite enjoyed is The M. Pattirini, which was served in a pitcher so everyone else got to enjoy it, too. Named after Brigham Morris Young, the son of Brigham Young and who went on to perform as a drag queen under the name Madam Pattirini. This drink was as cute as I imagine Madam Pattirini when she’s dressed in drag. The beverage tasted fruity due to its Anima Mundi black elderberry syrup but not overpoweringly so. It was also slightly tart and refreshing.
Guests have described their experience at the Eclipse House as “soul-healing,” a moment Kelly has kept close to her heart. “When you’re creating a space and you’re creating a vibe and you’re creating drinks, we want people to come in and feel like they got their soul fed,” she says.
Unfortunately, The Nettie B. was not my favorite drink of the night. It was quite bitter, and it tasted how I imagine an alcoholic cocktail would taste. (I’m just guessing here. I’ve never actually had an alcoholic cocktail because I’m 20.) But as you can tell, I’m a fan of fruity drinks, so this one was a bit too grown-up for me. When I’m 35, I’ll probably return to it, though. However, I did enjoy Eighteen Thirty-Three’s newest drink, The E. Fordham. I felt quite luxurious sipping on this one. The orange juice added sweetness and citrus flavors that felt perfectly balanced. I also loved the Bing cherry on top.
Eighteen Thirty-Three officially opened in January, and if you haven’t set a New Year’s resolution, it’s not too late: Visit Eighteen Thirty-Three and learn more on their Instagram @1833craft and at their website, 1833craft.com.
