Thriving Alcohol-Free with Mocktail Mom

EP 100 Shake Up Mocktails in Delaware with Deb and Lori Liguori!

• Deb, Mocktail Mom • Season 1 • Episode 100

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Hey friends, we’re already laughing and having a blast, so you know this episode is going to be fun. And it’s not just any episode—it’s our 100th! 🎊 I’m celebrating this milestone with none other than the fabulous Lori Liguori, Director of HR and Marketing at High 5 Hospitality (19 restaurants strong!) and all-around powerhouse. Lori’s joining me from the award-winning Limestone BBQ and Bourbon in Wilmington, Delaware, to chat about their exciting new venture into the world of mocktails.

Lori shares why a bourbon bar is embracing non-alcoholic cocktails, dives into what it means to serve others well (she totally blew me away with her thoughtfulness at a past event), and why the mocktail movement is gaining major buzz. Did someone say Dry January goals? 

Plus, Lori gives us the scoop on our upcoming Mocktail Brunch & Workshop on January 26th. Trust me, you’ll want to mark your calendar for this deliciously inclusive event. We’re talking a fabulous brunch, hands-on mocktail-making (with recipes from my book!), goodie bags, and plenty of fun with yours truly!


Limestone BBQ and Bourbon
Website | Instagram | Facebook

Mocktail Brunch & Workshop: January 26th @ Limestone BBQ and Bourbon - Call 302-274-2085 to register today!

Registration is now open for The Mocktail Summit (January 14-16)!

Order a copy of The Happiest Hour: Delicious Mocktails for a Fabulous Moms' Night In

A huge thank you to the sponsor of the Thriving Alcohol-Free podcast!
Giesen 0% Wines

You are loved. Big Time Cheers!

Deb:

Buckle up, friends, and welcome to the Thriving Alcohol-Free Podcast. I'm your host, deb, otherwise known as Mocktail Mom, a retired wine drinker that finally got sick and tired of spinning on life's broken record called Detox to Retox. Let this podcast be an encouragement to you. If alcohol is maybe a form of self-care for you where you find yourself dragging through the day waiting to pour another glass, I am excited to share with you the fun of discovering new things to drink when you aren't drinking and the joy of waking up each day without a hangover. It is an honor to serve as your sober, fun guide. So sit back and relax or keep doing whatever it is you're doing. This show is produced for you with love from the great state of Kentucky. Thanks so much for being here and big time cheers, okay, hey, friends, welcome back to Thriving Alcohol-Free. We're already having a good time, so welcome to the party. I have Lori Liguori here from Limestone Barbecue and Bourbon in Newark, delaware. Is it Wilmington, delaware? Am I saying it wrong? I was saying Newark, it's Wilmington.

Lori:

It's Wilmington, but that's all right, it's close enough.

Deb:

It's close enough. It's close, you're so close. Wilmington. Delaware is so small it doesn't matter Exactly. Okay, it's Delaware, you'll find it. Yeah, it's right there. Okay, I'm going to read Lori's bio, just to introduce her, but I'm episode 100. I could not think of a better person to be recording with today.

Lori:

I am so excited. I am so excited to be here. I'm so happy for you, I'm so proud of you, so I'm honored to be 100.

Deb:

Episode 100. Okay, yes, and you are so much fun. Okay, I'm going to read your bio so everybody knows who you are, and then we're going to talk about the event that we have coming up next month in well, at Limestone the Mocktail event, the brunch and the Mocktail workshop. I can't even speak today. All right, I'm going to read your bio and this is always the big challenge for me. So all the listeners know this is like when Deb was in second grade and it's like stand up to read you know aloud. Here we go.

Deb:

Lori Liguori currently serves as the Director of Human Resources and Marketing at High 5 Hospitality, where she oversees HR and marketing functions for 19 restaurants soon to be 20, across five different brands. That's a huge role. Her role includes developing comprehensive marketing strategies, managing employee relations and ensuring compliance with labor laws. Hello, not fun. Lori has been instrumental in the opening and acquisition of new restaurant locations. Lori's community involvement includes serving as Air Mobility Command, civic Leader, a member of the State of Delaware Tourism Board and various other civic and professional boards. She is a top woman in business honoree and has been recognized for her contributions to both the business and community sectors. On a personal note, she lives in Lewes. Am I saying it right, lewes, delaware? It's Delaware.

Lori:

Lewes Delaware. Really it's Delaware, lewes Delaware it's.

Deb:

Delaware. Okay same thing, it's Delaware.

Lori:

You'll find her.

Deb:

She's at the beach. She's the proud mom to her daughter Rachel and her son Chase. And on a personal note from me, I will just say I have known Lori. We've known each other. She knows me as the merch mom, not the mocktail mom, and that's what I'm thinking.

Lori:

You should be like the M&M, mom, merch and mocktails.

Deb:

Merch and mocktails. I think that's like a whole other thing. We could bring the businesses together right, All right. So yeah, we've known each other for I mean, it's been almost, yeah so when you started. So the overall company you're with is High Five Hospitality I should have said that and they own Limestone. So you've been with High Five how long? Almost eight years, Okay, Okay. So we started working together right then and I do merch for only a few select businesses at this point. At that time it was many more, but now I've taken my foot off the gas a little bit since we've been doing some mocktails, but so I know you from doing fun merch and T-shirts and stuff like that for the brands.

Lori:

So thank you, I think you might need to combine your buzzworthy promotions with your mocktail stuff. I'm just thinking merch With the Mocktail Mom.

Deb:

Yeah, I know Well, it makes it easy to get, like the mule cups that I have with the Mocktail Mom logo on it. I bet it does that kind of stuff. I'm like I know a girl, I know somebody who can get this Right.

Lori:

Awesome.

Deb:

Yes, okay, do you want to talk about? I want to talk about the event coming up on January 26th. I want to talk about that and the mocktails we're going to make, and my first question to you, though, is all right, first of all, congratulations to Limestone Barbecue and Bourbon, because you guys have what six years in a row, best barbecue in all of Delaware.

Lori:

That's amazing. Yeah, upstate Delaware, since we've opened the doors, best barbecue. It's a huge, huge honor. It's delicious. We learn from the best. What makes us stand apart from everybody else is that our stuff is smoked every day. When we first opened up, folks were like, well, you ran out of rib, you're ran out of brisket. Well, yeah, it's kind of like thanksgiving day dinner, you know. I mean, mom makes one turkey and when it's gone, it's gone. So same thing here. Like we don't serve you reheated meat, we just don't do it. So when the brisket's gone, it's gone. So so you have to get here early, so you have to plan, and it's so worth it. And our mac and cheese is amazing.

Deb:

Is it? Okay? I love the mac and cheese. I'm a big fan. Okay, it's Texas barbecue.

Lori:

It's like the real deal, so do I need to?

Deb:

wear cowboy boots when I come in January. You could do a little hee-haw.

Lori:

Yeah, in January you could do a little hee-haw. Yeah, Wear a little hat. Some boots, yeah. Okay, I might have to do a little shopping.

Deb:

I might have to do a little shopping. I just stay home, usually in my jogger pants and my little house shoes, my denim shirt. Oh, you can do that too.

Lori:

But you can see, like in the back room, this is our rack room and it's kind of got like, you know, the metal, the wood, so it's kind of got that feel throughout the entire restaurant. So it's pretty special here.

Deb:

So awesome. Okay, so you guys are a bourbon bar. Can you tell me why would you? Because you guys are bringing non-alcoholic options onto the menu. Bringing some non-alcoholic options we are. Why is a bourbon bar bringing mocktails or non-alcoholic cocktails onto the menu?

Lori:

Why wouldn't we? Why wouldn't we? You know, that's the first answer. I think because times are changing. You know what I mean.

Lori:

I think folks are, you know, placing a focus on themselves. They're being healthier, they're making better choices, and I think you know just like we've we modified our menu as well so that people are like, oh, I don't eat meat, okay, well, we have salads now. We want to be able to welcome everybody all the time and we certainly don't want you to feel uncomfortable here. Every experience at Limestone should be a great one and a positive one, and you shouldn't have to feel left out in any way, sense or form. So for you to be able to show up and order a mocktail and still feel like you're part of the buzz and the energy, without putting that in your body, I think that's great. I think that's great. So, yeah, we're super excited.

Lori:

I think it's one, I think it's kind of the way of the future. I mean, I know more and more people are trying to, you know, do sober living, and maybe not necessarily because they have a problem with alcohol, but just because they want to. It's a choice. So we don't want people to feel uncomfortable or awkward when they come here with their friends, who may drink bourbon, who may have a vodka and tonic or something like that. I mean, you can have a similar looking cocktail and feel like you fit in with everybody else and nobody knows the difference. So yeah, I think, why not?

Deb:

Lori, you cannot imagine right now how my community is like is literally like going yes, yes, by everything you're saying. Because even just last night I was on a Zoom and some women were like, why don't more restaurants have mocktails? Like, why is this taking so long? You know even just some really simple. Like you don't have to get non-alcoholic spirits. Like, just make some simple mocktails. Like, why is this taking so long? You know even just some really simple. Like you don't have to get non-alcoholic spirits. Like, just make some simple mocktails and it is, it's so people feel included. Like you don't have to be excluded from the buzz of the party.

Lori:

You know, so to speak, you don't have to have a buzz, but you can still be a part of it. Yeah, just that, just that energy, I mean. And you know, like folks, I know sometimes people will be like I'll be like, oh, do you want to go out for a drink or something? And they'll be like I don't drink, so what am I going to do? Sit there and drink water? No, you don't have to drink water. There's so many other options, and so we want to be that place that offers those options and I just think, yeah, how unique is it, but how fantastic is it too, you know. So we want to speak everybody's language I love it.

Lori:

Yeah, so we're so excited to have you. There's been a, you know, buzz seems to be the word, but there's been a buzz and energy around here. Um, you know, one of the local freelance writers has reached out and is going to be promoting you in delaware today. Um, we've got people signing up for the event already, which is fantastic, great. So, yeah, I think I think I heart radio might be even putting a little plug out there for you.

Deb:

Seriously, seriously. This is going to be great.

Lori:

There's an, there's an audience and there's a population that wants this and to meet you is going to be fantastic to you know, learn about your book, which I have right here. A big shout out to the book and I, you know, I was thinking I'm like this is like the perfect size for like a Christmas stocking, like little bow, and just pop it right in there. So this is so. It's beautiful, the colors are great, sturdy and, like I said, I think it's a great Christmas present. So I might have to order a few more of these.

Deb:

Thank you, thank you. Thank you Almost turned me into cocktail mom writing this, but I burst a beard. I stayed the course. I stayed the course. Yeah, okay.

Deb:

So I want to let everybody know that, thank you. Thank you so much. I can't tell you how it's just really wonderful to hear you talk about, you know, bringing in non-alcoholic options. I can't tell you how it's just really wonderful to hear you talk about bringing in non-alcoholic options. I can't tell you how encouraging it is. And I will say, on a personal note, you did something because I came out there actually for a high five corporate event.

Deb:

I came out there for my merch business last year and I flew in for the event Beautiful, beautiful celebration of 20 years you guys have been in business and there was going to be a champagne toast and I cannot tell you how thoughtful it was of you when I came and checked in and you said hey, deb, I just want to let you know, go over to the bar and they have a non-alcoholic champagne for you. They have a non-alcoholic white, sparkling white that I made sure they had for you. You cannot imagine how meaningful that is to somebody who wants to still be a part of the party, wants to still have fun, doesn't want to feel Like I literally was there toasting with everybody else. Nobody knew it was in my glass, nobody cares what's in your glass anyway, but like, thank you so much, just on a personal level You're welcome, you're welcome.

Lori:

I mean, I feel like that's one of the core values of high five is to serve others well, and I know who you are, I know what's important to you and, again, I would never want to put you in a situation that makes you, you know, stand out for a reason that you know that's not your choice. You know what I mean. So, like back then, it's like listen, you are just like everybody else. You're just drinking something a little bit different. Yeah, just not drinking alcohol, right, and we don't have to make it a big deal. You know what I mean. So, to serve others well, I mean it was important for me. One, I was thrilled that you were there, and then, two, yeah, I wanted to serve you well, because you always serve us very well.

Deb:

So yeah, thank you. I will never forget that. Like I will never forget that I told my sister Rachel and I was like I cannot believe they had non-alcoholic.

Lori:

I cannot believe they had non-alcoholic wine, because you know what? You probably weren't the only one in the room.

Deb:

Oh, a hundred percent. I mean, I know that now, yeah, absolutely.

Lori:

So again, in the hospitality world, we have to think about everybody that's walking through our door. In our brand, buffalo Wild, not everybody's a beer drinker, you know what I mean. Not everybody is a bourbon drinker. Not everybody is a drinker on alcohol, you know what I mean. So we just have to think about everybody. Yeah, yeah, of course, especially you girl.

Deb:

Thank you. Thank you, I love you. Okay, as you guys know, I love Giesen 0% wines their Sauvignon Blanc is my go-to on a regular basis. They recently launched a delicious sparkling fruit 0% which is quickly becoming a fan favorite. I am so proud to have Giesen as the exclusive non-alcoholic wine sponsor of the Thriving Alcohol-Free Podcast.

Deb:

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Deb:

Okay, all right, so I'm coming out there. The event is January 26th. It's from 12 to 2. We'll do a mocktail workshop. We're actually making two recipes from the book, easy recipes that actually feature non-alcoholic bourbon. So I thought that would be perfect for, obviously, limestone barbecue and bourbon. So these are good drinks. So if somebody wants to come and just kind of get an idea of how to make a mocktail, I'm going to walk everybody through it. They're going to have a great brunch. Get a little goodie bag. I'm going to give the number, though I will put this in the show notes. Though, too, for anybody who wants to register, you need to actually call Limestone Barbecue. So if you're in Delaware or you're going to be in Delaware January 26th, the number to call is 302-274-2085 to register, and you can pay in advance. I would love to meet you personally. Bring your book, because we're going to make two recipes from here. Should I tell everybody what recipes we're making?

Lori:

No, don't tell them yet. You just never know, we might throw in a little curveball.

Deb:

Okay, I like that A little surprise. It'll be a surprise, so bring your book, I'll sign it, or whatever. We can take pictures together and just get connected and meet, yeah, so there's that. And then, before I come out, there, though, is the Mocktail Summit, I know.

Lori:

Tell me about that.

Deb:

Okay, if you just want to get like the Mocktail Summit, I started hosting it last January. I could not get this out of my mind, lori, in 2023, it kept going through like a roll. Like I want to do some kind of online event, a virtual event, where I can have people come in and almost be a little welcome mat to the non-alcoholic community experiences. Here are some options. It's not a course, but I just brought together several mocktail influencers, mixologists, brands to come in, make a mocktail with me on camera, share some tips and tricks, and so there's about, I think, this year. So we did.

Deb:

The first year was last year. January 2024 was our first year and I hosted it during National Mocktail Week. So we're doing the same thing again this year. It'll be January 14th, 15th and 16th. It's virtual, so people can be anywhere in the world. We have, I think, about 17 or 18 differentocktail influencers and mixologists who are coming in making drinks. So if anyone wants to sign up, you can sign up at. Mocktailmomcom is the sign up for that, but just a good, like a little welcome mat to the world of non-alcoholic options. It's not a end-all, be-all, but it's so much fun. And then if you sign up for the all-access pass. I do a live happy hour each night.

Deb:

Oh so we make, make a drink together. Yeah, very nice, very, very fun, very fun. So I know I'll see you there. I'll be excited to see you before I actually come out there, so yeah, absolutely, absolutely.

Lori:

Yeah, no, we're super excited. Everybody here is really excited about I think it's gonna be a full house, so I think people could probably jump on. I do, I think. Okay, we're going to be in Delaware Today magazine, iheartradio. Like I said, we're going to be promoting it through our email blast, so there's a lot of opportunity for exposure and, like I said, we already have a list going. And, yeah, the brunch will be awesome. So we'll start off with the brunch, we'll do the mocktail demonstrations, maybe throw in a little bit of raffle here or there, and then you'll walk away with just a little goodie bag, just something little little. And then, of course, we can do pictures with you. Pictures with you, yes, we'll do pictures together.

Deb:

Okay, Listen, selfies all day girl, yes, yes.

Lori:

So it'll be a great time. We're super excited. And then it allows us to do the introduction of four or five mocktails to our actual bar menu, which is going to be nice. So we'll be kicking that off right around the same time so excited I'm so excited A great way to end up, you know, end out a dry January.

Deb:

Dry January. Yes, so many people. It's really interesting. That's actually how.

Deb:

I got started was doing a dry January. Yes, it's really interesting. That's actually how I got started was doing a dry January. I just wanted to drink less. I think what you said there's a lot of people who just want to be healthier. I just didn't want to wake up on a Tuesday with a hangover. I was like, why am I? I just wanted to drink a little less. So I think this is, and it's so nice now that it's become so much more mainstream and that so many restaurants, and especially you guys, are now bringing in non-alcoholic options. So it's great yeah.

Lori:

That'll be fantastic.

Deb:

Yes, yes, yes, yes, thank you, thank you. Okay, Anything else you want to share about Limestone Barbecue or about High 5 that the listeners should know? Should we tell everybody all the brands that you guys have? You have Jersey Mike's.

Lori:

We have Jersey Mike's. High 5 is the umbrella organization, so we're the hospitality organization that owns and operates seven Jersey Mike's, nine Buffalo Wild Wings, two Expectations, Limestone Barbecue and Bourbon, and we are also building Buffalo Wild Wings Go's. So we are opening one up in the next couple months in Aberdeen, Maryland, and then we'll be opening up another one in Maryland. So our restaurants go across Delaware and Maryland for right now.

Deb:

So yeah, it's a nice restaurant.

Lori:

Yeah, definitely.

Deb:

Yeah, yeah, and I know Buffalo Wild Wings has some mocktails, I think, right on their menu, even Like I think there's some. I mean they're not fancy, but it's like at least it gives you that option of feeling included and like you could order something and it's like you're calling it yeah, yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. They are pretty.

Lori:

Actually we had an event here the other night for one of our meetings that was leaving and Matt made up a couple of mocktails and he's like hurry, try this one, Try this one. And everybody was like this is so refreshing. I think it was a gin one and it might have been out of your book, I'm not sure, but it was a gin one and it was delicious. Like I don't like gin, but that tasted delicious, Like I would love that on a great like hot summer day.

Deb:

So really so we've been playing around a little bit for sure.

Deb:

I love that. Yeah, so that's all because of you, thank you. It's so fun. It is like it's this whole new world and it is. I found it really fun to start trying making drinks. I wasn't making mock, I wasn't making cocktails at home, lori, like I was not here. I really was never a cocktail mom, I was just a wine mom, you know. So, like I literally like when I stopped drinking that January 2021, well, that was my first full month alcohol free I had to go dust off the shaker cup, like in the back of the cabin, and it was like I got to find this thing, like how do you use this, laurie? Explain this to me. What am I doing, you know? So, yeah, figuring out. So that's very fun that you guys are trying trying the non-alcoholic, trying everything out right now before you bring it all onto the menu. You got to taste it all.

Lori:

No doubt. No doubt I mean because we want great options. You know what I mean. We want great options and and we want the you know non-alcoholic spirits that are, that are popular and common to you know what are they? What's everybody ordering, you know? So what's the? What are the major non-alcoholic spirits that we should be testing?

Deb:

Are you asking me or you're saying that's what you want to bring?

Lori:

No, we're just saying that's what we're doing. We're just, you know, we're asking what are the ones that everybody drinks. You know what are the most common drinks and how do we replace them with non-alcoholic spirits? So nice.

Deb:

It's good stuff. It's a whole other world. I'm so happy that, um, that limestone barbecue and bourbon is bringing on some non-alcoholic options, and thank you for being such a supporter and cheerleader to me personally for helping promote this event. I cannot wait to get on a plane and come out there.

Lori:

I know.

Deb:

I am so excited, yes, and I cannot wait for the mac and cheese. I'll be first in line there.

Lori:

I'm telling you, although I will tell you we just recently added to our menu so it's not just so, it's not the barbecue, and that might be great for your audience to know as well. It's not just, you know, ribs and brisket. We have to have burgers, which are delicious, and then we have tacos. So I'm not a catfish fan. We have the best catfish tacos I've ever had. I'm not kidding, they're delicious. We just had a food influencer come in here and he was like, okay, that brisket is good, but those catfish tacos, they're delicious.

Deb:

And then we have this like texacorn street corn dip.

Lori:

That is ridiculous. And if you take a little bit of that and you put it on a burger, oh my gosh, so good. So we don't just have, you know. And then we have salads. So you know, if you are a vegetarian, there's options here for you as well. So yeah, so it's burgers, it's tacos, it's the best barbecue. We got crust sprouts, mac and cheese. Listen, we got a lot of options. Hence the reason we're bringing in mocktails in. That's awesome.

Deb:

Okay, whose idea was it to bring in catfish tacos? Whose idea was this and how did this? Start Do you have any idea how it started?

Lori:

No, I have no idea. We have other tacos. Oh, we also have a brisket melt. That's pretty good too.

Deb:

Oh, my gosh. Okay, I may have to stay for like a week. I need to try everything.

Lori:

Oh, and we have these like and we have these hand pies. I think they're called hand pies. Hand pies they're sweet potato hand pies with a Utah.

Deb:

Okay, I cannot wait. I do. I'm so excited for anybody who has not signed up. Please sign up for the mocktail workshop at limestone barbecue and bourbon. This is the phone number to call. Put it in the show notes 302-274-2085. In Wilmington, delaware, january 26th, from 12 to two.

Lori:

I cannot wait to be there, Lori. I love you, my friend.

Deb:

We will see you dad Love you too. Girl, you are the best. High 5 won the lottery when they hired you. I hope every day you are getting an email that says employee of the year employee of the century. I hope every day. That's what they should be sending you.

Lori:

Yes, they are Well. I appreciate your time today. You have been awesome and we can't wait to see you.

Deb:

Thanks for joining me on Thriving Alcohol-Free with Episode 100. Thanks you guys. Love you all. Thank you. Thank you Big time cheers to you for tuning in to the Thriving Alcohol-Free Podcast. I hope you will take something from today's episode and make one small change that will help you to thrive and have fun in life without alcohol. If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post about it on social, send up a flare or leave a rating and a review. I am cheering for you as you discover the world of non-alcoholic drinks and as you journey towards authentic freedom. See you in the next episode.