by TM Petaccia

The start of the new year often sees resolutions to get fit as well as at least a temporary halt to drinking alcoholic beverages by participating in Dry January. Yunta Nikkei’s lead mixologist, Ashley Sarkis, doesn’t see why both can’t be a singular path to business success and personal satisfaction.

The award-winning barkeep and certified fitness instructor/trainer has created BarBelle, an enterprise combining her two passions.

“I always have this drive for leveling up for myself, what I can do next, what’s the bigger picture for me,” Sarkis says. “I’ve been teaching fitness for a while as well. So this is just throwing my two lives together.”

Sarkis has been doing beverage consulting for a while, most recently helping with the bar program at Sneak in Elizabeth. “I always urge my clients or potential clients to add non-alcoholic cocktails to their menus,” she says. “To leave them off is doing a disservice, both to themselves by leaving money left on the table and to their guests. Maybe this is where my path is truly taking me. To educate, mentor, and create on the NA side of things.”

On the fitness end, Sarkis has been certified for one-on-one personal trainer for five years, teaching at client’s homes or weather permitting in local parks — as well as being a group instructor at the Dowd YMCA. Her sessions can include everything from total strength training cardio-strength training, kickboxing, circuit training, barre low-impact workouts, and Pilates.

With BarBelle, she is looking for ways to offer events that combine fitness and social NA drinking.

“Eventually, I would like to have a place where all things were in the same spot,” she says. “I want to be able to host fitness events and have the bar.”

Those days are somewhat far off as Sarkis develops her concept further. Currently, she is doing a series of health education, fitness, and wellness popups, including recent events at Sneak and Beyond Amazing Donuts — in addition to her personal and group training, as well as working full time at Yunta.

She sees the growth of non-alcoholic cocktails as more than a trend. “My generation, GenX, are either increasingly not drinking, or we’re doing ‘the zebra,’ having one alcoholic cocktail and then having a nonalcoholic drink. It’s more than a trend. It’s a lifestyle starting to manifest and take a larger role in society. I think we are ready for a space dedicated to that.”

As an example, Sarkis offers this non-alcoholic cocktail recipe using NA spirits available at select wine shops, specialty shops, and SC liquor stores.

Raise the Barre
1.5 oz. Seedlip Grove 42 (NA citrus spirit)
0.5 oz. Giffard Non-Alcoholic Ginger Liqueur
1 oz. Gooseberry Vanilla Syrup*
3 oz. Cara Cara Orange Juice
2 dashes orange bitters

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and double-strain over ice in an old-fashioned or other short glass. Optional: top with club soda. Garnish with an orange slice and/or gooseberries.

*Gooseberry Vanilla Syrup
1 container of Gooseberries
0.25 oz. vanilla bean paste
48 oz. water
24 oz. white sugar

Bring the gooseberries, vanilla, and water to a boil, then turn down the heat and steep for 25 minutes. Strain into a container and stir in the sugar until completely dissolved. Cool and store in the refrigerator.