Finger Lakes have always had a clear identity: vineyards spread across the hillsides, tasting rooms along Seneca and Keuka Lakes, and a glass of Riesling at sunset.
As the day winds down, visitors and locals alike want different options, and craft beverages are stepping in. Botanical sodas, small-batch ciders, and THC-infused drinks are all gaining transition among people who want to experiment with new beverage options.
Why People Are Looking Past the Wine List
Wine will always be the anchor, but many people still want options that won’t leave them groggy the next morning or add extra calories to a weekend of tastings. That demand is driving interest in everything hard cider, craft spirits, and alcohol alternatives, with 17% of U.S. adults reported in a Gallup poll that they tried nonalcoholic beer, wine, or spirits in the past year.
Why THC Drinks Are Becoming a Popular Pick
Interest in hemp-derived THC beverages is part of that shift. A 2025 survey found that 80% of adult beverage consumers expected to substitute THC drinks for alcohol on some occasions. These drinks deliver a light, social buzz without the next-day hangover many people associate with alcohol.
THC beverages differ from other cannabis products mainly in timing. They usually deliver the “high” in around 15 minutes and wear off within a couple of hours. Gummies and other common edibles, on the other hand, take roughly 30 to 90 minutes to kick in and can last six to eight hours. If you’re planning an afternoon on a lakeside patio, a THC drink’s shorter, more predictable window is far easier to manage.
Ciders, Small-Batch Brews, and Spirits Are All Taking the Spotlight
Hard cider has a loyal fan base in the Finger Lakes, where generations of family-owned orchards have helped make New York the second-largest apple-producing state in the country. The region now has its own Finger Lakes Cider Trail, and producers like Finger Lakes Cider House and South Hill Cider draw visitors who want the same terroir-driven experience they get from local wineries.
Small distilleries commonly turn local grain and fruit into whiskey, gin, and fruit brandies. Neighborhood breweries, meanwhile, produce seasonal ales and lagers that change with the harvest, so there’s plenty to choose from.
What ties these drinks together is a focus on ingredients and process. Consumers today want to know who made something and where it came from, and that’s where these alternatives are winning.
Non-Alcoholic Options Are Getting More Creative
Curiosity about alternatives is also fueling a boom in drinks with no alcohol at all.
Kombucha
Kombucha’s fermented taste brings both tang and a light fizz, and its probiotic reputation gives health-conscious drinkers another reason to reach for it. You can find them on tap at breweries and farm cafes across the region, often alongside local ciders and craft sodas.
Shrubs
Shrubs blend fruit with vinegar to add some edge to sparkling water. Shrubs blend fruit with vinegar to add some edge to sparkling water, and they have deep roots in the region. Finger Lakes Harvest, based in Dundee, builds its line of shrubs from locally pressed apple cider vinegar.
Mocktails and Botanical Sodas
Bars and restaurants across the Finger Lakes are offering dedicated mocktail menus. Outlet 111 and 18th Amendment, both in Penn Yan on the Keuka Outlet Trail, serve craft non-alcoholic cocktails alongside their regular menus. War Horse Brewing Company on Seneca Lake produces its Iron Heart line of craft sodas for designated drivers and non-drinkers.
Non-Alcoholic Beer
Non-alcoholic beer contains less than 0.5% alcohol by volume, so it’s a solid pick too. Many Finger Lakes breweries now keep at least one low- or no-alcohol option on their tap list. These options work well if you’re an early riser, a designated driver, or just want a quieter night.
Wine Country Has Room for More
Wine remains prominent in the vineyards, tasting rooms, and memories of anyone who has raised a glass to a sunset by the water. But it isn’t the only glass to pick anymore.
From ciders to craft spirits and small-batch beers, the list of options keeps growing, and so does the list of non-alcoholic ones. For those who still want a little buzz, THC drinks offer a low-impact choice that keeps things manageable and enjoyable.
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