Columbus bartender featured in ‘Forbes’ story about national drink trends

Cobra, the popular Brewery District spot for cocktails and late night eats, has landed another spot in the national limelight.

Yesterday, Forbes published a story called “55 Bartenders and Industry Professionals Share Their Beverage Trend Predictions for 2025,” and it turned to Cobra bar manager David Yee for his prediction.

Here’s what Yee said:

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A drink trend we’re seeing is doubling down on the importance of low and no-proof options in the bar. At Cobra, we use our NA offerings as a way to share our Asian American flavor perspective with our guests who choose not to imbibe. Our Pool Float captures all the fun of the serrano and cilantro brightness in our Above Ground Pool without the tequila. The rise in high-quality non-alcoholic beer and spirit options has also allowed us to add a no-proof boilermaker to our menu, letting us share a combination that fully captures our neighborhood bar atmosphere for our less cocktail-inclined drinkers. The All Gas No Brakes is a shot of Pathfinder NA Amaro and a can of a locally owned NA IPA. 

He’s not wrong, either. Low-proof cocktails continue to pop up around the city, and–while it shuttered after less than a year–Columbus was home to its very own alcohol-free bar when The Dry Mill was still open Downtown.

This is also one of many national features Cobra has earned since opening in the fall of 2023, including being named one of the 10 best new cocktail bars in the Central Region of the Spirited Awards, and Punch Drunk tapping Cobra as one of the country’s five best new bars.

Want to read more? Check out our print publications, (614) Magazine and Stock & Barrel. Learn where you can find free copies of our newest issues here!

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