Between sodas, bottled water, and alcoholic drinks, choices can sometimes feel limited at community events. Sisters Andrea Hall and Lisa Spicer saw a void and decided to fill it with something different.
Their new venture, The Mock Dock, serves colorful, fruit-filled beverages that skip the alcohol but keep all the fun.
“I came up with the idea a couple of years ago and thought it would be perfect, because Owensboro really doesn’t have anything like this,” Hall said. “Anytime you go downtown or to an event, the options are usually water, soda, or alcohol. If you want something fun and different, you usually have to order it with alcohol.”
The idea lingered until Hall and Spicer, who also co-own Duck and Bean Candles, decided to dive in together.
“We finally just made the decision to go for it and give it a try,” Spicer said.
The sisters bought a trailer earlier this year and began serving drinks about a couple of months ago. Since then, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“People have been giving us really great feedback,” Hall said.
The Mock Dock currently offers nearly a dozen drinks, ranging from fruity classics to tropical blends. Family taste-testing helped shape the menu, with plenty of trial and error before recipes were perfected.
“We just kept making adjustments until we got it tasting the way we wanted — different, but good,” Spicer said.
Presentation is just as important as flavor, the sisters said. They top drinks with fresh fruit, umbrellas, and even reusable glowing ice cubes — a detail kids especially love.
“We don’t just buy a premade mix where you add rum,” Hall said. “We use fresh fruit — frozen pineapples, frozen strawberries — and make everything ourselves.”
So far, the runaway favorite is the strawberry mocktail, followed closely by the “Banana Dockery.”
“We’ll see what people like. We enjoy all of them, but everyone has their own favorites,” Hall said.
The Mock Dock already plans to set up at some events this fall. They also plan to roll into neighborhoods like Lanewood and Deer Valley. Updates on where they’ll be will be posted on Facebook and Instagram so fans can follow along.
“Right now we’re mainly setting up on weekends, just to get a feel for how things will go,” Hall said. “But we’re open to whatever opportunities come our way.”
At its heart, The Mock Dock is about inclusivity.
“I just hope more people can enjoy things without needing alcohol,” Hall said. “If people want that, that’s perfectly fine. But some don’t, whether they’re the designated driver, out with family, or kids just wanting something fun. We want to give people another option.”
Looking ahead, Hall and Spicer are already developing fall and winter drinks, experimenting with apple- and spice-inspired mocktails and even unique hot chocolates.
“A lot of our drinks feel very summery, but we’re already planning for fall events,” Spicer said. “We want to create recipes with apples, ciders, wassails, and other warm drinks. Not really coffees — there are already plenty of those — but maybe some unique hot chocolates. We’ve been researching fall and winter mocktails and are excited to start testing them soon.”
