A Toast to the Hero Campaign: Mocktail Magic at Josie Kelly’s
It’s officially Herotini Season in Atlantic County—one of my favorite parts of summer! Hosted by the HERO Campaign, this annual challenge invites local restaurants to craft creative mocktails while raising money to promote designated driving. The community votes for their favorites with a donation, making it a fun and meaningful way to support a vital cause.
The Hero Campaign was started by Bill and Muriel Elliott after their son, John R. Eliott was killed in a head-on collision with a drunk driver 2 months after graduating from the US Naval Academy. You can read all about their story and efforts at www.herocampaign.org.
This year, I drove to Josie Kelly’s Public House in Somers Point to enjoy their HEROtini Happy Hour. As soon as you walked into the party room a group of jovial volunteers were there to greet you. I signed in at the table and bought my raffle tickets. Bill and Muriel Elliott welcomed me to the event as I walked in. It’s thanks to their hard work and dedication that this community has a program to promote designated drivers and prevent drunk driving. As someone who has also been impacted by drunk driving, thank you.
Now onto business, to the bar we go!
The bartender, James, was very sweet and patient with me as I stared at him, because bar etiquette is weird. I asked for the Josie Kelly Herotini called Salt of the Earth, an espresso martini made with cold brew and a secret ingredient and a sweet and salty rim. I am not a fan of secret ingredients since my husband is plagued with random and nonsensical allergies. (Like he can have cooked carrots, but not raw, what?!) But I was flying solo tonight, and what’s a party without a little risk! I’m lucky enough to not have to worry about allergies, so cheers!
Oh my gosh, this Herotini is SO GOOD. I get it, it’s just coffee, but so rich, smooth, and the perfect balance of salty and sweet. Delicious! While I sipped on my Herotini, enjoyed the lovely charcuterie spread, and listened to the band play hits like George Michael’s Faith– classic!
More people started to pour in and get their raffle tickets. As the crowd grew the kitchen staff opened the hot buffet and came around with our d'oeuvres. The buffet had chicken and waffles, pub cheese dip, mild wings, french fries, glorious mac and cheese, and build your own sliders. Everything was FABULOUS! The burger was cooked to perfection and the wings were savory with a good bite to them. The mac and cheese, yo, there is a science to a good mac and cheese. The cavatappi pasta, a good cheese sauce, toasted bread crumbs, say no more. I could’ve eaten the whole pan. The kitchen staff offered caprese and smoked salmon crostinis, meatballs, and a few other small bites that I ate, but I’m not sure what they said they were. Either way, amazing!
I watched as the crowd filled the bar and the bartenders ran up and down getting drinks to all the hands in the air. I noticed a large glass filled with a clear bubbly liquid and garnished with mint and a grapefruit slice. Yeah, I’m going to need one of those. I went back to James to see if this was another mocktail I could try. Indeed! It was a Paloma mocktail. A mixture of grapefruit, cinnamon, and cardamom tincture. You can taste the grapefruit and smell the cinnamon with every sip.
The tables were filled with Hero Campaign stickers the perfect size for a bumper sticker or cooler. I grabbed one for the Yeti we take on picnics and to tailgates. Jenny, another amazing force at the Hero Campaign, handed me a rubber bracelet that says, “Be a Hero, Be a Designated Drive.” As the go-to designated driver, this bracelet will likely live on my wrist forever.
After the band wrapped up its first set, the night continued with a raffle of baskets and an auction of Phillies tickets and gift cards. The room filled with laughter and applause. I had my mom and my husband waiting for me at home, so I left the merriment a little early.
Josie Kelly’s did a fantastic job at creating a warm “Irish Pub” atmosphere with top notch food! James and the other bartending staff worked their magic with delectable mocktails. I look forward to the next Hero Campaign event! I will be going to the local area spots that have promoted their Herotini, and I will let you know who I am voting for this year!
Want to support the cause? Find your local Herotini, make a donation, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite at 2025herotini.org! Let’s all be heroes this summer.
The final Sober Party Girl Score: 10 out of 10!!
This post was originally written on 7/12/25
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