Beyond Dry January: Alcohol-Free Drinks Worth Knowing – I don’t know about you, but the very idea of giving up alcohol for one of the most miserable, cold and dull months of the year has never really appealed to me. That said, once January fades and we’re into February — when the pressure of resolutions has eased — it does feel like a good moment to pause and reflect. I know it does us all good to have the occasional ‘dry’ spell, whether that’s a day or two a week, or simply the days when you know you’ll be driving.
So, in the interests of research (purely for you, of course), I’ve been exploring some of the newer alcohol-free drinks on the market this month, and I have to say, it’s been genuinely interesting. What stood out most is just how far alcohol-free options have come — these are no longer worthy substitutes, but drinks that can hold their own, especially when it comes to that much-loved aperitif moment.
If, like me, you’re a fan of an Aperol or Campari spritz, there are quite a few excellent alcohol-free alternatives. One that I was very impressed with indeed is Smiling Wolf Aperitivo, a 0.0% alcohol free bittersweet aperitif crafted in the UK, inspired by the bold, aromatic aperitifs of Northern Italy. With notes of sun-ripened citrus, bitter herbs and aromatic roots, it captures the essence of an evening spritz without the alcohol. The flavour balances zesty orange and rhubarb sweetness with herbal complexity and a lingering dry finish. Around £32 for a 70cl bottle from online stockists including Club Soda and The Dry Drinker
Three Spirit is a range of functional non-alcoholic drinks for those who see wellness as a way to elevate their lifestyle. Well, they certainly taste pretty good, and they harness the power of plants.There are three variants and each is powered by adaptogens and nootropics, with different serving suggestions: neat on the rocks, with ginger ale or with tonic, but you can experiment. Nightcap, a non-alcoholic elixir including lemon balm, valerian, hops and ashwagandha is a good whisky alternative. Livener, a non-alcoholic botanical elixir including guayusa, schisandara, guava leaf and ginseng for an energising pick me up and a good G&T replacement. Social, a non-alcoholic botanical elixir including cacao, lion’s mane and damiana, and designed as a dark spirit alternative, delicious with ginger ale.They’re available from Ocado at £21 for a 50cl bottle.
Making a drink from trees? Yes, indeed and it’s rather good. Tree company Sylva’s latest limited release is Sylva Orchard, an aged non-alcoholic spirit that captures the vibrancy of British orchards and barley fields, balanced with a gentle smokiness. It’s the third release from the innovative Sylva distillery and maturation lab, founded by Ben Branson, to explore the untapped flavour of trees. The distillery uses a pioneering production and sonic maturation process, invented by Branson, to make dark non-alcoholic spirits. Sylva can already be found in Michelin starred restaurants, award-winning cocktail bars and luxury retailers like Selfridges. Sylva Orchard can be enjoyed neat over ice, or long with soda and a slice of apple. £40 for a 50cl bottle from www.sylvalabs.com
Another company producing a very passable and palatable alternative to spirits is new to the UK, and currently only available at Fortnum & Mason, NietsCo. is already recognised internationally as a leader in alcohol-free spirits. Its products are distilled, not blended – using traditional techniques, fine botanicals and barrel ageing, resulting in alcohol-free spirits with real depth, texture and aromatic nuance. Botaniets Original 0.0% (£35) is a crisp, herbaceous, triple-distilled spirit with juniper, cardamom, rosemary and citrus; an elegant base for alcohol-free G&Ts and cocktails.
What if beer is your usual tipple? Well, Butcombe Brewing Co’s Goram IPA Zero has all the taste of Butcombe’s Goram IPA but with none of the alcohol. It’s one of the most highly awarded IPAs in the world, having won gold medals at the World Beer and World Alcohol Free Awards along with BBI, SIBA and Taste of the West Gold medals. Based on Butcombe’s Goram IPA recipe, Goram IPA Zero is a refreshing and easy to drink IPA made with a punchy blend of English, US and New Zealand hops, which balance aromatic stone fruit, citrus and bitter notes. It’s also Vegan friendly. Goram IPA Zero is available in 330ml bottles and 440ml cans and available in 330ml bottles – from Amazon, retailers across the UK and online from Butcombebrewery.co.uk at £21 for 12 x 440ml cans
No and Lo wines can be rather a mixed bag. However, companies like award-winning Wednesday’s Domaine are really worth checking out. It has a range of six premium wines – all at 0.0% ABV, low calorie and fully vegan. The range includes: Cuvée (0.0%) – a sparkling rose with notes of red fruits and ginger, to raise a glass for a celebratory toast; Éclat (0.0%) – a sparkling white and Vignette (0.0%) – an award-winning rich and warming still red with notes of dark fruit, spice and forest floor; Sanguine (0.0%) Lively and fruit-forward, still lighter-bodied red offers berry notes and a smooth finish; Piquant (0.0%) is a zesty still white, made with Airen Blanco grapes, making it a versatile wine for any white wine lover and last but not least, Elan (0.0%) a pink-hued, still rosé, with crisp acidity and light, herbaceous notes. These are very good indeed and available from £14.99 at selected outlets including Ocado and wednesdaysdomaine.com
Tesco always stocks an excellent range of well-priced alcohol free wines, and the Vineyards Range is very reasonably priced at just £3.25 a bottle. The flavour is excellent but don’t, like my husband was, be tempted to quaff most of the bottle in one evening – strangely, he woke with a slight hangover the following morning, something that hitherto was a distant memory. But drinking in moderation, it’s very acceptable, especially for the price. There is also Hardys Alcohol free Chardonnay at £4.25, that, while tasting slightly ‘thin’, perhaps is still a very pleasant drink, again at a bargain price.
A drink that isn’t pretending to be like an alcoholic one, is Belly Dance, a kefir soda that delivers a unique three-strain probiotic blend with billions of live cultures and just one gram of sugar, making it one of the cleanest functional drinks in the UK. Unlike kombucha, which is brewed from tea and can be more acidic, Belly Dance uses water kefir – a fermentation of water, kefir grains and natural sugars – to create a softer, more approachable base. The brand then layers in natural fruit and botanical infusions for what it calls a “dance floor for your gut”. Available in three flavours: Cherry Berry; Kiwi Mango and Fiery Ginger at over 100 stores including Fortnum and Mason, premium grab-and-go chains and directly from drinkbellydance.com
The Seasoned Gastronome