Desk of Contents:
- An Intro to Dry January
- Non-Alcoholic Spirits
- Non-Alcoholic Cocktails (Mule, Mojito, Bee’s Knees, Elderflower & Tonic)
- Premade Non-Alcoholic Drinks
- Mixers
- Options to Alcohol
- Non-Alcoholic Beer & Wine
- Buying Listing
- Bar Instruments
- Last Ideas
It’s that point of yr already! Whereas alcohol consumption is up in the course of the holidays, it might be time to rethink your relationship with alcohol for the month of Dry January.
What the heck is “Dry January,” you ask? For some folks (reminiscent of common drinkers who possibly partied somewhat too arduous in December), it’s abstaining from alcohol by the whole month of January in an effort to reset.
Many individuals go dry on weekdays solely throughout this time period– so don’t suppose it’s all or nothing in the event you’re not fairly prepared to surrender your glass of wine! But for others, they flip a dry month right into a yearlong life-style of specializing in nonalcoholic drinks.
Or possibly you’re pregnant (or your associate is) or sober, however you’d nonetheless prefer to get pleasure from a inventive cocktail. Regardless of the cause– whether or not you’re a average drinker who simply desires to rethink your alcohol consumption, otherwise you’re able to dwell a sober life-style– you shouldn’t have to surrender your favourite drinks fully.
Since extreme ingesting has been on the rise in the course of the pandemic, we actually need to give attention to how you can make scrumptious, spirit-free cocktails and luxuriate in different drinks reminiscent of nonalcoholic beer and wine. Whether or not you view it as a well being development or a lifestyle, we have now you coated for what non-alcoholic drinks to get pleasure from in January and past.
SPIRIT-FREE SPIRITS
What am I even speaking about? Sure, there actually are spirits which might be nonetheless carefully-crafted whereas leaving out the booze. We’ve had the good thing about making an attempt many samples, and we even host company-wide month-to-month comfortable hours the place we make our favourite cocktails– sans alcohol– utilizing Seedlip, one in all these alcohol-free spirits.
You’ll discover a few our recipes beneath name for what appears to be like like booze, nevertheless it’s truly a craft, non-alcoholic, distilled “spirit” that you should use instead of alcohol.
Now, don’t anticipate it to style like precise liquor. These alcohol-free spirits have their very own distinct, usually earthy flavors that approximate– however don’t truly mirror– the flavour of alcohol.
Listed here are a few of our favourite suggestions:
- Seedlip: That is the one we use essentially the most at A Bar Above, together with all of our company-wide conferences. They provide three expressions: Backyard, Spice, and Grove. Click on the Seedlip hyperlink to listen to Chris’ interview with their model ambassador concerning the totally different taste profiles.
- Monday: With whiskey and gin alternate options, you possibly can recreate many basic cocktails with Monday’s non-alcoholic spirits.
- Amass: Though they’re identified for his or her alcoholic spirits, Amass additionally makes a zero-proof spirit utilizing gin botanicals– though they are saying to not anticipate a gin proxy, per se.
- Lyre’s: This one’s a novel possibility, as Lyre’s Italian Orange is a spirit-free Campari various, excellent to your non-alcoholic Negroni.
- Pathfinder: Constituted of hemp, Pathfinder gives one alcohol-free spirit that mixes the difficult flavors of orange, juniper, ginger, and sage, amongst different botanicals.
- Ritual: With 4 totally different kinds of NA spirits, Ritual has you coated by way of versatility with their zero-proof tequila, rum, whiskey, and gin.
EASY NON-ALCOHOLIC COCKTAILS
In fact, we’re not saying you possibly can’t have a cocktail once in a while, however we’re all about steadiness right here at A Bar Above– Heck, you should use our bar instruments to make any type of blended drink, so it undoubtedly doesn’t must have booze in it so far as we’re involved!
Typically known as virgin cocktails or mocktails (a typical time period that I’ll use all through this text for the sake of familiarity and Google searches), let’s discover some scrumptious alcohol-free cocktails.
MULE MOCKTAIL
Some of the-searched mocktail recipes, this refreshing drink is a enjoyable technique to skip the alcohol with out chopping out taste. And with out alcohol, it’s tremendous easy!
- ½-1 oz of Recent Lime Juice (relying on private choice)
- 6+ oz of Ginger Beer
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Squeeze your required quantity of lime juice into your copper mug or Collins glass with ice.
- High with ginger beer.
- Utilizing a bar spoon, give a fast stir to combine the components.
- Garnish with a slice of lime.
Whilst you may theoretically add a non-alcoholic spirit in lieu of vodka (the spirit historically utilized in Moscow Mules), the ginger beer will actually dominate the drink anyway, so it’s a little bit of a waste so as to add anything.
Nevertheless, in the event you needed so as to add much more sweetness (and also you don’t thoughts the sugar) to a barely spicy ginger beer, you could possibly add 1 oz of easy syrup. Actually, it’s principally a ginger beer mocktail with some lime for further taste; nonetheless, it’s a refreshing, non-alcoholic possibility all yr lengthy.
Picture by Tatyana Vega through Unsplash
SOCAL SODA: A PLAY ON A MOJITO MOCKTAIL
This enjoyable mocktail mojito recipe comes from our resident bartender, Rob Harrah, and brings somewhat taste to the non-alcoholic expertise. Whereas a basic mojito consists of white rum, you’ll discover there isn’t any substitute right here, as there’s already sufficient happening within the taste division.
- 3/4 oz Passionfruit Syrup
- 1/4 oz Lime Juice
- 3 Mint Leaves
- 4 oz of Soda Water/Membership Soda
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Muddle mint leaves in a Collins glass.
- Add all different components with out ice.
- Give all of the components a robust stir to combine, after which add ice cubes.
- Garnish your virgin mojito with a lime wheel and mint sprig.
BEE’S KNEES
Delivered to you by Rob, this non-alcoholic blended drink requires both of two expressions of Seedlip, relying on which you like and/or what you’ve gotten available.
- 2 oz Seedlip Grove or Spice 94, relying on private choice
- 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
- 3/4 oz Honey Syrup (You too can make your personal with water, sugar, and honey.)
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Mix all components right into a cocktail shaker tin with ice, and shake till blended and chilled.
- Pressure with a Hawthorne strainer into a favourite martini or coupe glass.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel.
THE CUKE & TONIC
A zero-proof marriage considerably between a gin and tonic and a cucumber martini, this very refreshing summer time mocktail is nice all yr spherical.
- 1/2 oz Elderflower Syrup
- 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
- 3 slices of Cucumber
- 4 oz Tonic Water
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Muddle the cucumbers in a shaker tin.
- Add the whole lot however the tonic.
- Calmly shake– solely to combine– then double-strain with a Hawthorne and high quality strainer right into a Collins glass.
- Add the tonic water first, after which add ice.
- Garnish with a cucumber slice and lemon wheel.
In fact, with liquor alternate options, you possibly can sub them into your favourite conventional cocktails as effectively, however hopefully these mocktail recipes are inspiring sufficient to get you began.
SUPER EASY PRE-MADE, NON-ALCOHOLIC COCKTAILS
Should you don’t need to make your personal drinks or are heading to a mocktail occasion and wish one thing straightforward to carry alongside, these zero-proof drinks are about as straightforward as they arrive. The cool factor about these, too, is that they normally are available packs of 4 or extra for sharing choices.
- DRY Soda: You’ll by no means get tired of the abundance of flavors that DRY offers! Meant to be a non-alcoholic beverage for sober adults to get pleasure from, the flavors are complicated and distinctive. You possibly can hear extra about DRY in Chris’ interview with the corporate’s founder, Sharelle Klaus.
- SPIRITY Cocktails: With choices like a zero-proof margarita, non-alcoholic negroni, and a mocktail mule, these canned virgin cocktails are nice for taking to events.
- Casamara Membership: Described as a leisure soda, Casamara Membership gives a wide range of alternate options to canned blended drinks that comprise booze. You possibly can hearken to Chris’ interview with founder Jason La Valla to be taught extra in regards to the firm.
- Curious Elixirs: Curious gives a month-to-month field of booze-free cocktails that emulate basic blended drinks just like the Manhattan– though I’ve discovered that it’s good to go in with out expectations and recognize these mocktails for what they’re as a substitute of making an attempt to check them to their alcoholic counterparts.
- Mingle: This glowing mocktail could be very mild and refreshing; it doesn’t have a bitter chunk that tries to copy alcohol, nevertheless it’s scrumptious (I like the blackberry hibiscus bellini) and would even make a terrific mixer in the event you felt compelled to combine it with liquor or a non-alcoholic spirit.
MIXERS TO ENJOY WITH NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS AND ALTERNATIVES TO ALCOHOL
Word: Should you permit very small quantities of alcohol throughout your month of abstinence from booze, you may as well add a pair drops of bitters to your mocktails.
MIXERS
- Ginger beer: Our group group of bartenders particularly recommends Fever Tree.
- Ginger ale
- Soda water
- Tonic water: Once more, our Fb group suggests Fever Tree. (Should you’re conscious of the well being advantages of chopping alcohol and likewise need to watch your sugar consumption, take a look at the tonic and different sodas from Zevia.)
- Juice (Slightly can go a great distance right here– Typically all you want is a splash! Keep in mind, fruit juices naturally comprise a variety of sugar as effectively.)
- Recent lime juice and contemporary lemon juice (normally small quantities as much as 1-2 tbsp max)
ALTERNATIVES TO LIQUOR
Should you’re searching for an alcohol-free possibility that requires zero effort and accommodates only a few (if any) energy– and also you don’t need premade “virgin drinks” out of a can– attempt a few of these alternate options while you’d repeatedly have a cocktail.
- Kombucha: There are a number of manufacturers to select from at each grocery retailer now, however you may as well take a web page out of my pandemic pocket book and begin making your personal! If that’s not your factor, I personally advocate Higher Booch and Native Roots’ NA variations.
- Tea: With or with out caffeine, sizzling or iced, tea is a good way to keep away from alcohol; it is available in such a wide selection of flavors that you could be by no means really feel restricted by your choices.
- Glowing water/seltzer water or flavored water like La Croix or Bubly
- Ginger ale or ginger beer (In fact, these do comprise extra sugar than, say, unsweetened tea or glowing water, so we don’t advocate ingesting them on their very own too usually– I favor them as mixers myself, however a few of my household enjoys them on their very own as a result of they provide a variety of taste.)
NON-ALCOHOLIC BEERS AND WINES
This aspect of the trade has come a great distance, so O’Doul’s shouldn’t be your solely possibility anymore! I requested my husband, the beer professional in our home, to weigh in on a few of his favourite craft non-alcoholic beers and likewise polled our Fb group teams for his or her favourite choices.
NON-ALCOHOLIC BEERS
- Two Roots Brewing Co.: The Straight Dank IPA is a typical staple in our home, however Two Roots at present makes three different expressions– I personally have my eye on the Darkish Cookies milk stout.
- Surreal Brewing: Whereas my husband recommends the Milkshake IPA, Surreal truly gives a bunch of NA beer choices in a variety of kinds– somewhat one thing for everybody!
- Lagunitas IPNA: Chances are you’ll be accustomed to this brewery already, however do you know they’ve a zero-proof model of their IPA? Effectively, they do, and lots of people swear by it!
- Ceria: With two totally different kinds, Ceria appeals to each hop-lovers and beer-drinkers preferring a lighter white ale– sans alcohol.
- WellBeing: Starting from a golden wheat to an IPA to a espresso brew, WellBeing actually gives a zero-proof beer for all beer lovers who need the flavour with out the thrill.
- Hop Wtr: So, you possibly can’t actually name it a non-alcoholic beer, per se… However Hop Wtr is a zero-calorie glowing water made with hops for a beer-like style.
NON-ALCOHOLIC WINES
Our associates over at Higher Rhodes have a terrific assortment of non-alcoholic wine, particularly in the event you’d prefer to attempt a range to see which you want greatest. You too can hearken to Chris’ interview with Chris Becker from Higher Rhodes for extra non-alcoholic beverage ideas and suggestions, too.
Listed here are just a few NA wine suggestions we received from our Fb group teams and from Higher Rhodes:
- Fre Wines: Most likely one of the well-known alcohol-free wines, Fre gives a wide range of kinds so that you can have at your subsequent ebook membership while you don’t need to drink liquor.
- Noughty: A preferred non-alcoholic glowing wine various, Noughty will make you are feeling fancy with out feeling tipsy.
- Certainly: You’ll find a number of Certainly merchandise at Higher Rhodes, together with glowing wine, white wine, and rosé.
- Pierre: This model has a variety of totally different choices, each with and with out alcohol– Their non-alcoholic choice is certainly the most important I’ve seen, and so they’re usually featured at Higher Rhodes.
- Proteau: Is it a spirit? Is it a wine? Proteau form of walks the road between each and has two expressions– a “spritz” and a purple.
YOUR DRY JANUARY SHOPPING LIST
Even in the event you simply want somewhat break from alcohol, your buying listing isn’t going to look too totally different out of your common one to your subsequent cocktail occasion. You can also make nice drinks with a lot of enjoyable components, even in the event you’re skipping the booze.
In addition to the non-alcoholic spirits and mixers listed above, if both cocktails or alcohol-free drinks are your factor, listed here are some issues you need to at all times have available.
MOCKTAIL INGREDIENT LIST
Recent components will take you actually far in your cocktail-making journey– with or with out liquor– so most of our extra buying listing is contemporary produce and herbs to your drink recipes. You too can add issues based mostly on seasonal flavors (like cranberries within the winter, for instance).
- Limes: Nice for contemporary lime juice, but in addition including a lime wedge to any drink provides somewhat one thing, particularly in the event you’re ingesting one thing easy like flavored soda water. (Give your slices of lime somewhat squeeze so as to add lime taste to your drink earlier than including as a garnish.)
- Lemons for a similar cause as limes
- Oranges (particularly for orange peel garnishes)
- Cane sugar/granulated sugar for making easy syrups
- Recent mint leaves and different herbs (I like a rosemary sprig in a cocktail this time of yr!)
- Cocktail cherries for garnish
- Recent fruit of alternative for muddling or throwing in your drink– I like to recommend berries like raspberries, strawberries, and cranberries– in addition to watermelon– relying on the season. You can also make syrups, muddle them into cocktails, and create garnishes.
Word: In my expertise, blueberries don’t add a ton of taste until made right into a syrup.
COCKTAIL EQUIPMENT LIST
No matter whether or not or not you embrace alcohol in your cocktails, you’ll want some fundamental gear for all of your blended drinks. Listed here are our fundamental suggestions, though the probabilities are, after all, practically infinite:
Picture copyright A Bar Above 2021
- Cocktail shaker: We advocate our personal Boston shaker to get you began– You possibly can shake and blend in your shaker tins.
- Hawthorne strainer: Our Hawthorne strainer is designed to suit completely into our Boston shaker and is made with a super-strong deal with.
- Jigger: It’s actually simply private choice in the event you select the Japanese or bell jigger for measuring your liquids, however you’ll undoubtedly need one or the opposite as a result of ours have each measurement line you could possibly ask for.
- Glassware: Should you don’t know something about cocktail glasses, a pair rocks glasses and coupe glasses are a terrific place to begin– however you may as well click on on the “glassware” hyperlink for a complete information to all issues cocktail glasses.
- Bonus gear: Muddler for muddling herbs and fruit, bar spoon and mixing glass for spirit-forward stirred drinks (not shaken– You too can begin with simply the spoon and use your shaker tin), citrus juicer, high quality strainer for double-straining your cocktails that comprise fruit and herbs, and cocktail picks for garnishes
DELICIOUS DRINKS FOR DRY JANUARY
Simply since you’re skipping the boozy drinks doesn’t imply it’s important to surrender on tasty, complicated flavors. Whether or not you make a non-alcoholic drink at dwelling or go to a bar (there are even sober bars!), you clearly have loads of choices.
We’d love to listen to all about your favourite alcohol-free alternate options in our Craft Cocktail Membership; and in the event you make any of our beneficial mocktails, we’d like to know what you suppose. No matter you’re ingesting this yr, we positive hope it’s scrumptious– as a result of since you’re alcohol-free doesn’t imply you don’t must settle. Cheers!
