(Tried, tested & unsponsored)

Whoever invented ‘Dry January’ must have been a right bore. As if January wasn’t already depressing enough, let’s just make you feel guilty about having a small glass of wine on a Friday night (or bottle… who am I kidding). However, even though I’m not a fan of it, my gut health and waistline certainly are. Most weeks of the year I have a general rule to only drink between Thursday – Saturdays. The rest of the week I normally just drink fizzy water (sugary drinks are terrible for you, even the ones with aspartame).

But this month I’ve cut right back, apart from the wine tastings that I had to do in my wine classes (I spat out most of them, except the really expensive ones, because to spit out a fine aged Tokaji should frankly be a crime!) and that one time last week when I drank nearly a bottle of Mâcon-Villages at the Caledonian Club, but I can’t help that their waiters are so attentive and generous when it comes to refills!

Anyway, here are my top NOLOs (no alcohol / low alcohol) to help you get through the month:

1. Sparkling tea from ‘REAL Royal Flush’

This is one of my favourite discoveries of the year. It’s a lightly fermented tea, similar to Kombucha but without that weird sourness you often find in Kombucha that makes you scrunch your face up. It’s a great replacement for sparkling drinks – very well balanced with good acidity, sweetness, and even has a bit of tannin which gives it body. I was really impressed with it and it’s definitely going on my standard shopping list, either on its own to drink on a Wednesday or in between drinks to slow down but still enjoy myself. 

Available at Waitrose and on their website.

2. Counter Culture

Another excellent sparkling tea/light Kombucha based out of Bristol with a ‘craft beer’ vibe. They come in a range of interesting flavours including:

• Lemongrass & Ginger
• Rhubarb & Hibiscus
• Mango, Ginger & Lime
• Spiced Blackcurrant

They are a bit too niche for online supermarkets, but I successfully ordered a whole case over the weekend and can vouch that they are very easy drinking and refreshing, but some taste more like a softdrink than a NOLO.

Available on their website.

3. Zeno ‘Alcohol-Liberated’ Sparkling

Another great alternative for sparkling wines, the sparkling white is possibly the closest you’ll get to a non-alcoholic champagne. It has notes of green apple, elderflower, lemon zest, lemon thyme and hints of brioche. Overall refreshingly light and very mooreish.

They also have a rosé, red and white wine, but I haven’t tried those just yet – most of the NOLO reds wines I’ve sampled just end up tasting of grape juice, but I look forward to being proven wrong one day..

Available at Waitrose and on their website.

4. Pentire

I had my first sample of Pentire at the Waitrose Winter Food & Drink Festival* and was very pleasantly surprised by how good it tasted.

They are based from Cornwall, using local botanicals with 3 main varieties:

• Adrift: infused with Rock Samphire, Sage, Pentire Plant Blend, Lemon Citrus, Cornish Sea Salt
• Seaward: infused with Pink Grapefruit, Sea Rosemary, Woodruff, Sea Buckthorn and Wild Seaweed
• Coastal Spritz: infused with Blood Orange, Sea Rosemary, Oakwood, Pentire Plant Blend, Agave and Quinine

Both ‘Adrift’ and ‘Seaward’ are a great substitute for gin, and the ‘Coastal Spritz’ is great for an Aperol Spritz. They also have a ‘Margarita’ version which I have yet to try.

* I would not recommend actually going to the Waitrose Winter Food & Drink Festival – you still have to pay for your ticket and basically just go around sampling foods you could easily just buy at Waitrose without having to travel all the way to a dodgy part of London. Yes you get some free samples, but they’re not technically free because it’s a ticketed event.  

Available at Waitrose & on their website.

5. Impossibru *MUST TRY*

I’ve tried a few alcohol-free beers in my time, but this one not only tastes better than most but also mimics the relaxing qualities that you get when drinking alochol. Their trademarked ‘ Social Blend’ has the following ingredients which work as dopaminergic receptors to help you unwind without drowsiness, and most importantly without a hangover:

• L-Theanine (Green tea): a superfood discovered in Japan it is an active amino acid known for relaxation and anxiety-relief;
• Ashwagandha root: an evergreen shrub from Asia and Africa that is commonly used for stress relief;
• Vitamin B1: an essential micronutrient which helps reduce fatigue; and
• 5-HTP (Griffonia Seed): a natural building block of serotonin, linked to better sleep, and improved mood.

Having had two pints the night I wrote this I can vouch that it did genuinely make me feel relaxed – I experienced the familiar sensation you get with a good Bordeaux where the tension eases in your shoulders, your chest gets a little warm, the sofa feels softer and your problems don’t seem so bad (wow do I sound like an acoholic!). Apparently it also helps you sleep better and have more vivid dreams so I will revert back if it works [post-edit – it did actually work, I even slept through 3 alarms!].

The creator, Mark Wong even recently appeared on Dragons’ Den but he didn’t get any investments in the end (which I think was a big mistake).

Currently only available on their website and from a few smaller retailers.

 

I hope this list helps some of you avoid softdrinks/cordials in the evenings and turn to something a little more exciting, whilst also making it through dry January – stay strong! 💪🏼