2023 was the year I fell in love with the mocktail.
Until last year I had generally resisted non-alcoholic beverages. Not because I’m opposed to sobriety, but because I’m a beer drinker. The vast majority of N/A beers I’ve tried lack body or carbonation, or taste unappealing. I’d rather go for sparkling water with citrus to quench my thirst.
But over the summer I got sick and needed powerful antibiotics that required me to stop drinking for two weeks. Not even mouthwash with trace amounts of alcohol in it, the doctor said. So I parlayed that into a sober month because why the heck not?
It had been a while since I’d cut out booze; after all, I’m a writer who specializes in beverages, and my husband owns a restaurant and whiskey bar. I quickly realized I was feeling empty handed and thirsty – oh so freaking thirsty.
Luckily, hubby was testing recipes for a new non-alcoholic cocktail menu, and I learned you don’t have to sacrifice satisfaction or refreshment when drinking an N/A beverage. His secret ingredient: A tangy vinegar shrub to deepen the drink’s complexity. You wouldn’t even know the booze was missing.
I am, of course, late to the movement as the category has been growing in recent years. Between August 2021 and August 2022, consumers spent $395 million on packaged non-alcoholic drinks, a year-over-year increase of nearly 21%, according to Nielsen. And that doesn’t account for on-premise sales at bars and restaurants.
In that time, more than 70 unique N/A products entered the market, the market research firm said. Most of those were beers, but I also recently tried a sparkling wine that was good enough to fool the best palates. (Or mine at least.)
To celebrate Dry January, here are three non-alcoholic beverages I have tried and can offer with confidence you’ll enjoy them.
Fre Sparkling Brut
Fans of dry and crisp wines won’t be disappointed by Fre’s Sparkling Brut, made in California by Sutter Home. I was first introduced to this wine at a baby shower, where many moms-to-be were gleefully enjoying it by the glass.
To make its wines, Fre follows the traditional fermentation processes and then removes the alcohol using “spinning cone technology,” which it says evaporates the alcohol while maintaining the integrity of the wine.
The Sparkling Brut is fizzy and flavorful with a tongue-clicking dry finish. I can’t speak for the company’s other offerings, but I’d be willing to try them based on this one. frewines.com
Strawberry Aperitif Spritz
Looking to mix up mocktails at home? Consider adding a shrub to your bar.
Shrubs, also known as drinking vinegars, combine fruit, sugar and acid into tart and tangy flavoring agents that offer a bite akin to alcohol. They’re easy to make or many companies sell pre-made ones, depending on your preference.
This cocktail specifically also leverages Giffard Aperitif (or Giffard Bitter) syrup, a booze-free substitute for bitter liqueurs like Campari.
Make the drink by combining 2 ounces of Giffard Aperitif/Bitter, ¾ ounces of a strawberry-basil shrub, and 1 ounce of orange juice into a wine glass over ice and top with 4 ounces of soda water. Garnish with a dried orange wheel or slice of fresh orange.
Grüvi Golden Lager
Of the N/A beers I’ve tried, Denver-based Grüvi makes one I would return to. While not overly flavorful or exciting, the Golden Lager is well-balanced and well-carbonated. But don’t just take my word for it. Judges awarded this beer a gold medal in the non-alcoholic category at the 2022 World Beer Cup. getgruvi.com
