Love the social side of drinking, but not the hangover that comes with it? Increasing numbers of Aussies are ditching the booze, but not the cocktails. Here's why.
Food & Wine
Curious No.1 Booze-Free Cocktail, 4 Pack
7 alcohol-free drinks that will delight
No hangovers here - these alcohol-free alternatives are even better than the original
Whether you’re someone who likes a glass of wine after work, or a few beers on the weekend, we probably all know the feeling of waking up with a fuzzy head after a few too many drinks.
But if you’re starting to wonder about the impact alcohol is having on your life, you’re not alone. More and more people are questioning their motives for drinking and assessing whether it needs to play a part in their life.
It’s called the movement to sobriety and it’s where people are choosing to give up alcohol for personal or health reasons.
This movement has been vetted through initiatives like Dry July and Sober October where people give up alcohol for a month to break the habit of drinking without thinking, but as more people begin to take on this lifestyle change all year round, alcohol free alternatives are popping up all of the place.
So, if you want to have your gin and drink it to, check out the best seven drinks for your end of day knock off.
McGuigan Zero-Rose
As spring approaches and we start to feel the warmer weather, an ice-cold rose is the perfect accompaniment to afternoon or weekend drinks.
But you don’t have to give up those berry and stone fruit flavours we all love from a traditional rose, because this bottle is just as punchy – minus the buzz.
And for only $9.95 a bottle, you can’t go wrong.
Sobah Craft Beer
If you think non-alcoholic beer just won’t be as good as the real thing, Sobah is here to quash your concerns. Proudly Aboriginal owned and led, it’s Australia's first non-alcoholic craft beer company.
Crafted with only the highest quality ingredients, just like a ‘normal’ beer, Sobah is chemical-free, preservative-free and doesn’t use any additional processes to remove alcohol.
With currently seven flavours in their repertoire including Lemon Aspen Pilsner, Pepperberry IPA and Finger Lime Cerveza, Sobah has many more in the works.
Ariel Cabernet Sauvignon
Sometimes you just feel like a hearty glass of red, and this one is California’s finest.
Aged in oak barrels with a deep berry flavour, this non-alcoholic alternative will make you feel as though you never gave up the real thing at all – it’s that good!
At $15 a bottle, it’s also a lot cheaper than other reds that boast the same flavour notes.
Lyre’s Dry London Gin
Not many things are more satisfying than the first sip of a well made G&T, but when you can have the real taste, minus the alcohol content, we may have just found a winner.
Crafted to capture the classic flavours of Gin, think juniper, pepperberry and citrus mixed in with an earthy flavour and pairs well with your favourite tonic or soda water.
So slice up the cucumber, get a sprig of rosemary and kick back!
Curious No.1 Booze-Free Cocktail, 4 Pack
There’s no need to do any mixing with this cocktail, because Curious design their drinks to be sipped straight from the bottle.
Their No.1 cocktail is inspired by a Negroni, so you know it’s going to be good. You can expect the taste of herbs, adaptogens and a few different juices, as well as a more bitter pomegranate taste, which is synonyms to a traditional Negroni.
And perhaps the best part about this alcohol-free cocktail is it’s packed with golden root extract, which is said to boost energy – isn’t that a nice change from a normal cocktail!
Henkell Alcohol Free Sparkling White
When those celebratory moments arise, it’s still nice to be able to pop a bottle of (non-alcoholic) champagne, and we’ve found the prefect one!
With the classic flavours of pear, apple and peach, it’s no wonder why Henkell remain one of the favourite sparkling wine brands on the planet.
Don’t be put off by the $14 price tag, it really is just as good as the original.
Bilpin Cider
When you’re not feeling like a wine, a beer or a mixed drink, in walks Bilpin Cider.
Naturally gluten free, and with no added sugar, the sweetness from the fresh apples and the fizz from the fermentation is what gives Bilpin the edge over other non-alcoholic ciders.
And what’s better is that it’s the type of cider that lends itself well to fruit cocktails, so you can make a crisp punch for a BBQ and no one will even know it’s alcohol free!
With so many Australians choosing to give up drinking for either a short stint, or a more permanent lifestyle, it’s nice to see so many companies coming to the party and offering alternatives that are so much like the original, you’ll wonder why you didn’t give up alcohol sooner.
Go on, give them a go next time you’re cracking one open after a hard days work.
