With many people cutting down on drinking or stopping completely for dry January, drinks brands have started offering a range of alcohol-free alternatives for that Friday night tipple.
From beers to spirits and fizz, we take a look at some of the best to try this month.
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This alcohol-free range of spirits launched in 2014, and has received investment from drinks giant Diageo.
There are currently three Seedlip blends - Spice 94, Garden 108 and Grove 42 - which are best served with tonic or mixed to create sophisticated non-alcoholic cocktails.
Inspired by the ancient tradition of physicians distilling herbal remedies in copper stills, founder Ben set out to re-create this method and launch the world's first non-alcoholic distilled spirit.
Craft distillery, Old Curiosity, has launched its first non-alcoholic spirit, distilled with six natural gin botanicals which combine to deliver a guilt-free tipple that captures the genuine flavour of a real gin.
Containing zero per cent alcohol, The Herb Garden Non-Alcoholic Spirit is the perfect alternative to the usual G&T, ideal for designated drivers or those who simply want to enjoy a gin and tonic without the alcohol or calories.
The Herb Garden Small Batch Non-Alcoholic Spirit (£19.95, 50cl, 0% ABV) is distilled with Juniper, Coriander, Cardamom, Lemon Balm, Yarrow and Calendula, which are grown and hand-picked at the distillery’s very own Secret Herb Garden, based on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
The Secret Garden Non-Alcoholic Gin is completely natural, containing no preservatives or flavourings at all, and is available now online now.
Alcohol-free beer is nothing new but BrewDog launched their non-alcoholic IPA earlier last year - a follow up of Nanny State, which was released in 2009.
The brand say that Punk AF delivers all the attitude and flavour of the flagship Punk IPA – but none of the alcohol, making it a must for IPA and BrewDog fans that are cutting down or not drinking alcohol.
Coming from the phonetic spelling of the Gaelic toast meaning ‘Cheers – to your good health,’ Slange Var is an award-winning non-alcoholic beverage from Scotland.
A zesty low-calorie blend of freshly squeezed lime juice, cold pressed ginger juice, cyder vinegar and Scottish artisan certified heather honey, it is a refreshing drink with a velvety after taste – perfect for those looking for a delicious and healthy alternative to alcohol.
Slange Var recently won the Consumers’ Choice Award at the 2020 SIP Awards as well as the Innovation Award.
The new drink is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Sarah Dougan and Charles Beard, who wanted an alternative to wine to enjoy with meals at home.
Disappointed by the sugary non-alcoholic beverages available, Sarah was spurred into action and started experimenting with her favourite flavours to create a low-calorie drink that would be as interesting and complex as any wine.
Slange Var is available to buy as a single 500ml bottle (£8.75), or in cases of six and 12 (£46.50 and £84.00, respectively.)
A tree is planted for every purchase. To find out more, visit their website.
Named after the old Scottish slang for ‘quiet’, Wheesht is a 0.0% vol dark ruby ale created by the team of brewers at Harviestoun Brewery, based in Alva near Stirling.
The alcohol-free dark ale is rich with aromas of roasted chocolate, sweet biscuit and dried fruit.
Wheesht is available to buy direct from Harviestoun’s online shop in cases of 12 and 24 bottles, including UK-wide next-day delivery.
It is also available to buy from selected Sainsbury’s stores across Scotland, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Stirling, Livingston, Irvine, Prestwick, Hawick, Strathaven, Linlithgow, Kelso, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Kirkaldy and Aberdeenshire.
To find out more, click here.
Picture: Dochus
The latest non-alcoholic spirit launch is Spirits of Virtue’s brand Dochus. Gaelic for ‘Hope’, it has been created to offer a premium drinking experience for those seeking a non-alcoholic dark spirit alternative.
Blended and bottled in Scotland, Dochus is described as ‘third-generation’ product, using an advanced extraction process to derive the character of alcohol from aged wooden casks to create an authentic nose and taste.
Picture: Feragaia
Feragaia is Scotland’s first premium alcohol-free spirit, which has been made from land and sea botanicals. Meaning wild earth, the new alcohol-free spirit, which has an amber hue, is distilled, blended and bottled in the Scottish Lowlands.
Feragaia (fer-a-guy-a) has a complex but clean taste and warming finish, which is best enjoyed over ice or with a light tonic.
Picture: Left Field Kombucha
In 2017 drinks company, Left Field Kombucha, launched the first Kombucha tea to be brewed in Scotland and has gone on to win multiple awards since.
Kombucha tea, which is popular in America, is a raw, fermented cold drink with an unexpected fizz is made from fine loose leaf tea.
Husband and wife team, Geraint Roberts and Jo Easingwood Roberts, spotted that Kombucha fits into the growing trend for healthy, raw food and drink, so set up Scotland’s first commercial Kombucha brewery in the Scottish Borders in 2016.
Another one from Spirits of Virtue, which was established in April 2018 by brothers Roddy Nicoll and Kerr Nicoll to focused on delivering premium non-alcoholic spirit brands to those looking for maximum taste and zero alcohol.
The release of NoSinGin marked the company’s entry into the no and low alcohol market – a product that provided the taste sensation of a small batch gin, but with none of the alcohol.
Listed by Ocado shortly after its release, the company was named as ‘Britain’s Next Top Supplier’ by the online grocer in 2018. Now available in three different varieties, NoSinGin’s early success has led to the company supplying the private label sector.
Using a process of distillation, maceration fermentation, steam extraction and inventive alchemy, NoSinGin gives all the taste sensation of a quality hand made small batch gin but with none of the alcohol.
Picture: Sparkingly Sober
Sparklingly Sober, made in small batches just outside Glasgow, is a non-alcoholic Champagne inspired cocktail range including expressions such as 'Nomosa' and 'Nosé'.
Both are made with Scottish water, with Nomosa blending blood orange, mango and chilli (inspired by a Mimosa cocktail), while Nosé mixes rhubarb, elderflower and ginger spice (taking its inspiration from a sparkling rosé wine).
Each alcohol-free cocktail contains less than 64 calories per 330ml serve making it an ideal choice for anyone looking to banish booze and watch calories this month and beyond.
If you would still like to enjoy a glass of fizz, but don't want any alcohol then Freixenet has the answer with their 0.0% alcohol-free sparkling wine.
A recent addition to the brand's portfolio, Freixenet 0% Alcohol Free Sparkling wine has been created in response to the growing demand of those looking for a quality non alcoholic sparkling wine experience. So you can still raise a celebratory glass, and drive home.
Picture: Æcorn Aperitifs
Blended and bottled in England, Æcorn aperitifs offer those looking to cut down or stop drinking a refreshing alternative to vermouth - ideal for cocktails or as a pre-dinner drink.
Made using 100 per cent English grown Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay grapes, pressed and blended with herbs, roots and bitter botanicals, the three aperitifs named as they taste - dry, bitter and aromatic.
Picture: Borrago Facebook
Borrago is a steam distilled botanical spirit made with non-alcoholic cocktails in mind as it has been designed to be mixed, not drunk straight.
Described as: "Deliciously dry, with sweet floral notes on the nose, a layered, textured middle and a long finish, its a drink worth celebrating with."
Founded by food writer and presenter, Tom Tuke-Hastings, Borrago was born out of Tom's desire to have a drink that is as good as or better than an alcoholic one.
Picture: CeroCero
CeroCero alcohol-free gin is produced in Inverclyde, and recently was available in stores during Lidl's gin festival where it sold out in three days.
Developed through a series of specialised cold-press techniques to extract and suspend botanicals such as juniper, coriander and hibiscus, CeroCero offers all the flavour of a botanical gin with no alcohol.
Meaning it is perfect for those looking to cut down on their alcohol intake, while still enjoying a premium craft spirit this winter.
Picture: Jump Ship
Scotland’s first alcohol-free brewing company, Jump Ship Brewing launched its first beer Yardarm late last year.
Brewed in small batches, Jump Ship Brewing uses natural brewing techniques, combining barley, hops and yeast with soft Scottish water, to create as much flavour as possible, with minimal alcohol.
Available in 330ml cans, Yardarm contains 40 calories per can with roughly a third of the calories found in an equivalent can of 4% ABV beer. At less than 0.5% ABV, it contains roughly the same level of alcohol as a large ripe banana.
In early October 2020, Tennent’s Lager announced the launch of its new 0.0% beer, Tennent’s Zero.
Tennent’s Zero has been made using fresh water from Loch Katrine, the finest hops and Scottish barley, to give it the same great flavor profile as Tennent’s Lager. With just 17kcal per 100ml, Tennent’s Zero will also appeal to those looking to reduce their calorie intake.
Commenting, Iain Telford, senior marketing manager at Tennent’s, said: “Creating Tennent’s Zero has been like the search for the holy grail as we sought to create a 0.0% product but with all the same great taste of Tennent’s Lager. Our master brewers have spent months getting this right and we are truly delighted with the beer that we have created and can’t wait for people to try it.
“Tennent’s Zero meets the growing trends in local, authentic and moderation as our study has found, whilst maintaining that all important taste thanks to the same quality Scottish ingredients that go in to Tennent’s Lager.
“We recognise that there is growing demand amongst consumers for low and no alcohol products and are excited to welcome Tennent’s Zero to our range of lagers which recently included the addition of Tennent’s Light, Scotland’s lowest calorie beer.”
Tennent’s Zero is available in bars, supermarkets, shops and from Tennent’s online store and is the first of Tennent’s smaller pack formats to be packed in card, reinforcing the brewer’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.
Amplify is a distilled non-alcoholic spirit, ideal for a driver’s G&T. Amplify is distilled and made with a host of invigorating ingredients such as juniper berries, coriander seeds, Angelica root, lemon peel, lemongrass and ginseng root.
The team say: “These fragrant botanicals combine with vibrant, punchy orange and citrus to provide a drink that satisfies the taste buds without any need for alcohol.”
The award-winning South Devon based distillery, Salcombe Distilling Co., has recently released a non-alcoholic spirit, ‘New London Light’.
Inspired by London Dry gin, NLL has been developed by master distiller, Jason Nickels, as an addition to the low and no alcohol category.
A spokesperson for Salcombe said: “At just (3kcal/100ml) and alcohol free, in addition to being made with all-natural ingredients chosen principally for their flavour characteristics and complementary health benefits, NLL complements a healthy without compromising on taste.”
