What to Drink in Dry January

[Note: This article has been updated from a previous 2021 version.]

Desk of Contents:

• Intro to Dry January
• Alternate options to Alcohol
• NA Spirits
• Mocktails with out NA Bases
• NA Cocktails (1. Mule, 2. Balsamic Cocktail)
• Last Ideas

 

Let’s be trustworthy: Whether or not resulting from anxiousness or boredom or all these Zoom blissful hours, alcohol consumption is on the rise throughout the pandemic. So whereas “Dry January” is a standard New Yr’s decision to get folks again on observe to more healthy residing (particularly after a decadent vacation season), a few of us might have this reset much more than standard. However that doesn’t imply you need to solely drink water or children’ “virgin” daiquiris. There are so many inventive methods to skip the alcohol and nonetheless drink one thing tasty– all yr spherical!

 

 

SO WHAT IS DRY JANUARY?

It’s actually a factor! The Alcohol Change within the UK endorses a proper marketing campaign every year to encourage folks to cease ingesting for the month of January. Though the idea stems again to a minimum of 1942, this extra official effort was launched in 2014 and has caught on within the States in recent times. Talking from expertise, it’s a good way to focus on well being (each bodily and psychological) by chopping again on alcohol consumption. So let’s discover a few of our non-alcoholic choices that may come in useful effectively previous January.a

ALCOHOL ALTERNATIVES

GINGER BEER AND FLAVORED SODA WATERS

Starting with the simplest choice, once you would usually seize a cocktail, seize a carbonated choice like La Croix or ginger beer as a substitute. Personally, I take advantage of a SodaStream after which infuse my very own water with issues like cucumber, mint, or lime; however there are many manufacturers in the marketplace that may fulfill your yearning for a contact of taste in lieu of alcohol in the event you don’t need to spend money on your individual machine.

KOMBUCHA

Whereas it’s frequent to recommend reaching for the espresso or tea as a substitute of liquor, kombucha is– for my part– a extra distinctive and enjoyable different. You may even take up making your individual! Kombucha has been a go-to brunch trick of mine for some time: When family and friends need to break open the champagne, however I don’t need to nap the remainder of the day (or, let’s be trustworthy, can’t nap— as a result of I all the time need to), I typically flip to kombucha as a carbonated different.

NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS

Say what? What even is a spirit sans alcohol? The most effective identified manufacturers, Seedlip, and different non-alcoholic spirits are supposed to exchange liquor and could be added into conventional recipes. (Monday Gin is one other model that got here up quite a bit in our neighborhood group.)

HOLD THE BASE SPIRIT: MAKING BEVERAGES INTERESTING WITHOUT LIQUOR

SODA WATER AND BITTERS

As somebody whose go-to drink is a whiskey highball, a simple substitute is to skip the alcohol and easily mix soda water (or tonic in the event you’re a gin and tonic drinker) and bitters. My suggestion is Payment Brothers rhubarb bitters, though this does include some alcohol for these of you who’re strictly abstaining. Julia additionally wrote a fantastic article a couple of months in the past about non-alcoholic bitters in the event you’re inquisitive about different choices.

BOTANICAL WATERS, SYRUPS, AND SHRUBS

Utilizing botanical waters (like Payment Brothers— Are you able to inform I’m a fan?) and easy syrups can add numerous taste, making your drink really feel extra like a cocktail even when omitting the alcohol. Even higher but, make your individual! Infuse syrups and shrubs to make soda water extra flavorful and enjoyable… Or simply infuse the water itself when you’ve got a carbonated water machine. You may even mix this feature with bitters to make your drink extra complicated. 

MOCKTAILS 

There are many cocktails you possibly can flip into non-alcoholic drinks as effectively; drinks that embody juices are straightforward to make with out liquor, for instance. We did an exploration of “mocktails” earlier this yr that goes into just a little extra element, however you might have quite a bit of decisions. 

NON-ALCOHOLIC COCKTAILS THAT ARE SURE TO PLEASE YOUR PALATE 

Talking of mocktails, listed here are a pair particular ones we pulled from our Craft Cocktail Membership Fb group to get you began.

CUCUMBER VIRGIN MULE BY MATT PALACIOS

This alcohol-free beverage is much like a cucumber mule, sans spirit. In order for you a lighter and/or much less candy choice, it’s also possible to swap out the easy syrup for soda water.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cucumber slices 
• 5 leaves of mint
• 2 oz lime juice
• 2 oz easy syrup
• Ginger beer (to high)

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Muddle cucumber and mint.
• Add lime juice and easy syrup.
• Shake and pressure. High with ginger beer.

FRAGOLA BALSAMICA BY ERIN PETREY 

Distinctive and scrumptious, this might simply develop into a standard craft cocktail by including 2 oz of vodka or gin.

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 strawberries
• .25 oz contemporary lemon juice
• .25 oz balsamic vinegar
• .5 oz wealthy easy syrup
• 8 basil leaves
• 5 oz soda water
• Non-obligatory egg white or 2 tbsp. aquafaba

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Mix strawberries, basil, and lemon in a shaker and gently muddle. Add all remaining components besides soda water and ice and shake vigorously. High with soda water. If utilizing egg white or aquafaba, pressure right into a glass with out ice; if not utilizing egg white or aquafaba, pressure into an ice-filled glass and high with soda water. Garnish with a strawberry.  [Just a side note: I changed Erin’s original instructions just a tad after experimenting with this recipe; the above photo is of the aquafaba version.]

 

WHAT NON-ALCOHOLIC COCKTAIL WILL YOU MAKE DURING DRY JANUARY?

Now that you recognize your choices, we’d like to see what you’re ingesting this month and all all through 2021. Is there something we didn’t cowl that you just’d like so as to add to our record? Depart us a remark beneath or come be a part of us in our Fb group to debate all issues cocktails– with or with out alcohol.