Drink without touching a drop
If you’re planning to ditch the booze for January or just cut back, there are plenty of excellent no or low-alcohol options.. Sam Wylie-Harris checks out some of the best on the market
Pentire Botanical Non-alcoholic Spirit, Seaward,
£26.80 for 70cl, Pentire Taking inspiration from the Cornish coast, the distinct flavours of sea rosemary, woodruff, sea buckthorn, seaweed and pink grapefruit create a zesty, slightly bitter and tart (in a good way!) aperitif that’s full of vigour with waves of energising freshness. Simply top with tonic and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
Oddbird Blanc de Blancs Non-alcoholic Sparkling Wine,
France, £9.99, Amazon When you want the fizz to keep on flowing but don’t want to be a party pooper, this semi-dry sparkle could be your golden ticket to a good-time drink. Made from chardonnay with aromas of apple, delicate lemon and limey notes and traces of honey, it’s fresh and fruity with a creamy texture and hint of vanilla.
Tesco Low Alcohol Sparkling White Wine,
Spain, £2.75, Tesco A total steal, fizz fanatics will be equally smitten with this zingy white made from sauvignon blanc. Fresh and feisty, with ripe citrus flavours topped off with refreshing acidity, there’s some welcome sweetness but with a crisp, fruity, drinkme-now character.
Hacienda De Luna Moscatel Rosado 2020, Valencia DO,
Spain, £5.29 (5% abv) Laithwaites A sun-kissed Spanish gem, this medium sweet, semi-sparkling rose is fresh, fruity and lots of fun. Teasing on the nose, with floral notes initially and then a swoop of ripe summer berries, which glide gracefully on to the palate leading to a refreshing finish. Can be topped with soda for a fuss-free rose spritzer to lower the abv even more. Downright delicious.
The Doctors’ Pinot Noir 2020, Marlborough,
New Zealand, £14.50 (9.5% abv), Gerrard Seel This perky pinot deserves a place on your wine rack, especially if you’re planning to practice more mindful drinking further down the line. Silky with earthy aromas and characteristic raspberry, cherry and red fruit notes with bright acidity, it’s light on its feet and can be enjoyed lightly chilled.
High Point Ruby Nonalcoholic Aperitif,
£19.99 for 70cl, High Point One to remember for its gorgeous ruby red hue and herbal aromas, this fermented aperitif ’s infused with local botanicals from the surrounding Cornish countryside, and there’s certainly depth of flavour to this captivating bittersweet drink, with lots of zesty, spicy notes that linger on the palate.
New London Light Non Alcoholic Spirit, Midnight Sun, Wild Nordic Coastal Berries, Pine and Kelp,
£27.50 for 70cl, Salcombe Gin One of three variants (there’s also Aegean Sky and First Light), we’ve singled out Midnight Sun for its beguiling flavours of seaberries and elderberries with hints of pine. Beautifully fragrant, with aromas of tropical flowers and notes of nectar, there’s citrus, spice, earthy tones and a tangy complexity to this girly pink drink. Exotic and enticing, top with tonic and garnish with a raspberry and sprig of mint.
Tanqueray Alcohol Free 0% Spirit,
£16 for 70cl, Tesco Juniper forward with an aromatic nose and citrusy complexity, there’s familiar grapefruit zest and ample vibrancy to Tanqueray’s booze-free infusion, albeit wearing its zero alcohol influence on its sleeve. With similar botanicals to its boozy Big Daddy, serve with your favourite tonic, garnish, and enjoy this uplifting spirit
without the hit.