Dry January 2023: Zero ABV Booze Alternatives To Get You Through The Festivities

PUBLISHED January 5th, 2023 05:00 am | UPDATED July 28th, 2024 01:47 am

The bulk of festive celebrations have just whizzed by, and those nasty hangovers and excessive calories have given us good reasons to practise Dry January. But as determined as we are to stay alcohol-free, Lunar New Year festivities are just around the corner, drawing us into yet another round of celebrations with good food and drinks. If sweetened mocktails and sodas are just not your vibe, or if you’re keeping your calories in check, look to these tasty 0 ABV booze alternatives to keep your spirits high without sacrificing on taste. Cheers to a healthy year ahead!

Brunswick Aces Sapiir

We get it – you want to be able to choose what you drink and how you drink. As the alcohol and sugar-free alternative to Gin, Brunswick Aces 0% Sapiir allows you the flexibility to mix your drink and enjoy it any way you prefer. Stir in the warm and spiced Brunswick Aces Hearts with grenadine, pineapple, and lime juice for a Southeastern Martini. Or combine tonic with the zesty Brunswick Aces Diamonds for a perfectly balanced Gin and Tonic without the booze. Its new packaging even comes with an in-built jigger for a perfectly-made drink each time. 

Brunswick Aces Sapiir is available for purchase on The Fishwives.

Crodino

Infused with herbs, spices, woods, and roots, this aperitivo has been a longstanding alcohol-free drink in Italy since 1965. Through its 6-month long infusion process, Campari Crodino Biondo features a bittersweet flavour that ends with a spicy and herbal taste. But before you even taste it, the fruity aromatic undertones from the orange essential oils will overcome your senses. Serve this rich, golden drink with a slice of orange over a generous amount of ice to round off the taste. Pair with small bites like cheese or cold cuts to experience the aperitivo like a true Italian.

Crodino is available for purchase on Fairprice.

Naked Life Cocktails

Away with the sugar and high calories in over-sweetened mocktails! Through a delicate steam distillation of premium ingredients, Naked Life transforms these natural botanical extracts into classic cocktails without alcohol or sugar. And since everything is pre-mixed, enjoy the convenience of perfect-tasting cocktails each time you open a can. Pour the Naked Life Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Margarita and garnish with lime or cucumber for a pop of freshness to the citrusy, salty Margarita. Or accompany the sparkling flavours of Naked Life Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Rose Sangria Spritz, made with distilled Orange Extract and Hibiscus Extract, with a slice of fruit of your choice.

Naked Life Cocktails is available for purchase on Fairprice.

Jukes Drinks

Jukes drinks are cordials created to simulate wine’s complexity, flavour, and capacity by building upon a base of organic apple cider vinegar. Each Jukes delivers a different palate using all-natural ingredients like vegetables, flowers, herbs, and spices. Jukes 6 – The Deep Red recreates red wine’s fruity complexity and earthiness, with blackcurrant and blackberries leading the taste. Jukes 5 – The Crisp White is a gleaming blend of lemon, pear, green apple, cucumber, gooseberry and grapefruit that awakens the taste buds. Each Jukes comes in a box of nine 30ml bottles that you can dilute with tonic, still, or sparkling water to suit your liking. As an estimate, each bottle makes two regular glasses.

Jukes Drinks is available for purchase on Temple Cellars.

Muri Drinks

Drawing from the founders’ experiences working in a distillery and inspiration from the gastronomic community in Copenhagen, Muri Drinks crafts its wine with a focus on flavours. They apply culinary techniques to extract and enhance flavours from herbs and botanicals while balancing their sweetness and acidity to complement the food. As the alternative to red wine, Muri Nuala carries the complexity and juiciness of red berries along with an earthy note, making it an excellent companion to charcuterie, cheese, and ceviche. The champagne alternative, Muri Passing Cloud, features the intense aromas of flowers, honey, and ripe fruits and pairs well with seafood, white-rinded cheese, or dishes with strong aromas. 

Muri Drinks is available for purchase on  Whet Your Whistle and Temple Cellars. 

Giesen 0%

Crafted with premium grapes from well-known vineyards around New Zealand, Giesen’s 0% range includes some of the most popular wine varieties, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Rosé. These alcohol-removed wines are a delicious alternative that offers full flavours to those who can’t resist a glass of wine. Featured as one of the best non-alcoholic wines in Australia, the Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc spots a crisp and refreshing taste. In comparison, the Giesen 0% Pinot Gris is an aromatic drink with a light and balanced acidity.

Giesen 0% is available for purchase on Free Spirit.

Drop Bear Beer Co.

Centred around their passion for producing craft beers and sustainability, Drop Bear Beers are traditionally brewed, like regular beers, but without alcohol. Besides being natural, vegan-friendly and gluten-free, they are carbon neutral and have fully recyclable packaging. For those who prefer a light and fruity palate, go for the toffee-based summer beer, Drop Bear Yuzu Pale Ale. Whereas those who lean towards strong beers, the complex notes of smoked malt and roasted coffee in Drop Bear Bonfire Stout will hit your sweet spot. 

Drop Bear Beer Co. is available for purchase on Free Spirit.

Heaps Normal

Through months of trial and error, Heaps Normal developed their proprietary recipe, innovative brewing process, and non-traditional yeast to produce alcohol-free lagers and XPA that tastes as good as an ordinary craft brew. The Heaps Normal Another Lager is the quintessential Aussie beer that’s good from pub to pit, while the Heaps Normal Quiet XPA is a full-flavoured crisp beer with aromas of citrus and tropical fruits. 

Heaps Normal is available for purchase on Hopshop craft beer store and Surrey Hills Grocer.

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