Glug, glug, glug … clink. That’s the sound of yet another bottle – and high hopes – being emptied down the kitchen sink, then tossed into the recycling.
In the seven months since I quit drinking alcohol, I’ve shuddered, winced and grimaced my way through around 100 booze-free beers, wines, spirits and bubbles in my quest to find satisfying alternatives to my usual tipples. And more often than not I was massively disappointed. There are some real stinkers out there – and they don’t come cheap.
So with my first sober Christmas approaching, I was determined not to be left feeling like I was missing out while others sipped steaming mulled wine at frosty gatherings, lip-smacking Baileys in front of a roaring fire, and decadent bubbles with their turkey dinner.
And having stepped up my mission to find delicious, alcohol-free replacements for festive favourites, I’m finally ready to reveal the best non-alcoholic alternatives to stick on your shopping list. Cheers!
MULLED WINE Eisberg Mulled Wine (£3, Tesco) There’s nothing like a toasty mulled wine to warm you from the inside out, and a hot chocolate doesn’t quite hit the same spot. But Eisberg Mulled is a fantastic substitute – and a bargain to boot. Unlike some which are overly cordial-like and sweet, this is fresh, fruity, spicy, rich, and a dead ringer for the real thing.
BUCK’S FIZZ: Nozeco Buck’s Fizz (£4, Morrisons) This is so convincing, I had to double-check the label. Brimming with rich, zingy bubbles with a natural citrus hit, this is a perfect option for toasting Christmas morning – without risking a fuzzy-headed mishap with the turkey later on. Alcohol Change UK hails it as “a great combination of fizz, bitterness and citrus sharpness” and concludes “it’s hard to find fault with” – and I’d agree.
BAILEYS Twisst Caramel Cream (£2.73, drydrinker.com) Out of all the drinks I’ve foregone, this was the one I knew would cause the biggest pang. So, thank heavens for this alcohol-free version. Rich, velvety, creamy and indulgent, this really is heaven in a glass and looks and tastes just like Baileys. It comes in “cartocans”, which contain 235ml (the equivalent of four large pours of Baileys), and needs to be refrigerated immediately after opening and consumed within 48 hours (unlike Baileys, which when stored correctly, benefits from the preserving effect of alcohol). I’m told Twisst is a bestseller, with orders doubling in the run-up to Christmas, and I can see why. I’d a winner in my book. Festive favourite:
PARTY FIZZ Scavi & Ray Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine (£7.99, amazon.co.uk) This sparkly number comes highly recommended by Josh Kelly, brands relations manager and buyer at Club Soda (joinclubsoda.com) in London. It’s made from the very same grape as the company’s award-winning prosecco – with the alcohol carefully removed. It’s fruity, zingy and lively – contained within a classy looking bottle that you’d be proud to pop for guests or present to a party host. Raise a glass of this at parties – and still raise your head off the pillow the following morning. At just 30 calories a glass, and a bargain price, you’ll save pounds galore.
LAGER Nirvana Bavarian Helles Lager (£25 for 12 bottles, nirvanabrewery.com) I’ve splashed out on too many alcohol-free beers to count. Sadly, the vast majority – even best sellers – have been tipped down the sink. Exceptions such as Corona Zero (looks and tastes like the original Corona) and Estella Free Damm are few and far between. However, I’ll be quaffing and offering this beauty to beer drinkers over Christmas. Produced by an independent family-run, East London brewery devoted to alcohol-free beers, this took a well-deserved gold at this year’s World Alcohol Free Awards. Nectar in a glass.
CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL Momo Carmelo’s Green Mandarin Kombucha (£4.50, momo-kombucha.com). There are some strong contenders for this category. The Sweet Freedom Fizz Lime and Mint (£6 for four, sweetfreedom.co.uk) and Fever-Tree Mojito Mixer (£4.50, supermarkets) make lovely alcohol-free mojitos when served over ice with mint garnish. Margarita fans will enjoy Fever-Tree’s Margarita Mixer (£4.50, supermarkets) or Belvoir Farm’s Raspberry Margarita (£1.39, Tesco), but Momo’s fresh, fruity kombucha got a universal thumbs-up from all taste testers. Made from fermented tea, this kombucha is indulgent, unique, sharp, zingy, lip-smackingly delicious – and good for your gut!
WHITE WINE Kolonne Null Riesling (£12.50, joinclubsoda.com) Alcohol-free wines have, traditionally, proved tricky as it’s more difficult to find a good flavour carrier to replace the removed alcohol. (You can use carbonation for beer and bubbles.) Early attempts relied on sugar and were sweet, but there are some crackers now. Don’t be put off by the word Riesling. This looks, smells and tastes like a dry white; one sip of this fruity, tangy, slightly acidic vino will send your taste buds into a frenzy.
A CHEEKY ROSÉ Moderato Gros Manseng Merlot Rosé Cuvée Révolutionnaire (£13, joinclubsoda.com) I’d tried so many sweet, cordial-like rosés that I despaired of finding a good one. But with just one taste of this wine I knew I’d found a winner. Moderato is France’s leading alcohol-free wine producer – and, boy, it shows. Fruity without being overly sweet, tangy without being too sharp, this rosé is fresh, clean and a delight to drink.
A RICH GLASS OF RED Zeno Alcohol Liberated Red (£13, Waitrose) I find reds a bit too deep, intense and astringent. But this has to be tasted to be believed. It’s an explosion of fresh, fruity, spicy, peppery, zinginess, which lingers on the tongue, and heightens the senses. Even die-hard white-wine drinkers will be impressed.
GIN Everleaf Marine (£22, everleafdrinks.com) Alcohol-free gin can be overly sweet or shudderingly tart. But this award-winning range, featuring distilled delicate botanicals, is crammed with Christmas spirit. There are three different options; Forest (with saffron, orange blossom and vanilla); Mountain (Japanese cherry blossom, strawberry and rosehip), but my clear favourite is Marine, with kelp, bergamot and sea buckthorn. With ice, a slice and tonic, it’s a fresh take on an old favourite. Prefer pink gin? Try Gordon’s Premium Pink Distilled Gin 0.0% ABV (£12, Asda).
