Cutting out the booze doesn't have to be boring, says Sam Wylie-Harris.
Whether you're planning to completely abstain from booze or just cut down, with so many sophisticated no or low-alcohol serves available now, there really isn't any excuse not to give Dry January your best shot.
From alcohol-free sparkle to zero spirits and a couple of bottles with very low abv, some might say staying sober (or sober-ish) has never looked so sharp...
1. 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.
2. 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, drink-me-now character. Very enjoyable.
3. 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 onto 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.
4. 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 and savoury 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. High Point Ruby Non-alcoholic 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. Mix one part Ruby with four parts tonic and garnish with a slice of pink grapefruit, for a healthy alternative to a spiked aperitivo.
9. CROSSIP Winter Limited Edition Rich Berry Non-Alcoholic Spirit, £22 for 50cl, Crossip Drinks
Winter warmer mocktails, mulled wine, hot toddy time without the vino? A fanfare of juicy black cherries, blackberries and raspberries steeped in cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, with underlying bitter notes of wormwood - this really is your go-to for avant-garde serves, to perk up the palate and put the jolly into January. Can also be topped with soda or tonic and served over ice for quick pick-me-ups with a berry rich punch. Deservedly delicious.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here