Alcohol-free spirits to spice up your Dry January

Dry January is here again – and this exercise in sobriety is expected to attract its biggest ever crowd in 2021. Amid the vagaries of 2020, many of us reappraised our alcohol consumption and started to look for ‘no and low’ alternatives. The market for non-alcoholic spirits is getting bigger by the day, so your Dry January certainly needn’t be a boring or flavourless one!

Here are a few suggestions for alcohol-free spirits to sample:

Seedlip

Launched with Selfridges in 2015, Seedlip was the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit and has since become a flag-bearer for the sector and a favourite with influencers and high-end hospitality venues. It has three blends: Spice 94, an aromatic mix of allspice, cardamom, citrus peel and barks; Garden 108, a herbal blend including rosemary, thyme, hops and peas; and the citrusy Grove 42, made with three types of oranges, lemongrass and ginger.

Gordon’s – 0.0%

Gordon’s became the latest household name in gin to release a no and low alternative at the tail end of 2020. Its 0.0% is designed to echo the juniper-led character of its classic London Dry Gin, but without the alcoholic strength. It also contains just 24 calories per serving, so it’s a good option if you’re looking to compensate for all those festive cheeseboards…

Lyre’s – Dry London Spirit

Developed in Australia, Lyre’s is now a global non-alcoholic spirit brand. Its Dry London Spirit is its offering to gin lovers, heavy with juniper and citrus flavours and a great partner to premium tonic. The Lyre’s range also includes alcohol-free alternatives a range of cocktail ingredients, from amaretto to vermouth, to help you build non-alcoholic versions of your favourite gin cocktails.

Salcombe Distilling Co. – NLL

Salcombe Distilling Co. launched its non-alcoholic spirit, NLL, in September 2020. It stands for New London Light, the name of a lighthouse on the northeastern coast of the United States that saw trading Salcombe schooners safely into port in the 19th century. The gin uses 18 botanicals including juniper, ginger and pepper, and will be the first in a series of experimental releases from the Devon distillery.

Warner’s – Botanic Garden Spirits

Farm-based distillery Warner’s launched its alcohol-free Botanic Garden Spirits range in autumn 2020 in two flavours: Pink Berry and Juniper Double Dry. Warner’s sources 90 per cent of the ingredients for the drinks from its own Falls Farm, so it’s also a super-sustainable option.

Sea Arch Drinks – Coastal Juniper

Inspired by the sights and sounds of the Devon coastline, Sea Arch Coastal Juniper is a crisp alcohol-free spirit made with a blend of 11 botanicals. It is sugar-free, sweetener-free, low-calorie and suitable for vegans. The couple behind the brand, Sarah and Geoff Yates, suggest enjoying it as a ‘Sea & T’ over ice with a twist of citrus and a premium tonic, or in a range of alcohol-free cocktails.

Find some suggestions for great non-alcoholic cocktails here.