“Nothing for me please.”
Don’t let your decision to cut back or quit drinking make you feel like you can’t join in and enjoy a nice drink with someone special, to celebrate an occasion or to indulge in after a long day.
Thankfully, we are living during a time in history where there are some excellent non-alcoholic beverage choices, and we’re not just talking about ordering a Coke or an OJ.
There are some equally good booze-free spirits, beers and wines available on the market and here are some of our favs:
Seedlip
Seedlip offers a drink that is just as attractive as a nice, stylish bottle of gin. For those who want an alternative to alcohol and who still want to sip on something high quality, this is the drink for you. The beautiful graphics decorating the bottle make Seedlip feel like the real deal. They started in London and are now well-stocked in bars and restaurants globally offering three different blends: Spice 94, Garden 108 & Grove 42.
The Australian representative came to the Hello Sunday Morning HQ one day to explain their whole ethos and we all tried a few non-alcoholic cocktails at work. Happy to say we loved them and still had a productive afternoon!
Cost: The bottles retail for $50AUD
Recipe idea: Seedlip Garden is made with peas, hay, spearmint, rosemary, and thyme. Instructions: In a tall glass with ice, combine 1 1/2 ounces of Seedlip Garden 108 and 4 ounces of a high-quality tonic like Fever Tree. Give a quick stir, then garnish with a few lime wheels.
Altina
Created for people to enjoy delicious drinks and not wake up with a hangover, the Australian team behind Altina Drinks are passionate about reducing the stigma about alcoholic drinks being the only choice when socialising.
“People should be able to drink on their terms, without being judged.”
The idea for Altina was born when one of the creators, Christina DeLay, started realising her drinking habits were starting to impact her health. “It just became such a big part of life and I found that I really wasn’t mindful of it at all.”
The Altina range is made from Australian native plant ingredients including bark, spices, flowers and herbs. Altina has started a crowdfunding campaign to build up their sustainable social enterprise.
Brunswick Aces
These guys are based out of Melbourne, producing a non-alcoholic gin to provide a tasty alternative for those who choose to go sans booze. Created from locally grown ingredients, there’s a couple of blends to choose from.
Hearts is closer to your classic gin notes: a spicy mix of juniper, wattleseed, cloves, star anise, ginger, sage and pink grapefruit.
Spades has more of a citrus kick, forgoing juniper all together in favour of lime, grapefruit, cardamom, parsley and lemon myrtle.
Cost: $50 for a 700ml bottle
Best recipe: Hearts at the Beach
70ml Brunswick Aces Hearts Blend
70ml CAPI Yuzu
35ml Coconut Water
Served in a martini glass with a desiccated coconut “sugar” rim and a charred coconut ribbon
Carlton Zero
For the beer lovers who don’t want to pass up a ‘cold one’ with mates on a hot Friday afternoon.
“It’s crafted with the same quality ingredients as our other beers.”
Carlton Zero is slightly hoppy with a fruity aroma and is a full-flavoured classic beer.
Demand for non-alcoholic beer continues to grow in Australia and internationally as people are becoming more health conscious. Low and mid-strength beers now represent 20% of CUB sales as consumers increasingly moderate their alcohol intake. Changing your relationship with alcohol just got easier as there are more and more social drinking options available for those who choose to be sober!
Ariel Cabernet Sauvignon
It is hard to pass up a rich red wine on a chilly night in, or while enjoying a delicious meal with company. You don’t have to rule out wine just because you may be thinking of cutting back or quitting drinking.
This wine is made in a sustainable winery in Paso Robles, California. After fermenting in stainless steel it’s aged in oak barrels, and just before bottling, the alcohol is “gently removed by cold filtration.” Ariel Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas of black currants, cherry, blueberries and chocolate, with soft tannins and a dry finish.
Cost: $21.99
Recommendation: Best served with Italian food and rich tomato sauces.
17 Comments
Add a commentSounds good.where can they be purchased
Great stuff! Wouldn’t it be great if these could be available in pubs and restaurants. I’m yet to find a pub that serves no alcohol beer in Australia!
The ariel wine looks like its worth a try? They don’t ship outside of US though?
I live in the Northern Territory where there is a massive drinking culture. I have tried to buy Non-alcoholic beverages but they are extremely hard to find. It tends to be Coopers at Coles/Woolies. Occasionally you can get a beer called Bitburger Drive, but it is hard to come by and only sold by one outlet. Our bottle shops do not seem to stock NA drinks, they say there is no demand for it. Not a great incentive for those who want to stop or cut down on their alcohol.
Vicky, Dan Murphys look like they stock the Ariel AF CS 🙂
Would love to be able to any of these in the remote town I work in
Looks and sounds great however only just into my 3rd month of sobriety (and loving it) I’m a bit concerned that if tastes like real a real alcohol based drink that it trip me up, and lead me to the real thing that not only tastes the same but rewards rewards my brain with alcohol stimulant that it did in the past, the last thing I want is another bust
Not for me. Guys, you can make up your own AF drinks without paying all this money!
I am trying to keep some yummy ginger kombucha in the fridge….it is a fun treat!
where can I buy the wine free/ and a substitute for vodka in Palm Beach County
Can any of these and ingredients you list in the drink recipes be purchased in the US, particularly Wisconsin, where if you don’t drink you are practically a pariah?
Several places in Washington, D.C. carry these AF drinks. And don’t laugh, Amazon has tons of them. E.g.,
Ariel Cabernet Sauvignon Wine 750ML 2 PACK Alcohol Removed Dealcoholized 25.4 oz Red Oak Aged
Ariel Cabernet Sauvignon Wine 750ML 2 PACK Alcohol Removed Dealcoholized 25.4 oz Red Oak Aged
25.4 Fl Oz (Pack of 2)
3.6 out of 5 stars 148
$29.99$29.99 ($0.59/Fl Oz)
FREE Shipping
Totally fantastic , thank you
Where can the wine and gin alternatives be purchased?
The prices of these wines and spirits are ridiculous. Considering the price of alcoholic drinks is mostly tax these prices are indefensible.
Where can I purchase any of these options in Western Australia?
Carlton Zero is excellent! Even my husband, whom really loved his beer, has switched to this! We also enjoy AF wine with ice