more than food
11 Non-Alcoholic Cocktails for Dry January
Heading into 2021with a fresh outlook, and with the mindful drinking movement taking hold, you might be wondering whether it’s worth trying out a “dry January”.
One local advocate for the sober lifestyle, Laura Silverman, founded Booze Free in D.C. as a digital hub for residents to enjoy the DMV area while staying booze-free. “D.C. is known as a work-hard, play-hard place, but it has an underbelly of wellness and mindful drinking.” Silverman underscores the growing availability of delicious, alcohol-free beverages. “We've seen this boom ranging from non-alcoholic beers and wines to kombuchas, teas and coffees,” said Silverman. “I have way more variety in my house now. My bar cart is bumpin’!”
We asked some of the trendiest purveyors, including D.C.’s Derek Brown, author of Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters: How the Cocktail Conquered the World and owner of Columbia Room — to share their best concoctions. Your sober at-home happy hours will taste just as good as boozy ones, but you won’t have a hangover the next morning.
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Brunching Meets Vacation Vibes
Tropical Mimosa
Ingredients:
- 1/2 glass orange juice
- 1 oz. Caleño (Colombian flavor inspired non-alcoholic spirit)
- Top with Noughty (bonus: this is vegan!)
Directions: In a champagne flute, combine all ingredients in the order in which they’re listed.
Peppermint Spritzer
Ingredients:
- 3 oz. peppermint tea
- Juice of a lemon
- Dash of simple syrup
- Noughty sparkling wine
- Mint leaves
- Lemon wheel
Directions: Make a batch of peppermint tea and leave to cool. Fill a wine glass with ice. In a cocktail shaker, combine peppermint tea, lemon juice, syrup and ice, then shake. Strain into glass. Top with Noughty. Garnish with lemon wheel and mint sprig.
Tequila Sour
Ingredients:
- 2 oz.Ritual Tequila Alternative
- 1 oz. lemon juice
- 1/2 oz. lime juice
- 2 teaspoons simple syrup
- 2 dashes bitters from Don Ciccio & Figli Spirits
- 1 egg white
- Maraschino cherry and lime wedge for garnish
Directions: Add all ingredients (except cherry and lime) to a cocktail shaker without ice and shake for 15 seconds. Add ice. Shake again for 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with cherry and lime.
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Gettin’ Fancy
Smoked and Spiced in Paradise
Ingredients:
3 oz. Lapsang souchong tea
3 oz. coconut water
1 frozen banana (the riper the better)
Directions: Brew a cup of lapsang souchong (a smoked tea) a little stronger than usual and let cool. Add all of the ingredients to a blender. If you don't have a frozen banana, just use a regular banana (the riper the better) and add a few ice cubes. Blend until smooth.
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Easy, Breezy
Both of these options come from DC-based Mocktail Club, which offers all natural, ready-to-drink premium alcohol-free cocktails that pack a kick (and some prebiotics, too).
Havana Twist
Directions: Serve the club'sHavana Twist mocktail over ice in a copper mug with a garnish of mint and cucumber.
Bombay Fire
Directions: Serve the club'sBombay Fire mocktail over ice in a glass with a garnish of kiwi or sprinkle in some pomegranate seeds.
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Festive Classics with a Sober Twist
Holiday Fizz
Ingredients:
- 2 oz.Ritual Gin Alternative
- 2 oz.Fever Tree Tonic
- Cranberry and rosemary sprig for garnish
Directions: Fill a rocks glass with ice. Pour Gin Alternative over ice. Top with Fever Tree and garnish with rosemary and/or cranberry sprig on a skewer.
Cranberry Mocktail
Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups cranberry juice, chilled
- 1 cup apple juice, chilled
- 2teaspoonsYou Dew You from Apothékary
- 1/2 cup unflavored seltzer
- Ice
- Sprigs of fresh rosemary for garnish
Directions: Mix the cranberry and apple juices together in a pitcher. Add You Dew You and mix together with a frother or whisk. Fill a glass halfway with ice and fill the glass about 2/3 of the way. Top off the last 1/3 of the glass with seltzer. Garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh rosemary and enjoy!
Clyde’s Brother’s World Famous Eggnog
Ingredients:
- 4 oz.For Bitter For Worse Smoky no.56
- 3 oz. milk
- 2 oz. cream
- 1 egg
- 1/8 cup coconut sugar
- Fresh nutmeg for garnish
Directions: Whirl all ingredients except nutmeg in a blender on medium. Pour into coupe or wine glasses and dust with fresh nutmeg. (Bonus: Any leftovers make an amazing batter for French toast!)
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Cozy Up by the Fire
Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
- 10 oz. whole milk
- Dark hot chocolate mix
- Cinnamon to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 oz. Ritual Whiskey Alternative
- Dash of cayenne pepper (optional)
- Marshmallows
- 1/2 oz. honey
- Cinnamon stick, orange wheel and clove for garnish
Directions: In a pot set over low, heat milk, hot chocolate mix and 2 dashes of cinnamon together, whisking to avoid burning. Bring the mix to a low simmer and whisk until the contents are blended. Remove from heat and add in vanilla and Ritual Whiskey Alternative. Add a dash of cayenne for a kick! Pour into your favorite mug and top generously with marshmallows.
Ritual Zero Proof Hot Toddy
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. hot water
- 1/2oz. orange juice
- 1 oz. lemon juice
- 2 oz. Ritual Whiskey Alternative
- 1/2 oz. honey
- Cinnamon stick, orange wheel and clove for garnish
Directions: Pour hot water into a glass, then discard to warm your glass. Squeeze orange juice and lemon juice the warm glass and add Ritual Whiskey Alternative. Add honey and stir. Garnish with cinnamon stick, orange wheel and clove.
Lyre’s Maple Coffee Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 2.5 oz. Lyre’s American Malt
- 1/4oz. maple syrup
- 4 oz. Hot brewed coffee
- 3 oz. Whipped cream
- Orange zest for garnish
Directions: Combine Lyre's, maple syrup and hot coffee in a mug. Stir to dissolve maple syrup, and top with whipped cream. Serve in an Irish coffee mug with a grated orange zest garnish.