Alcohol-Free Spirit Drinks (the best artisan brands)
Many people enjoy a boozy tipple, but some would prefer to drink less (or no) alcohol. No drink can be called zero alcohol really, as even fruit and bread have a little booze. So usually it’s something along the lines of 0.5% that is classed as no-alcohol (your body processed the alcohol too fast, to become blootered!)
Then there are people who can’t drink, due to being the designated driver. Our laws in England are pretty lenient compared to some (in Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Estonia, you can’t drink any alcohol at all before getting behind the wheel).
England is considering making laws stricter to mimic Scotland, whereas Reform UK are against this policy, saying it will ‘hammer rural pubs’. What would help rural pubs is for them to offer good low-alcohol and no-alcohol options and provide better public transport (instead of being obsessed by car transport).
Most artisan spirits are mixed with tonic water, and quinine should be avoided for some medical conditions and pregnancy/nursing. Some brands advise not consuming their drinks due to a little alcohol (stick to soda water or soft drinks – no caffeine for pregnancy/nursing). Also check medication before consuming grapefruit or rhubarb tonic waters.
For glass bottles, cork is too dense to compost, so recycle at off licenses or send off in bulk to Recorked (don’t leave them lying around, they are choking hazards).
For cans, pop ring-pulls back over the holes (and pinch tops shut) before recycling, to avoid wildlife getting trapped.
Do you drink too much booze?
The advice regarding how much alcohol to consume safely is confusing. So here is a super-simple guide to make it easy for you, without complicated ‘units’.
In a nutshell, the average healthy adult can consume safely:
- 1 pint of beer or 1 glass of wine each day (one day alcohol-free)
- 2 measures of spirits daily (again one day alcohol-free)
Note this is either/or (not all at once!)
So in plain English (you can mix and match these):
In a week have no more than:
- 6 pints of beer or
- 6 glasses of wine or
- 14 measures spirits
Of course if you are having low-alcohol or no-alcohol alternatives, you can drink more. And that’s where the following spirits are also helpful.
Pentire Drinks (botanical spirits from the Cornish coast)
Pentire Drinks makes lovely no-booze botanical drinks, all in sustainable packaging. The range includes:
- Pentire Adrift (serve with lemon peel or rosemary)
- Pentire Seaward (serve with a slice of grapefruit)
- Pentire Coastal Spritz (a nice alternative to Italian negroni)
- Pentire Margarita (garnish with lime wedge and a slice of chilli)
Clean Co (no-alcohol spirit alternative drinks)
CleanCo was founded by former Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, after he went teetotal. His good business brain has led this to becoming the leading independent alcohol-free brand in the world.
The range offers like-for-like alternatives to alcohol spirits (vodka, gin, rum and whisky). They are just a few calories per measure. Made in Manchester, the drinks are packed in recycled glass bottles with Flexi-Hex compostable packaging. Once opened, drink within 3 months.
The range includes:
- Clean G (to replace gin – juniper, lemon, orange, rosemary, lavender)
- Clean R (to replace rum – ideal for a no-alcohol mojito)
- Clean T (to replace tequila – make your own margarita)
- Clean W (to replace whisky – notes of oak and vanilla
Caleño (a Latin-inspired drink from Bristol)
Caleño (Bristol) makes Latin-inspirated spirits for people who like to party, without the alcohol. The range includes:
- White coconut
- Dark & Spicy
- Light and zesty
- Mango and passionfruit
The founder has Columbian heritage, a country with the most biodiversity on earth (after Brazil). A third of the country is rainforest, where pink dolphins leap out of the water. Having said that, the locals won’t be drinking this spirit – their national drink is made from sugar cane, and very much not alcohol-free!
ISH (no-alcohol spirits from Denmark)
ISH (sold online in the UK) is a range of drinks set by a Danish man, after he completed a 100-day alcohol-free challenge! The range includes:
- Espresso Martini (made with premium Colombian cold brew)
- London botanical gin alternative
- Caribbean spice (rum alternative)
- Mexican agave (tequila alternative)
- Canned daiquiris and mojitos
Everleaf (no alcohol artisan aperitifs)
Everleaf was founded by a conservation biologist, who spent years of research, to create a drink with sustainable ingredients, that gives back to conservation charities. Ideal for mocktails, just mix one part with 3 parts mixer over ice, then garnish for summer in a glass. Choose from:
- Forest (saffron, vanilla, orange blossom)
- Mountain (cherry blossom, bittersweet rosehip)
- Marine (sea buckthorn, bergamot, kelp – avoid for thyroid issues)
Wilfred’s (orange and rosemary aperitif)
Wilfred’s Aperitif blends natural botanicals with bitter orange, aromatic rosemary, clove and a hint of rhubarb. Created by an engineer after 100 experiments!
