After the end-of-year celebrations, many are embracing “Dry January” and saying goodbye to alcohol at the same time. In 2014, the “Dry January” campaign was launched, which aims to give up alcohol for a month. But alcohol-free enjoyment has long since advanced to become a year-round trend, who also established a new drinking culture. Brands and start-ups are responding and expanding the market with non-alcoholic beverage alternatives. Appropriately, Peter Jauch, author of “GIN – Das Buch” and founder of about GIN TONIC, presents his 5 alcohol-free products for Dry January 2023.
- REBELS 0.0% Spritz alternative
- Studer SI-OFF sea breeze
- POLLY Sparkling Blanc
- CROSSIP Fresh Citrus
- UNDONE NO. 1 sugar cane type
1. Rebels 0.0% Spritz Alternative
Enjoy a slightly bitter drink with an aperitif? The spray alternative from the manufacturer REBELS 0.0% is perfect for this. Even if this product already brings some flavors with it, I always recommend mixing it. Be it with a non-alcoholic sparkling wine, soda or simply tonic water.
I personally like a classic tonic water with little sugar, like a Schweppes Dry, Thomas Henry Botanical Tonic Water, Fentimans or the Golden Monaco. The tonic water underlines the bitter note of the spritz alternative and stimulates my appetite. So I like to use the drink as an aperitif before an extensive dinner.
2. Studer SI-OFF sea breeze
If you like it a little less bitter, then the white vermouth SI-OFF from the collaboration of the Distillerie Studer and the Cave Fin Bec from the canton of Valais in Switzerland is perfect. You can even enjoy this product pure on ice and it tastes good. Of course, tonic water also goes well with it, classic Indian tonic water like that from Fever-Tree, Limestone or Match tastes best to me.
© Studer Distillery
I prefer to enjoy the SI-OFF Seebrise (6 cl) in a non-alcoholic Bianco Verde with 2 cl lemon juice, 1 cl sugar syrup and a handful of basil. This is where its sweet aromas come into their own. Somehow this cocktail reminds me of the great Jörg Meyer. As with the cocktail, lemon juice, sugar syrup and basil are muddled in the small part of the shaker. Then the vermouth and the ice come into the shaker. Now shake hard and double strain into the glass.
3. POLLY Sparkling Blanc
What have I tasted Riesling up and down in the last year … everything that contained Riesling had to be tasted. So does Riesling sparkling wine. And I liked almost everything. So I was looking forward to the POLLY product. This dealcoholized sparkling wine is made from Riesling grapes from the Palatinate – and it tastes good. Definitely me.
© POLLY
You can simply enjoy it chilled on its own or in a German-Swiss spritz with the REBELS 0.0% spritz alternative. A composition that even Italians are jealous of.
4. CROSSIP Fresh Citrus
The English founders of the CROSSIP brand go their very own way in the non-alcoholic business. With the Fresh Citrus, they launched an alcohol-free citrus bomb that makes it really fun to serve cocktails or long drinks. Of course, a tonic water goes well with it. The Dry Tonic Water from Schweppes is perfect here, because the tangerine from the fresh citrus comes into its own.
©CROSSIP
The CROSSIP product has 8 g of sugar per 100 ml. Personally, I like the fresh citrus best as a mule with a ginger beer from Aqua Monaco, Fentimans or GOLDBERG. It also cuts a fine figure in a passion fruit gimlet.
5. UNDONE NO. 1 sugar cane type
I’ve been enjoying quite a few daiquiris lately. Marco Baier in Munich has a great selection of rums in his new bar “The Foundry”. So it is clear that my non-alcoholic products for 2023 must also include a rum alternative. UNDONE tastes wonderful in a Daiquiri.
© UNDONE
It is very important that instead of the classic sugar syrup, one made from dark cane sugar is used. This is how you get the best out of the dark rum alternative.
Cheers!
Yours, Peter Jauch
About Peter Jauch
Peter Jauch is the author of “GIN – The Book” and founder of about GIN TONIC. He is a speaker and host of various gin experiences (tastings, festivals, dinners). He also founded the “GIN Erlebnis Festival”, the “about spirits festival” and wrote the concept for the “GIN church” Zurich. More information about him is available below aboutgintonic.com.
