Tired of the babalas all year round? You might want to consider a brief sabbatical and jump on the “booze-free” drink train to give your body a well-deserved break.
Sober curiosity surged post pandemic and we are continuing to see major shifts in drinking culture observes Rowan Leibbrandt, founder of Truman & Orange.
According to Leibbrandt, younger generations of drinkers walk the talk of their clean-living images. Today we’re more likely to see a celebrity taking a selfie with a smoothie than falling out the club.
“People have already started to drink more mindfully, and the trend to ‘drink better’ is continuing to grow,” explains Leibbrandt.
Booze free is better
Luckily the “no and low” movement has never been better and offered more choice, says Leibbrandt. You can still join or create the sophisticated nature of a party if you have a plan in place with smart swops for non-alcoholic options. “It’s about the ritual more than the ABV [alcohol by volume],” he says.
According to research published in 2021 from the International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR) Drinks Market Analysis: “The total sales of no/lo drinks are predicted to grow by over 31% by 2024.”
“The inclination towards global wellness has spurred a move away from artificial flavours to lighter, more natural ingredients. South Africa is no different and our mission at Truman & Orange is to be able to offer greater choice to those of us having a no/lo moment or choosing to abstain from drinking for a while.”
Six ways you can get creative
The drink in our parents’ days may have been stiffer and more heavy-handed (maybe it had to with Brenda Fassie’s Weekend Special blaring in the background), but we are totally cool with being discerning drinkers who need healthy options to wash our salmon down with.
Try these booze free recipes made with the needs of the new age drinker in mind:
Cape Fynbos & Tonic
We know fynbos as a range of heather-like tree and shrubs only found in Mzansi. This gin mocktail is a nod to blooming fynbos on Table Mountain in the spring. It may sound exotic but it is simple to make. The floral creation will make it spring, no matter what the time of year.
Ingredients:
50ml ABSTINENCE Cape Fynbos
200ml tonic water
Lemon peel
Fresh berries
METHOD:
- Pour Cape Fynbos over ice in a gin goblet or Collins glass.
- Top with tonic and finish off with a lemon peel & fresh berries as garnish.
Mahala Mule
This alcohol-free take on the Moscow Mule is sure to hit the spot because it’s made with Mahala. We love anything mahala in Mzansi and the spicy notes in this non-alcoholic spirit will add all the zing you need.
Ingredients:
50ml Mahala Botanical
150ml ginger beer
15ml lime juice
Limes
METHOD:
- Add the Mahala over ice in a Mule cup or rocks glass.
- Top up with the ginger beer.
- Add the lime juice.
- Stir gently.
- Garnish with lime. Enjoy!
Epilogue & Cola
Just as our cherished Cape Fynbos cannot exist without fire, so any social occasion is not complete without the intensity of the Abstinence Epilogue X. Add some ice and top with soda or mix with ginger ale and a squeeze of lime. If you fancy something sweeter, it works a treat when mixed with Coca-Cola.
Abstinence Epilogue X is a blend of peated, smoked and dark toasted malt that is meticulously married with a combination of distilled spice botanicals and South African Honeybush. Amber in colour, resembling a dark spirit.
Ingredients:
50ml ABSTINENCE Epilogue X
200ml soda
Lime
METHOD:
- Pour Epilogue X over ice in a tall glass, top with soda and finish off with a slice of lime (optional). If you are looking for something slightly sweeter, use Ginger Ale or Coca Cola.
Competition time
Looking to add a booze-free kick to those summer afternoon cocktails? Cutler Drinks and Health For Mzansi are giving one lucky reader a chance to win a booze-free hamper of Abstinence Cape Fynbos.
To stand a chance of winning a special Sober October hamper by Cutler Drinks and Health For Mzansi, head to their Facebook or Instagram page and check out their competition post.
ALSO READ: The best #KeDezembaBoss hangover cures
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