Summertime Sips - Non-Alcoholic Beverages for Everyone
Summertime. The days are longer, the nights are warmer. There are graduations to celebrate, backyard BBQ’s abound, days at the beach basking in the sun or boating on the lake. Many laughs to be shared with family and friends, especially after a long year apart due to COVID. As the world continues to open back up, we remember what it feels like to be social. And a large part of that social interaction involves our old friend - alcohol.
Whether you’re trying to get pregnant, already carrying, or breastfeeding, you may be feeling left out if you’re not holding a cold one with your friends. While you certainly do not need to have an alcoholic beverage in hand in order to have a good time, there’s no doubt that for some, the summertime concoctions of craft brews and cocktails is sorely missed.
Whatever reason you have not to drink this summer season (pregnancy and breastfeeding are certainly not the only reasons to omit alcohol from your beverage list), we’ve pulled together a few drinks to keep in your arsenal when you want to change it up.
Non-Alcoholic Spirits
Seedlip: Seedlip’s non-alcoholic botanical spirits goal is to be “what to drink when you’re not drinking.” With flavors such as citrus, garden, and spice, Seedlip has crafted an herbal zero-proof spirit that mixes up a solid stand in for your favorite cocktail.
Seedlip Garden 108 and Tonic
2 oz Seedlip Garden 108
Tonic Water of Choice
2 Lime Wedges
1 Sprig Rosemary
Simple syrup, to taste
Ice
Directions:
Muddle Simple Syrup and lime wedge in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and Seedlip Garden 108. Shake and strain into a highball glass with ice. Top with tonic water and garnish with second lime wedge and sprig of rosemary.
Ritual: This zero-proof whiskey is a dead ringer for the smell, taste, and burn of an American Whiskey without the alcohol content. The caramel color mimics a barrel-aged whiskey perfect for mixing with your favorite cola for a “Jack and Coke” substitute, or crafted into a perfect mock Manhattan. Ritual even boasts that this holds up simply poured over ice for the pickiest of whiskey drinkers.
Ritual Whiskey Sparkling Pineapple Refresher
1 ½ ounces Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey
¾ ounces Pineapple Juice
Cloves
Cinnamon Stick
Splash of Seltzer water
Citrus peel of choice
Ice
Directions:
Add cloves and cinnamon stick into a shaker with Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey and pineapple juice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass. Top with seltzer water and garnish with citrus peel of choice.
Non-Alcoholic Beers
Athletic Brewing Co.
Athletic Brewing Co., based out of Connecticut, boasts a line of non-alcoholic beers spanning the brew spectrum. From their All Out Stout to their Run Wild IPA, Athletic Brewing Co. has got you covered for non-alcoholic craft beer.
Heineken 0.0
If you prefer the steadfast classics, Heineken has come out with a non-alcoholic beer for you! Their classic lager in the longneck green bottle, minus the alcohol content. In a blind taste test, Heineken 0.0 was put to the test against other major brews (Budweiser, Michelob, etc.) and it held up against them all for taste and flavor.
Gruvi Non-Alcoholic IPA
If you are an IPA aficionado, you may struggle with a non-alcoholic replacement that holds up to the bitter bite of good hops. Gruvi Non-Alcoholic IPA is brewed with three different types of hops to give that citrusy, refreshing sip you love about an IPA without the alcohol.
This is the tip of the iceberg as far as non-alcoholic beverages go, which is a far cry from the days of O’douls’ Non Alcoholic Beer being your only option! Get creative and experiment with different brands and flavors - you may be the next non-alcoholic cocktail mixologist in waiting!
