Weekend of February 11th

By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor

Just because Dry January is over doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from some low or no-alcohol cocktails.

Weekend Reading

That Non-Alcoholic Buzz

Give up the booze without giving up the ritual (or satisfying taste)

Did you make it through Dry January this year? Or did it simply pique your interest about giving up booze for at least a little while? Now in it's 10th year, the annual sobriety challenge is more popular than ever as people embrace a “sober-curious” mentality. And it's pretty clear to see why.Research over the last decade has demonstrated that the benefits of doing Dry January (or Sober October or any month without alcohol) are irrefutable. Taking some time off of from drinking can improve your sleep, energy levels, overall mental health and a host of other health markers. And as more research reveals that alcohol is harmful at any amount, researchers are encouraging everyone to reduce their intake year round ... or maybe cut out alcohol entirely.Just as you don't have to drink excessively for alcohol to take a toll on your health, you don't have to be a problem drinker to decide to quit or even cut down a bit. Over the last few years, the “mindful drinking” and “damp lifestyle” crowd have flooded social media with tips and recipes for alcohol alternatives. They weren't in the throes of addiction when they decided to quit, but chose to reevaluate their relationship with alcohol and found that they felt better when they drank less.For sober curious people, this usually means easing up on booze for extended periods of time without the kind of commitment or seriousness we associate with someone being sober. They didn't hit rock bottom, go to rehab or need twelve steps to put down the bottle. They just decided to try living without alcohol most or all of the time, and usually found that they preferred the way they felt without it.Mindful drinkers, on the other hand, may still drink—and drink regularly—but have stopped choosing booze by default. Instead of ordering a gin and tonic every time they go out or pouring an old-fashioned after a long day at work, damp lifestylers may opt for a non-alcoholic beer at the beginning of a night out to see how they're feeling before ordering something stronger. They may alternate between regular and de-alcoholized wine during dinner. At home, they might temper full strength liquor with zero-proof spirits, like using a non-alcoholic whiskey and regular vermouth in a Manhattan. They may be aware that alcohol isn't great for them, but they're choosing when and where to drink.As more and more people reduce their intake, the demand for alcohol alternatives—ones that taste good, with the complex and often bitter flavors we associate with proper grown-up drinks—has exploded. Adult NA beverages have been the fastest growing trend in the drinks industry for the last three years in a row, and that trajectory is projected to continue in 2023 and beyond. Solid options for zero-proof beer, wine, and spirits are abundant. The days of sipping a sad nothing-and-tonic or drinking a Diet Coke with the tasting menu at a fine dining restaurant are blessedly over. There are even ready-to-drink non-alcoholic cocktails, like SpritzISH, an uncanny Aperol spritz dupe that offers the same refreshing bite as the real thing.Online retailer The Zero Proof specializes in non-alcoholic beverages, providing a curated selection of the best in the booze-free business. Co-founder Sean Goldsmith has tasted his way through dozens of non-alc spirits and only offers the best in his shop. We asked him and his team for recipes for two of the most popular drinks at the moment: The Negroini and an Espresso Martini.

2 Popular Non-Alcoholic Cocktails

The No-groni

After a lot of sipping, Goldsmith says this is the perfectly bitter No-groni. The combination of GinISH, Wilfred's Bittersweet Aperitif, and Gnista Floral Wormwood hits all the classic Negroni notes. For a bubbly sbagliato version, swap out the GinISH for a de-alcoholized sparkling wine like Oddbird Blanc de Blancs.

⋆ 1 oz. GinISH ⋆ 1 oz. Gnista Floral Wormwood ⋆ 1 oz. Wilfred's Bittersweet Aperitif ⋆ Orange peel, to garnish

Pour each into a mixing glass and stir with ice until gently chilled. Strain into rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with orange peel to serve.

The N/A Espresso Martini

Most non-alcoholic espresso martinis lack the thick head of fluffy foam that makes the drink so appealing. After a lot of experimentation, The Zero Proof's content director, Suzan Eraslan, hit on the secret ingredient: Some good instant coffee. The result is a foam so dense you could float a dozen espresso beans on top.

⋆ 1 oz. RumISH ⋆ 1 oz. Pathfinder Hemp & Root ⋆ 3-6 drops of All the Bitter Orange Bitters ⋆ ½ oz. pure maple syrup ⋆ 1 tsp. craft instant coffee, like Perc Brazil Blend ⋆ Espresso beans, to garnish

In a cocktail shaker, pour non-alcoholic rum, The Pathfinder, Orange Bitters, maple syrup, and instant coffee. Dry shake (without ice) for 30 seconds. Add ice and shake for an additional 30 seconds. Strain through a hawthorn strainer into a coupe glass. Give the cocktail shaker a little jiggle and swirl while straining to get every last bit of foam. Float espresso beans on the foam to garnish.

Big Biz

In 2022, sales of no- and low-alcohol beverages grew by leaps and bound globally. It’s now an $11 billion industry.