THE COOL CLUB
It’s official, here at The Ice Co, we’ve gone sober for October! That means instead of talking all things beers, wines and spirits, we’ll instead be focusing on alcohol-free tipples to tickle the taste buds.
It’s no secret that having a break from alcohol has loads of benefits – no hangover, brighter skin, more energy, the list goes on. But when you think of going sober, you might be left wondering what you’ll drink instead. The good news is, going sober for October doesn’t have to be boring. There are plenty of alcohol-free options out there that taste just as good, if not better, than the real thing.
Go alcohol-free and try new things
While we might not normally flock to the alcohol-free aisle, going Sober October can be the perfect time to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. While you might be in the habit of having a large glass of Vino, there’s nothing to say you won’t find an alternative you wish you’d found earlier.
Personal thoughts on going alcohol-free
We talked to the team about their experiences of going alcohol-free. Jess, our Marketing Exec, said:
‘I recently attended a wedding on a Sunday evening. I was driving, so chose a trusty alcohol-free alternative – an Appletiser. I’d forgotten how refreshing and delicious it was when poured over ice, and I didn’t feel left out of the celebrations as it was such a nice drink to enjoy at a celebration.’
Reflecting on alcohol-free options during the summer, Kerstin said:
‘During the summertime, I was out for dinner at a pub with my Son. It was a balmy hot summer’s evening and as usual, I was doing mum duties and driving. I really fancied something cold and refreshing that was not your usual fizzy pub ‘soda’ style drink to have with a burger. I went for a Peroni Ibera and it just hit the spot!’
Best alcohol-free drinks to try from the supermarket
As more people start to realise the benefits of giving up or cutting down on alcohol, the range of alcohol-free drinks stocked in supermarkets is rising. Ten years ago you might only have found one low or no alcohol beer in the shop, but now, there’s a much bigger range. With the usual suspects like Heineken, Bavaria and Becks all offering 0% beers, there are also newer alcohol-free brands to try, like Peroni Libera and Nozeco, which is delicious mixed with orange and a strawberry garnish.
Our top two favourite alcohol-free brands to have at home
Fentimans has been in existence since 1905, and all started when Thomas Fentiman, an iron puddler from Cleckheaton, England was approached by a fellow tradesman for a loan. A deal was struck and a recipe for botanically brewed ginger beer was provided as security. The loan was never repaid so Thomas became the owner of the unique recipe.
The botanical drink brewing company is still in the hands of the Fentimans family and is owned by the Great Grandson of Thomas Fentiman. Although the products are now pasteurised to extend shelf-life, they are still made via multi-stage botanical brewing technique, making them deliciously unique.
Looking for a new alcohol-free winter recipe? Try this.
Fentimans Ginger Beer with Muddled Lime
Ingredients:
1 Handful of The Ice Co Premium Ice Cubes or Large Ice Cubes
1 lime
250ml Ginger Beer
Method
1. Put 2 Premium Ice Cubes into a tall glass
2. Muddle the lime and add to the glass
3. Pour over ice-cold ginger beer and enjoy!
Clean Co – using traditional distillery techniques to create alcohol-free spirits
Clean Co uses a traditional distillation process to create its range of gin, rum, tequila, and vodka alternatives, and prides itself on tasting ‘just as good as the real thing’. Here at The Ice Co, we’re big fans of the brand, and regularly shake up the below alcohol-free recipe.
Ingredients
x1 Handful of The Ice Co Premium Ice
x2 Measures of clean V Spiced Apple
Top up: Elderflower tonic water
Garnish: Apple slice and lime wheel
Method
1. Fill a highball glass with Large Ice cubes.
2. Add Clean V Spiced Apple and top up with elderflower tonic.
3. Garnish with an apple slice, lime wedge, and serve.
Do you have a favourite recipe using alcohol-free ingredients? We’d love to hear it! Let us know what it is on Facebook or Instagram.
