No Booze, No Problem
Hosting in Dry January
I recently hosted a dinner party where half of my guests were ditching booze for Dry January. TBH the closest I’d get to is "Damp January," but I’m always happy to hook my sober friends up with some fun non-alcoholic drinks. No more boring sparkling water (sorry, Spindrift!). Here are some fun ideas to make parties still fun sans vino.
So one of your guest arrives and announces 'Dry January!' and you didn't stock up on fancy mocktails. No need to sweat - mix up a shrub or cordial with sparkling water (seltzer or club soda, whatever you have) for a quick, healthy-ish fix. Or, give them soda with just a dash of bitters - the alcohol content is basically zero. And not just for the sober crowd, my new party trick is dill-infused water. Stuff fresh dill in a fancy pitcher, keep it topped off with water, and voila - an instant party upgrade.
But let’s say you’re a host with the most and actually planned ahead. Well, there are more zero proof beverage options than ever these days. For wine substitutes, you can either opt for fancy grape juices (try Castello Di Amorosa), or zero-alcohol sparkling “wines” like Töst. For beer fans, Athletic Brewing and Suntory ALL-FREE (zero-calories, too!) are game-changers.
Craving an Italian aperitif? St. Agrestis (love the names - “Phony Negroni”!), Ghia, Lyre's, and crowd-favorite De Soi have you covered. And wow - Spiritless’ Kentucky 74 and Optimist Botanicals' Bright are mind-blowing booze-free spirits. The best part? New shops like Boisson (various physical shop locations and online) and Bardelia (online only) make finding these gems easy!
Lastly, for those that are skilled behind the bar, NYT’s non-alcoholic French 75 seems to be all the buzz (pun-intended) this month. If finessing the art of mocktails is on your to-do list, you can start with the mocktails archive on Imbibe Magazine’s website or dig deeper into Good Drinks by Julia Bainbridge.
Before I go, a quick tip: always have a few different citrus fruits and herbs handy when you’re hosting (or even when you’re not planning on it, since guests might show up unannounced). A simple garnish can elevate almost any drink, alcoholic or not.
Whether you’re doing Dry January or listening to your friend talk about it all month, good luck! See you soon, with a drink in our hands.
Cheers,
Susie
Dill-infused water sounds so refreshing!
Ooh, need to try that French75 recipe! I'm with you on going ~damp~ only :o)