Boozy corporate lunches and open bar functions might still be on the menu, but having top-notch non-alcoholic options on hand for your guests who aren’t imbibing is just good business.
With an ever-expanding array of alcohol-free options on the market, teetotaling has never tasted better.
Earlier this month, OBJ reported how local businesses are benefiting as consumers increasingly reach for non-alcoholic options. Business leaders and event organizers should take note!
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Perth Brewery, Knyota Drinks and Split Tree Cocktail Co. are all great local destinations for non-alcoholic products, in addition to retailers like Jacobson’s, ByWard Wine Market, Bottega Nicastro, Chef’s Paradise and Pot & Pantry.
While the category of zero-proof spirits, wine and beer is rapidly evolving to meet shifting consumer preferences, not all spirit-free products are created equal and often cost as much or more than their boozy counterparts.
To help you navigate this burgeoning category and get the best bang for your buck, I’ve selected some of my favourite non-alcoholic products that are available locally.
BEER
Beer is easily the most convincing segment within the non-alcoholic beverage market. In most cases, the ingredients and production processes remain the same and the alcohol is removed from the equation by arresting or simulating fermentation, diluting or dealcoholizing.
Play Non-Alcoholic Lager – Perth Brewery
I’ve sampled a variety of beers bottled at 0.5 per cent ABV or less and have to say the Play Non-Alcoholic Lager from Perth Brewery is truly exceptional. It is a crisp, clean lager that doesn’t taste like sacrifice, it bears a striking resemblance to the real deal, without the hangover. Play contains 0.1 per cent ABV, just 45 calories, and will run you $2.99/can at Knyota Drinks or $17.70/six-pack from Perth Brewery.
Non-Alcoholic Jelly King Dry Hopped Sour with Raspberry & Blackberry – Bellwoods Brewery
If you prefer a sour beer over a lager, this limited edition non-alcoholic Jelly King from Toronto-based Bellwoods Brewery is a fantastic option. The full-proof version of this tart and juicy beer is one of my favourites and the non-alcoholic style doesn’t disappoint either. The 0.5 per cent version is made with the same yeast and bacteria in the brewing process, yielding a predominantly peachy note. This red fruit variant is an explosion of tart raspberries and blackberries on the palate – absolutely delicious. This non-alcoholic Jelly King is canned at 0.5 per cent ABV and retails for $5.99/can at Knyota Drinks.
SPIRITS
Lucano Amaro Zero
Amari, a.k.a. herbal Italian liqueurs, are well-suited to non-alcoholic adaptations because they are packed with flavourful botanicals. While the delicate grassy flavour of tequila and the heat of well-made whisky can be difficult to translate into a zero-proof version, amari are defined by being big, bold and bitter. Lucano – Amaro Zero is available at Bottega Nicastro in the ByWard Market for $29.99 and is lovely topped with club soda or mixed into a Nogroni (equal parts non-alcoholic gin, sweet vermouth and amaro). This alcohol-free aperitif boasts aromas of myrtle, rosemary, citrus and chamomile. The taste is expectedly bitter but balanced.
Ceder’s Distilled Non-Alcoholic Spirits
The Ceder’s range has been developed by distilling classic gin botanicals like juniper and coriander with more exotic ingredients like rooibos and buchu, sourced from the Cederberg Mountains in South Africa. The line is comprised of four distinct flavour profiles, each with a foundation of 18 different botanicals that are carefully curated to achieve the desired distilled non-alcoholic expression of gin. The styles include Classic, Crisp, Wild and Rose – all available at Jacobson’s for $24.99 each. While these products are free of alcohol, sugar and calories, they still manage to convey the distinctive woodsy aroma of juniper along with the other elements in the botanical mix. As non-alcoholic spirits are much thinner on the palate than full-proof alternatives, I like to mix them with fresh fruit juices and syrups to add weight.
Suggested Serve: Rose Raspberry Bramble
- 4 raspberries
- ½ oz Split Tree Cocktail Co. Lemon Lavender Cordial
- 2 oz Ceder’s Rose
- ¾ oz lemon juice
- Garnish: 3 raspberries
- Garnish: fresh mint
- Muddle raspberries with cordial in a shaker tin.
- Add remaining ingredients and ice. Short shake.
- Strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice.
- Garnish with raspberries & mint.
The Raspberry Rose Bramble is made with Ceder’s non-alcoholic spirits. Photo by Yvonne Langen.
GIMBER
Most non-alcoholic spirits have a base of water. Compared to alcohol, water is not a terribly effective flavour vector and lacks viscosity. As a result, the non-alcoholic version of spirits often have a thin mouthfeel and require exponentially more botanicals in the distillation process to impart the same quality of flavour as their spirited counterparts. Gimber is the exception – an organic ginger concentrate combined with cane sugar, lemon, herbs and spices. The Gimber No1 Original has an intense ginger flavour, which is incredibly effective at mimicking the bite of alcohol and boasts terrific liquid density. I would argue this versatile ingredient is an essential bottle for any mindful mixologist. You can add a splash to your mocktails to add weight and heat you might otherwise be lacking, or let it be the star ingredient in a zero-proof Dark ‘N’ Stormy, Moscow Mule, Penicillin, or Hot Toddy. If you’re trying to limit your sugar intake, reach for the Gimber No2 BRUT for 50 per cent less sugar – both available at Jacobson’s.
WINE
If you’ve ever suffered the saccharine and syrupy dealcoholized wines from the grocery store, you might have sworn off the category, but it might be time to give it another go. I’m pleased to report this category has come a long way in recent years. The biggest improvements can be appreciated in sparkling, white and rosé wines. I still have yet to try a non-alcoholic red wine I would recommend.
Sparkling Organic Blanc de Blancs – ALT.
This is a crisp and refreshing non-alcoholic sparkling white wine. Produced entirely with organic Chardonnay grapes from the sandy soils of southern Spain, this Blanc de Blancs has a bright acidity with delicate bubbles and notes of green apple, citrus and white flowers. It’s refined, elegant and steers well clear of sugary. Available at Knyota Drinks, Jacobson’s and Pot & Pantry.
Eins-Zwei-Zero Rosé – Leitz
I am genuinely impressed by this alcohol-free rosé – it’s so good, you might end up checking the label to confirm it is, in fact, zero per cent ABV. It actually tastes like wine, avoiding the common zero-proof pitfall of tasting like juice. It is clean and fresh on the palate with a relatively dry finish. The Eins-Zwei-Zero Rosé has notes of pale strawberries, raspberry and grapefruit with a solid base of minerality. Available at Knyota Drinks for $16.99/750 mL bottle.
If you’re dining out, a wide variety of local restaurants have zero-proof beers, wines and spirit-free cocktails on their menus or would be happy to whip something up for you on the spot, just ask!
Yvonne Langen is the food and drink content creator behind Taste & Tipple. She is also a regular fixture on TV and radio as a lifestyle expert. You may have previously read her work in Ottawa Magazine.
