10th November 2020 | Top Drops | 4 minute read
For whatever reason, you or a loved one may not be planning on drinking much – or even any – alcohol this Christmas. But this doesn’t mean you have to resort to dull drinks! The festive season is all about treating yourself and others to the finer things in life, and this most definitely applies to your choice of soft drinks too. We take you through some of the very best alcohol free wines, beers and spirits around so the non-drinkers don’t miss out on the good stuff.
Nothing says Christmas quite like a bottle of red or a bottle of bubbly, does it? Whether you’re abstaining from alcohol completely, or simply want a bit of a breather from all those heavy wines and Champagne, we’ve got some outstanding low alcohol wines and alcohol free sparkling wines that will give you that break from the booze while still being able to enjoy a drop of something special.
The Fritz Muller Zero Alcohol Frizzante 2018 is your go-to for a festive toast. Cutting edge technology removes the alcohol without touching the delightful crisp apple and zesty lemon aromas and Prosecco-like palate of the wine itself. Semi-sparkling and completely alcohol free, this is also a great bubbly for making non-alcoholic Bellini cocktails (or ‘mocktails’) with, and the perfect ingredient for a virgin Mimosa on Christmas morning.
Now, if you’re looking for Michelin star quality alcohol free fizz to serve with food, then look no further than the REAL Kombucha range. These are exquisite alcohol free sparkling drinks made from fermented loose-leaf tea, and can be found on the finest wine menus in the UK, including Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck. With wonderful herbaceous and citrus aromas and a delicious tartness on the palate, REAL Kombucha Dry Dragon is both divine on its own and great paired with seafood (think of it like a Sauvignon Blanc when it comes to food pairings). REAL Kombucha Royal Flush, on the other hand, is fuller with fruitier flavours. Best with white meat and creamy sauces, this is the one to serve with Christmas Dinner.
As for premium low alcohol wines to pair with your festive feasts, Spanish winemaker Vina Albali is the one to turn to for your roast dinners and cheese boards. Vina Albali De-Alcoholised Cabernet Sauvignon Tempranillo 2019 is a medium-bodied, de-alcoholised Cabernet blend with notes of strawberry, cracked black pepper and blackcurrant. Soft tannins and a fruity palate make this one an absolute dream for pairing.
When it comes to refreshing drinks, many of us opt for a gin and tonic or cocktail loaded with plenty of ice. Whatever the style of drink you’re trying to recreate, Seedlip has got you covered. Offering an eclectic mix of styles and flavours in their alcohol free spirits range, you can make pretty much any mocktail you fancy!
Seedlip Garden 108 Non-Alcoholic Spirit is the one to go for if you’re whipping up a classic G&T style tipple. Serve with tonic or soda water, ice and garnish with fresh mint and lime for a classy and refreshing drink that won’t even feel non-alcoholic! While the Æcorn Bitter By Seedlip, crafted from a selection of roots, herbs and bitter botanicals, allows you to create a cracking zero-booze take on a Campari.
If you’re looking for a good base for a vodka or gin style mocktail, Borrago #47 Paloma Blend is an absolute winner. Layered with subtle flavours of lemon, cardamom and rosemary, it’s an incredibly smooth spirit that creates a sophisticated virgin cocktail. And, for the pink gin lovers who may be cutting back on the real deal this Christmas, there’s Warner’s Pink Berry 0%, serving up a luscious and complex palate of raspberries, blackcurrants, ginger, chilli and exotic Szechuan pepper.
Last but not least, we have our alcohol free beers. These craft beer beauties are an impressive imitation of the real thing, offering everything from crisp and refreshing ales through to dark and brooding stouts, all sitting at just 0.5% ABV (meaning they qualify as ‘alcohol free’). Great news for the beer lovers who won’t be drinking over the festive period but still fancy a pint.
Made with natural ingredients and rich in vitamins, the Maisels Alkoholfrei amber beer is fruity and spicy with a purity in flavour that truly makes it stand out from the crowd. While Jever Fun is a splendidly flavoured little German number that has all the character of a fresh and herby pilsner but with a fraction of the booze.
If you’re looking to order a whole crate of different beer styles though, the multi award-winning Big Drop Brewing Co. range features a brew to suit every mood. Previously named by BBC Food as one of three ‘Best Drinks Producers’ of the year, Big Drop are experts in crafting non-alcoholic beers that rival any standard beer. Our top picks for Christmas are the Big Drop Brewing Co Alcohol Free Citra IPA for its mouth-watering palate of lime, grapefruit, mango, pineapple, passion fruit and spice. Big Drop Brewing Co Alcohol Free Stout gets a special shout-out too for being rich, dark and brooding with inviting notes of coffee, cocoa, black fruit and sweet vanilla spice. Perfect for the dark beer connoisseur, and an all-round great winter beer.
