Regardless of how you feel about New Year's resolutions, there's no doubt that January feels like the perfect time to finally do that thing you've been putting off. Maybe that means buying a gym membership, or trying out a new style — it is the month of new beginnings. It's a great excuse to form habits you'll carry with you all year, and for many people, that means cutting back on the booze for Dry January.
To ease our holiday hangover, we're putting down our favourite tipples in favour of the best non-alcoholic beers, non-alcoholic wines and non-alcoholic spirits to try this year. With so many incredible options out there, Dry January is all the excuse we need to discover the exciting new 0 per cent ABV drinks. We sampled some of the newest and best non-alcoholic beers and non-alcoholic wines you'll love sipping well into the new year.
Enjoying non-alcoholic beers, non-alcoholic wines, non-alcoholic spirits and delicious mocktail recipes is a great way to spend Dry January, but why stop there? Lean into better consumption in January, and for the rest of the year, with a healthy diet and lifestyle, plus trips to some of the best vegan restaurants in Toronto.
With so many great non-alcoholic beers, non-alcoholic wines and non-alcoholic spirits out there, there's never been a better time to venture into the 0 per cent ABV world. Cheers!
1. Zeronimo, starting at $21
Monika Jungwirth from Karma + Pitch
Monika Jungwirth from Karma + Pitch
If you need proof of the strides that the non-alcoholic world has been making in recent years, this is it. A de-alcoholized wine for oenophiles, Zeronimo Leonis Blend is the world's first 98-point wine to be produced completely alcohol-free. Zeronimo's quality line of bottles also includes a premium sparkling white, a grüner veltliner and a zweigelt. You can find them all at Sobr Market.
2. L’Arjolle Merlot Grenache, $20.95
Picture this: It's a dreary Wednesday evening in January, and dinnertime is nigh. You decide you're making a succulent roast chicken — the perfect comfort food. You don your apron, pull out your cutting board and sharpen your chef's knife. All that's missing now is a nice tall glass of red to wet your whistle as you cook. You uncork a bottle of L'Arjolle Merlot Grenache, and take a deep sip. Perfection.
A wonderful aperitif, this de-alcoholized wine retains all of the flavours and aromas you'd expect in a regular bottle. Made in Languedoc-Roussillon, France, this merlot tastes like a handful of ripe berries, with a medium-bodied finish. Dry and low-calorie, a glass can be enjoyed at any time of day.
3. Oddbird Spumante, $23.95
The only special occasion required to pop this bottle of bubbly is you're feeling a little fancy this soirée. Oddbird Spumante is Sweden's only alcohol-free sparkling wine, and we must say, they knocked it out of the park. We felt like we were sinking our teeth into a juicy apple with every glass. (It's practically mandatory to have more than one. The bottle's already open, right?) You'll want to stockpile a few bottles in your cellar — these babies make for an excellent dinner party gift, regardless of the occasion.
4. Cipriani Alcohol-Free Bellini, $18.95 for four
We play the role of mixologist throughout the entire holiday season and, frankly, we need a break. Enter Cipriani's alcohol-free bellinis. These pre-made cocktails from Venice, Italy are bubbly little treats that have no right being so delicious. Fresh white peach puree from southern Europe coats your mouth with every sip; this cocktail feels like a luxurious dessert. With a few packs of these, we'll make it through Toronto's darkest winter nights just fine.
5. Lumette! LumRum, $19.99
From Lumette!, a non-alcoholic spirits producer out of Vancouver, B.C., LumRum is a 0 per cent ABV spiced rum that's quickly become a bar cart essential for us. Distilled with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and ginger, LumRum replicates and surpasses your favourite gold rum. Enjoy it mixed with cola or, if you're up for breaking out your shaker, in a tiki cocktail.
6. Rally Beer Dry Run non-alcoholic pale ale, $23.89 for 12
Gone are the days of choosing between your active lifestyle and enjoying a beer whenever you feel like it. Rally non-alcoholic beers are packed with electrolytes and are super crushable, making them a perfect post-gym session treat. Heck, you're more than welcome to crack one before 5 p.m., if you want.
7. Collective Arts Hazy Pale Ale, $10.95 for four
Coast your way through Dry January and the rest of the year with Collective Arts Hazy Pale Ale. Sitting at only 0.4 per cent ABV, it's reminiscent of the local brewery's classic Hazy State alcoholic beer. Expect tropical hop aromas and vibrant berry flavours in this laid-back brew.
8. Harmon's Lunchbox Lagered Ale, $16.50 for six
An award-winning beer sounds like a great idea to start the year off on the right foot. Harmon's Lunchbox lagered ale took home a silver medal at the 2022 Ontario Brewing Awards in the no-to-low alcohol category, and we can certainly see why. A crisp, delicious beer down to the last dregs in the can, its delicate fruity notes make it a drink we'd love to keep coming back to.
9. MARTINI Non-Alcoholic Vibrante, $18.89
With notes of Italian bergamot oranges, MARTINI's non-alcoholic Vibrante is best enjoyed with tonic water. While we wish we could enjoy a fizzy glass of Vibrante and tonic while in a tropical destination, we'll settle for one as a booze-free nightcap after a hearty meal.
10. Seedlip, $45
A favourite among bartenders, Seedlip's non-alcoholic spirits are so good you won't miss the booze. They come in three unique flavours (Garden 108, Spice 94 and Grove 42), which make for great mocktail mixers, or go simple with some ice and sparkling water. Beautifully designed and expertly crafted, your AFD (alcohol free day) is about to get so much brighter.
