Five ready-made, non-alcohol drinks to enjoy for a refreshing summer
If you're being mindful about how much you're drinking this summer, one of the best ways to surf the urge for a cold bevvy is to find a non-alcoholic alternative. This category has grown rapidly over the years, and hundreds of options are available for every occasion or desire.
You might experience sticker shock at the high price of cocktails without booze in them – whether on a menu or shelf – but there is a good reason for that cost: Zero-proof drinks require innovation and more ingredients, according to Valérian Roy, co-founder at non-alcoholic spirits distiller HP Juniper.
'Crafting a high-quality spirit without alcohol as a flavour carrier means we must rely on a more complex blend of botanicals, aromatics and natural extracts to deliver the same depth, structure and satisfaction,' Roy said.
More Canadians are skipping booze – forcing cities to adapt their nightlife
If you're reaching for something at home, one of the easiest and cheapest ways to experiment is to go for a canned non-alcoholic drink. Here are some refreshing choices to try this summer that are worth the cost. Pro tip: Don't drink these straight from the can. Find some ice and a nice glass for a better experience.
The zero-proof gin and tonic is one summer drink you can count on to be a reasonable facsimile of the real thing. The catch is a lot of canned gin and tonic mocktails are available and not all of them are good. One of the best options you can find in Canada is a hidden gem. NOROI Brise Glace Non-Alcoholic Gin and Tonic is made in Quebec and has notes of bright citrus, juniper and a little bit of gentle heat emulating the real thing.
Brise Glace Non-Alcoholic Gin and Tonic (Canada), $12.99/four-pack at upsidedrinks.com.
There's something magical about margaritas, and drinking zero-proof doesn't mean you have to miss out on the salty smoky lime combo we all love. If you want to mix up a great mockarita, one of the very best non-alcoholic tequilas available is the made-in-Canada HP Agave. If you're more interested in opening something easy, the most exciting option is Parch Drinks Co. Parch has created a line of non-alcoholic margarita-style drinks using desert botanicals such as blue agave and packed full of lime and smoky heat. The Desert Margarita is a classic margarita flavour, while the Spiced Piñarita is like a juicy, fiery pineapple mezcalita.
Parch Spiced Piñarita (U.S.), $24/four-pack at sobrmarket.com.
Nothing says summer like sitting on a bistro patio with an Aperol spritz. Fortunately, a lot of restaurants have opted into the mocktail trend with this iconic drink, creating bespoke in-house syrups and elixirs to dupe the bitter candied-orange aperitif flavour. For at home, my long-time favourite is from ISH Spirits, a Danish company that harnesses its non-alcoholic sparkling wine and a bitter aperitif together to create a bottled spritz. The resulting drink is not overly sweet, with fun bubbles and that classic Italian Riviera vibe. The bottle is 750 ml and serves four or five, so just open it, pour over ice and maybe add a slice of orange for some vitamin C. Cin cin!
ISH Spritz (Denmark), $19.95/bottle at clearsips.ca.
Non-alcoholic wine options are getting better and better. If you don't want to risk trying a full bottle of non-alcoholic wine, a great way to dip your toe in is to try the 250 ml cans of Cognato Chenin Blanc.
Cognato is a non-alcoholic wine brand from South Africa and its wines are all made with grapes from low-yield vines in the coastal regions of South Africa.
Its Chenin Blanc is bright and fresh with a hint of minerality and tart acidity, and it doesn't taste like grape juice.
Cognato Chenin Blanc (South Africa), $8/can (two servings) at dryvariety.com.
Try something fresh from In Good Company, a new female-founded Canadian drink line from the West Coast producing a line of functional mocktails with summer cocktail tastes. The Key Lime Mango Mojito is a flavour bomb you'll want to have on repeat, and the Watermelon Tajin Marg mocktail is like a Jolly Rancher in a can.
All four of their drinks are low-sugar, have prebiotic ACV in them and include a hit of low-dose caffeine to give you a boost.
In Good Company (Canada), $25/four-pack at drinkingoodcompany.com.
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