Low-alcohol tips and recipes to make your new ‘damp’ lifestyle stick

Even though Dry January is over, there will be countless people getting back to their old drinking habits this week.

Nicola Jones, co-founder of spirits, bar and glassware retailer Drinks Distilled, tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Cutting back doesn’t have to mean taking an all-or-nothing approach. Ultimately, the key to understanding how to drink more mindfully is to do the research and experiment with ways of reducing alcohol content in your cocktails.

‘It’s about finding a sustainable middle ground and understanding where you want to go from there.’

So what should we ask for at the bar if we’re looking to enjoy a low-alcohol serve on the go?

Sure, you can pick a low-percentage beer, but if you’re in the mood for a classic cocktail, La’Mel Clarke, floor manager at Shoreditch cocktail bar Seed Library, recommends picking an Adonis or an Americano. 

‘An Americano is sweet vermouth, Campari (or red bitter) and soda – think a lighter version of a Negroni Sbagliato,’ he adds.

Carl Anthony Brown, a co-founder of non-alcoholic spirit brand Crossip, says it helps to think of things in terms of units rather than percentages.

‘When it comes to “Low ABV” [alcohol by volume], the UK Government’s guidance is that any drink between 0.5% and 1.2% would fall under this category,’ he explains. ‘But at Crossip, we realised there are a few issues with this blanket descriptor.

‘There’s no differentiation between whether that “low ABV drink” is a beer, lager, spirit, cocktail, wine, or cider. When it comes to full-strength alcoholic drinks, we have a broad expectation for the ABV of each. Beers are typically 4%-5%, spirits are commonly around 40%, wine fluctuates between 12%-14% – so it doesn’t make sense for each of these very different drinks to abide by the 1.2% rule.

‘We feel units are a much better way of categorising “low-alcohol drinks”. Ultimately, what is the purpose of a low-alcohol drink? More often than not, it’s simply where the consumer is looking to reduce their alcohol intake, but not necessarily stop altogether, and units allow the consumer to quickly choose the option that suits their lifestyle.’

Whether you’re at home or out and about, Nicola says vermouth is an ingredient worth a look in.

‘Vermouth is surging in popularity,’ she says, ‘which is no surprise to us since it’s one of the most versatile bottles you can have as part of your home bar – just remember to always store it in the fridge.

The Smokey Cokey

Ingredients:

• Crossip Dandy Smoke
• Coca-Cola
• Lime
• Ice
• Bar spoon and jigger
• Highball glass
• Garnish: Lime wedge
• For a lower ABV serve (0.5 units), you’ll also need: Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks Jamaica Rum

Method:

1. Add 25ml Crossip and 200ml Coca-Cola to a Highball glass. If you’re making the lower ABV serve, also add 10ml Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks Jamaica Rum.
2. Add ice and a squeeze of lime.
3. Stir until combined and then garnish with a lime wedge.

Credit: Drinks Distilled

The Forest Gimlet

Ingredients:

• Everleaf Forest
• Pink grapefruit juice
• 5ml honey
• Garnish: peel of lime
• Mixing glass and strainer
• Jigger and bar spoon
• Coupe glass

Method:

1. Put your Coupe glass in the fridge to chill (for between 30-60 minutes).
2. Pour 50ml Everleaf Forest, 35ml grapefruit juice and 5ml honey into a mixing glass with a few ice cubes. 
3. Stir until the mixing glass mists up.
4. Strain the mixture into your chilled glass, express lime oils across the top and garnish with a lime twist.

Credit: Drinks Distilled

Get in touch by emailing [email protected]