Your favourite non-alcoholic drink when you’re not drinking?

[In A Pickle]

There are times when you don’t want to have an alcoholic beverage but you also kind of do. Like when you’re driving to and from a social event, or you might be on medication that doesn’t mix well with alcohol or perhaps want to join in being sociable but without the effects of alcohol in your system.

I found as I’ve got older that I don’t have the same level of vim if I drink alcohol. A glass of something alcoholic now tends to put me into a deeply relaxed state and as I’m the one who has the lions share of the cooking and clearing etc to do I don’t enjoy trying to do all that whilst fighting a strong desire to lie on the sofa!

So I’ve been trying out some non-alcoholic alternatives that still feel good and like I’m part of the party but at the same time don’t leave me feeling like I’ve been shot with a bazooka load of tranqs!

I’ve now tried three which I’ll post below but more interestingly what’s your favourite drink for these times? Do you have a go to or are you supping your OJ wishing there was something better?!

 

[The Ghan]

Hmm, I am not a big drinker at the best of times, 2 or 3 beers a few times a week over a 3 hour period so it doesn't really effect me. However, when I don't feel like alchohol I lean toward Canadian Dry or Black Coffee. Yes I know - very radical but hey - someone has to go out on a limb right ?

 

[In A Pickle]

The first one which I’ll write off as a no straight away was the premixed virgin Mojito. The flavour was surprisingly good if too sweet but the amount of artificial sweetener in there caused a GI rebellion so for me no more premixed stuff without checking the sweeteners in them.
Would be a nice one to make myself though.

Then I tried the number one selling very well reviewed Kylie Minogue Rose Sparkling. I had low hopes but it was extremely good. Rose tends to be far too sweet for me but this concoction isn’t. Kylie wines (mostly the rose) are single handedly responsible for 50% of the increase in non-alcoholic drinks sales here.
Amazingly in just 5 years Kylie wines are now sold in 31 countries and have sold 21 million bottles! At approximately £6 a pop it’s not taking the Michael on price either.

Surprisingly dry and interesting, easy to sip and good value. I can see why it’s sold so well. You have to go into it expecting it not to taste like wine because it isn’t but it is still worthwhile. It also isn’t full of sulphites so no blocked nose for the sulphite sensitive!

Whitely Neill Rhubarb and Ginger.

Around £15 a bottle so not the cheapest but interesting all the same and you’re only using a small amount per drink so it’s not bad value.
Absolutely no detectable sweetness when diluted with soda water. A very dry drink that doesn’t taste anything like a gin or similar spirit you’re familiar with. Would probably be better with tonic or used in a cocktail.
Having said that I had three so I obviously liked more that my initial feeling about it
Would I buy it again? Maybe but experimenting with it first to see if it has a sweet spot would be needed.

Next up Captain Morgan’s Alcohol free Spiced Gold.

 

[In A Pickle]

Hmm, I am not a big drinker at the best of times, 2 or 3 beers a few times a week over a 3 hour period so it doesn't really effect me. However, when I don't feel like alchohol I lean toward Canadian Dry or Black Coffee. Yes I know - very radical but hey - someone has to go out on a limb right ?

I had to look up what Canadian Dry was

 

[The Ghan]

I geuss I kinda fell a bit short of the "interesting stuff" hey. I didn't know Minogue made a wine - hope it is better than her acting

Next up Captain Morgan’s Alcohol free Spiced Gold.

Oh dear - I wish you hadn't told me that - now I am going to have look for it, buy, drink AND hopefully like it

Sorry Canadian Dry in Ginger Ale - a great thirst quencher, but not very exotic

 

[In A Pickle]

I geuss I kinda fell a bit short of the "interesting stuff" hey. I didn't know Minogue made a wine - hope it is better than her acting

Yer I went into the supermarket thinking is this as wrong as it feels?
To me she represents the demise of good music and the rise of Stock Aitken and Watermans churned out factory cr*p.

So who wudda thort that I would turn into a Kylie fan

 

[In A Pickle]

Oh dear - I wish you hadn't told me that - now I am going to have look for it, buy, drink AND hopefully like it

Hmm looks like it only get about 2.5 to 3.5 stars out of 5 so I wouldn’t go in with high expectations

 

[The Ghan]

Think I'll stick to the real stuff

 

[The Ghan]

So who wudda thort that I would turn into a Kylie fan

I believe in Australia they have an antedote for that ailment ....

 

[In A Pickle]

I believe in Australia they have an antedote for that ailment ....

So long as it’s not Jason

 

[The Ghan]

They are well suited to one another - both under achievers!

 

[Lee Vining]

Ultra 00 zero alcohol beer. Lots of flavor. Drive home not concerned about DUI checkpoints, wake up the next morning feeling fine.

 

[Jusa]

Water. I'm boring, I know.

 

[pictonguy]

I don't drink things with any sugar and I'm not very acceptable or agreeable to additives, preservatives and sweeteners and I like coffee so that's my drink de jour and tea's to a lesser degree and water, mostly sparkling.

 

[Sir_Loin_of_Beef]

Pepsi please, the zero sugar kind

 

[dragnlaw]

Water... not sparkling, not compatible with my tummy. Just water.

If I want a slight taste to it I might add a small shot of Orange Juice or a fruit juice but most are too horribly sweet and/or thick for me...
I water all juices down by about 50 to 60% water.
Coffee is good. No tea, tannin not compatible with my tummy.

Wine is alcoholic but just for the record I even water that down too. No commercial wines, too many sulphites and/or tannins. Please don't roll over and shudder.

 

[forty_caliber]

As I've gotten older, alcohol carries little appeal. I'll drink a (1) beer if I'm having trouble sleeping but that's about it for me.

Unsweet iced tea, about a gallon a day, fresh brewed every day does it for me.

.40

 

[Meryl]

I used to love soft drinks when I lived in the UK but I think it must be something to do with age, I've gone off them completely, never drink them now. Too sweet.
If I were to choose something non alcoholic, then it would be tonic water with lemon slice as a cool Summer drink, or tea/herbal teas in the Winter period. Coffee all year round.

 

[HeyItsSara]

I also don't drink sugar any longer plus i have a daughter who's sober and a husband with gout.

We have a fridge full of drinks, though - Probiotic soda, Celsius, Orgain protein shakes. Diet soda but good ones - like the flavored Coke Zeros (Oreo, Orange Cream, Cherry), lots of flavored seltzers, cold brew and of course water. Grape juice. Orange juice. Diet cranberry juice.

 

[RavingLunatic]

Just water here, or tea. Not a coffee drinker.