As of today, I am two years alcohol-free. Hooray!! When I first quit drinking, I had no idea I’d continue abstaining this long. I was just trying to give my body a break from sleep issues or the slightest sensation of a hangover. I had no idea that sobriety would lead to me getting very real with myself in ways that were not always comfortable or easy. And yet I never wanted to go back. I just didn’t feel like using booze to cope anymore. 

Once I no longer needed alcohol to numb discomfort, I was better able to discern what I truly enjoyed about drinking. Turns out, I adore the ritual of enjoying a fun, festive, unsweetened beverage. So I’ve been playing a lot with mocktails, non-alcoholic beers, and other sorts of N/A concoctions these past couple years. Here are some of my favorites:

My “Dry” Dirty Martini

I strongly believe there should be more savory beverages. I’ve always loved salty more than sweet, but for a long time I thought my only savory beverage option was a Bloody Mary. Then I learned the joys of olive brine mixed with clear liquor and became a bit OBSESSED. Dirty martinis were an at-home staple when I was in my 30s. I hardly ever bothered with shaking/straining  – that’s too much work, plus I liked a little ice melting in the bottom of my glass (it’s what a drunk Pam Beesley called “second drink” in the “Dundies” episode of The Office). My go-to recipe included either vodka or gin, dry vermouth, olive brine drizzle, and a couple olives on the rocks. Cheap olives worked fine, because the booze buzz made up for low quality.

When I gave up drinking, I missed the flavor of this salty concoction and came up with my own N/A version. NOTE: when you subtract the booze buzz, flavor becomes everything:

• 1 shot Seedlip Garden 108 — a clear, non-alcoholic spirit with herbal notes that reminds me of gin

• Lemon juice spritz, to replace the vermouth

• Generous drizzle of anchovy-stuffed olive brine. The anchovy is key, because that umami kick gives it a depth of flavor that other brine just doesn’t have

• Garnished with two anchovy-stuffed olives 

• Served on the rocks. Long live second drink!

My N/A Manhattan

I still miss the aroma and flavor of bourbon – or as I affectionately call it, “boy band.” My husband and I became big boy band enthusiasts shortly after we moved to the south in 2010. A shot of Bulleit on the rocks with a sprig of mint or basil was, to me, a perfect summer beverage.

There are some very respectable N/A whiskeys on the market, but to my knowledge no one has yet to replicate the complex flavor of bourbon. Nevertheless, I enjoy making this version of a Manhattan. It doesn’t taste precisely like the real thing, but it has a light fruitiness and bite that keep it interesting:

• 1 shot Ritual Whiskey Alternative, which has a peppery heat that feels like actual whiskey burn

• ½ shot Blutul Rose Vermouth (non-alcoholic), which has a nice grapefruit kick

• Splash of bitters (which are technically alcoholic, but not enough for me to feel)

• Maraschino cherry syrup drizzle

• Garnished with maraschino cherries

• On the rocks 

Non-Alcoholic Beers

If you’re a beer enthusiast who’s interested in abstaining, the good news is that there are many delicious N/A brews on the market. But much like real beer, there’s a lot of crap, too. I divide the options into three categories:

• Worthless, malty swill Tastes like beer, sorta. But at what cost? The worst one I’ve encountered so far is Ceria Grainwave, which is like a sickeningly sweet version of Blue Moon Belgian White. I trashed nearly an entire six-pack.

• Tastes almost exactly like the okay beer it’s imitating If you’re alright with Heineken, Guinness, or Corona, you’ll be just fine with the non-alcoholic versions of those beers. These are not anything I would necessarily seek out, but they’re a fine choice at any restaurant that has limited N/A beer options.

• Truly tasty! My inner beer snob approves! I was always an IPA enthusiast, so I really enjoy Athletic Brewery’s selection of hoppy “near beer.” Bang for your buck, I think this is the best brand out there; the Run Wild IPA is my favorite. Untitled Art also makes wonderful sour and stout style beers, which I reserve for special occasions (they’re a bit pricier).

Nespresso 

My spouse surprised me with a Nespresso machine and milk steamer/frother during that first pandemic Christmas, and I swear it saved our quarantine lives. Now that we are alcohol-free, we seem to fetishize it even more. I love trying all the different roasts, including the seasonal options; their version of pumpkin spice espresso is the perfect fall flavor for someone who never wants her coffee sweet. My standard morning beverage is a Nespresso Americano with cream, though I do occasionally enjoy a cappuccino or a cold steamed coconut latte. I’ve also experimented with blending espresso and tonic water, though I’ve usually hit my two-coffee daily limit by the time I’m thinking of consuming anything that mocktail-ish.

Spindrift

Unsweetened, fruit-flavored carbonated waters have been a household staple for years. We used to fool ourselves into believing the La Vie brand from Aldi was great. But again, that illusion was powered by booze buzz; just about any fizz tastes great with boy band. Thankfully, now we can afford a better quality unsweet fruit soda. Much as I enjoy my N/A beers and spirits, I don’t tend to consume that many in one sitting. And that means we’ve enjoyed BIG $AVING$ since quitting alcohol. We now invest part of those funds in a never ending supply of Spindrift. These sparkling waters come in a wide variety of refreshing fruity options that are actually quite flavorful. My current favorites are Nojito (lime and mint), Peach Strawberry, and the classic Arnold Palmer blend of lemon and black tea. They’re pricier than some of the other fizzy brands but we usually find some good deals at Costco. 

FYI fizzy water with a few splashes of really good vinegar makes a wonderful sparkling wine alternative.

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If you know some other great unsweetened, non-alcoholic beverages, please share! Hope everyone reading this enjoys a fun, festive, hydrated summer ☀️