14 alcohol-free drinks launching for Dry January 2022

Kopparberg Mixed Fruit Tropical Alcohol-Free

Less than a year after the launch of its full-strengh Mixed Fruit Tropical cider – which was a hit on our Instagram feed in 2021 – Kopparberg is targeting dry drinkers with an alcohol-free version. Much like its boozy counterpart, the 0.05% abv drink features flavours of pineapple, mango and passionfruit and an eye-catching can design. It lands in Asda and Tesco this month (rsp: £3/4x330ml).

 

Adnams Smidgin

OK, so this launch isn’t alcohol-free. In fact, Adnams’ Smidgin is stronger than most dry gins. However, this intense tipple from the Southwold distiller is designed to be served in small measures to create a full-flavoured but low alcohol G&T. The 50% abv spirit is sold alongside a 2.5ml copper spoon to provide the perfect serve, and while this may only be 10% of a typical gin measure, the spirit has been distilled with 10 times the botanicals to ensure it still delivers on flavour. Described as an “aromatic, juniper-forward gin” with a “soft floral finish”, Smidgin is available from Adnams’ stores and website (rsp: £26/200ml).

 

Nio Ginger Sour

Pre-mixed cocktail maker Nio has added a third non-alcoholic cocktail to its range this year. Joining Lemongrass Citrus and Virgin Bitters is Ginger Sour, which blends ginger and lemon with distilled botanical water from Memento, a fellow Italian brand. Shoppers can buy a box of three, six or nine cocktails on the Nio website (rsp: £19.50-£59).

 

French Bloom Le Blanc and Le Rosé

Aiming to “elevate the UK’s alcohol-free beverage market”, non-alcoholic sparkling wine brand French Bloom has gone on sale exclusively in Selfridges this month (rsp: £29/75cl). Its two variants – Le Blanc and Le Rosé – are both organic, vegan and produced and bottled in the south west of France. The “welless-orientated” drinks are also low in calories and made without added sugar or sulfites.

 

Seven Brothers AF Pale Ale

Salford brewery Seven Brothers has made its debut in low alcohol beer with AF Pale Ale, “a hoppy craft ale” that landed on its webshop just before Christmas (rsp: £1.60/330ml). The 0.5% abv brew is also suitable for vegans.

 

Saicho Eight Immortals 

Designed to be served chilled in a champagne glass, this “sophisticated sparkling tea” from Saicho is positioned as an alternative to consumers’ favourite alcoholic fizz. Named after the Chinese myth of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, the tea is a rare Dan Cong cultivar from China’s Guangdong province, which promises aromas of “nectarine, ginger, sweet baking spices and confit peach” alongside herbal notes of anise, fennel and tarragon. It is on sale now on the premium tea brand’s website (rsp: £32.99/750cl).

 

Hip Pop CBD Kombucha

For consumers looking for a buzz without the booze, Hip Pop is offering a range of new CBD-infused kombuchas. Containing a ‘market-leading’ 20mg of CBD and one billion live cultures, the ‘gut-friendly’ drinks come in three fruity flavours: Passionfruit & Guava, Cherry & Blackberry and Blood Orange & Grapefruit. They are available now from the Hip Pop website and are coming soon to Amazon, Booths and Suma (rsp: £2.49/330ml).

 

Quarter Light Gin

Hoping to bridge the gap between full-strength and non-alcoholic spirits is Quarter, which offers drinks at – you guessed it – a quarter of the strength of typical spirits. The brand debuted in 2021 with its Light Gin, a 12% abv tipple infused with botanicals such as juniper, grapefruit and orange. It is available for the first time in Dry January at the Quarter website (rsp: £27/70cl).

 

Corona Cero

As well as unveiling a trio of hard seltzers that will hit shelves in March, Corona has brought a non-alcoholic beer to Tesco this month. A wider rollout for the 0% abv Corona Cero is expected in March across grocery and convenience.

 

Maison Sassy Organic Cider

Normandy-based cidermaker Maison Sassy is hopping on the alcohol-free trend with a 0% abv organic cider, which launched in the UK this month. The vegan and gluten-free drink has been made using five different cider apple varieties and is 100% fruit, with no added water or sugar. It is available to purchase from drinks merchants Direct Wines and Laithwaites, as well as Amazon (rsp: £2.10/27.5cl).

 

Tuscan Tree Fiore di Sambuco Aperitivo

Last year, Tuscan Tree targeted Aperol Spritz drinkers with the launch of Arancia Rossa di Toscana, an alcohol-free blood orange spirit. This January, the brand is launching a Cloudy Elderflower variant, Fiore di Sambuco Aperitivo, infused with botanicals such as elderflower blossom, Sicilian lemon, orange peel, rhubarb root and juniper. It has gone on sale on Master of Malt and Amazon (rsp: £12/70cl). 

 

Punchy Easy Sunday 

Punchy, which specialises in premium adult soft drinks with bold flavours, has added a fourth tipple to its range in time for Dry January. The blackcurrant, lemon and basil-flavoured Easy Sunday has gone on sale in Fortnum & Mason (rsp: £2.50/250ml). As well as being made from natural ingredients, the drink is vegan, gluten-free and low in sugar and calories.

 

Vinada

Founded in The Netherlands in 2018, Vinada made its UK debut in December with a trio of booze-free sparkling wines, all of which hold awards from the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2021. Crispy Chardonnay, made from a blend of Chardonnay grapes from the Languedoc region of France, is joined by a “fruity” Spanish Tinteling Tempranillo Rosé and the “golden dry” Amazing Airén Gold. The range is available to buy from Amazon in 75cl (rsp: £9.95) and 20cl bottles (rsp: £4.95), as well as a gift pack with sipper (rsp: £19.95/3x200ml).

 

Lockdown Liquor & Co Seaward Pepino

Small batch cocktail maker Lockdown Liquor & Co has teamed up with non-alcoholic spirit brand Pentire to launch an alcohol-free take on one of its bestselling blends, the Pepino. Instead of gin, the cocktail uses Pentire’s Seaward spirit, which is made using sea buckthorn and wild seaweed. The Seaward Pepino also features lime, cucumber and mint for a “zesty and sophisticated” finish. It is available exclusively from the Lockdown Liquor & Co website (rsp: £25/500ml)

William Reed – the publisher of The Grocer – runs a trade show exclusively for the low & non-alcoholic drinks industry. For more information visit low2nobev.com