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Everything You Need to Get Started on the Right Foot for Dry January

By Mollysims.com

Dry January is around the corner, which means two things: 1) no wine, beer, spirits, or cocktails for 31 days if you’re participating, and 2) now is the perfect time to start planning your alcohol-free month!

For the top tips and tricks to help navigate Dry Jan, you can check out Hilary Sheinbaum’s book, The Dry Challenge: How to Lose the Booze for Dry January, Sober October, and Any Other Alcohol-Free Month, which serves as a fun, judgment-free guide. And, once you’ve read it through, and recruited a friend to participate alongside you, be sure to put away the alcohol floating around your kitchen (after all, out of sight = out of mind, right?). 

Whether you want to do a little post-holiday shopping (wink, wink) — or you have some alcohol-free items around the house already — read on for Hilary’s picks to start Dry January on the right foot. 

Non-Alcoholic Wines

Sparkling Rose

This alcohol-removed blend is low cal, low carb, and low sugar.

Starla Wines Sparkling Rose ($30) is infused with calming French lavender and renewing fig — and no hangover. It has dry and bright botanicals of strawberry blossom, citrus, and mineral, within a blend of French Colombard, Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Noir. 

For a “French74” (a N.A. version of the French75), use Starla Wines Sparkling Rose (and sip before serving it up):

Ingredients:

• 4 oz Starla Sparkling Rosé
• 1 oz Spiritless Kentucky 74
• Squeeze of ⅛ lemon
• Lemon rim
• Lemon peel for garnish

Method:

Rim a coupe glass with lemon juice, Spiritless Kentucky 74, and ⅛ of lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake until well-chilled, strain into a glass, and top with Starla Wines Sparkling Rose. Garnish with a lemon twist. Enjoy! 

White

Giesen 0% New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc ($16) has delicate aromas of fresh lime, redcurrant, and lemon shortbread. Delicious citrus flavors followed by distinct blackcurrant and passionfruit notes define this premium Sauvignon Blanc.

In the new year, shake things up with “The Dream Mocktail” by Mixologist Molly Wellmann:

Ingredients:

• 4 oz Giesen 0% New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
• 1 tablespoon Kroger apricot preserves
• .25 oz Orange Blossom Water
• Fresh Lemon Peel

Method:

1. Add preserves, orange blossom water, and 0% wine to a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice. Shake, shake, shake.
3. Strain into a chilled wine glass and garnish with a lemon peel.

 

Sparkling White

Freixenet Alcohol-Removed Sparkling White is the perfect bubbly to celebrate birthdays, weddings, and other special occasions during Dry January! This lively, fruity and refreshing Spanish wine is best enjoyed chilled with charcuterie and cheese boards, grilled meats, steamed vegetables, and desserts — or, on its own! Salud!

 

Non-Alcoholic Spirits

If you’ve got Palomas on the brain (ahem, Molly!), look no further than Free Spirit Company’s The Spirit of Tequila ($37) to replace your usual tequila of choice.

That said, going dry for the month doesn’t mean sacrificing your favorite cocktail recipes. Inspired by the world’s great spirits, including Bourbon, Gin, Tequila, and Italian Aperitivos, each one of the Free Spirits is crafted to be a complex, nuanced, non-alcoholic alternative to its boozy cousin.

Not only are these spirit alternatives crafted to be bold, delicious, and non-alcoholic, but they are also each infused with B Vitamins and Amino Acids to help elevate the drinker’s mood, energy, and experience. 

Use Free Spirit Company’s The Spirit of Milano and The Spirit of Gin to make “The Winter Cup” N.A. Cocktail: 

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz The Spirit of Milano
• 1.5 oz The Spirit of Gin
• .5 oz Warm Spice Syrup*
• .5 oz lemon juice
• 3 slices of fresh ginger and 3 lime wheels
• Topo Chico
• Garnish with rosemary, sage, an orange slice and cranberries on a pick

Method:

1. Muddle the fruit and ginger in a cocktail shaker
2. Add The Spirit of Milano, The Spirit of Gin, lemon juice, and Warm Spice Syrup
3. Shake over ice and strain into an iced tall stemmed glass
4. Add topo chico and garnish with rosemary, sage, an orange slice and cranberries on a pick.

*FOR WARM SPICE SYRUP

1. In a saucepan add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and 1 tbsp pumpkin spice mix.
2. Heat until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Allow to cool before use.

Another spirit —for all you Gin drinkers— is Damrak Virgin 0.0, which is completely alcohol-free! Get your martini glasses ready, or stir up a “Gin & Tonic” and keep it classy!

Ingredients:

• 1 part Damrak Virgin 
• 3 parts Tonic 

Method:

1. Build in your biggest wine glass. 
2. Garnish with an orange wheel and a slice of ginger or a sprig of rosemary. 

 

Subscriptions

If you’re looking to extend your dry streak (or craft more nonalcoholic beverages at home) beyond January, opt-in for Better Rhodes Monthly Cocktail Box ($75).

Each delivery comes right to your door and includes a full-sized nonalcoholic spirit and recipe ingredients so you can craft delicious N.A. beverages without the hassle of tracking down every component at the grocery store.  

Glasses

Before you even think about pouring yourself any N.A. drink, you must have the right glassware.

Riedel Veloce Tasting Set ($158) will have you enjoying alcohol-removed wine the way it should be sipped, just without the buzz. Looking for a N.A. cocktail served up? Look no further than Riedel Veritas Coupe/Cocktail two-pack ($79).

Tools

That said, if you’re stirring up a nonalc storm at home, the proper tools will help you make the best tasting beverages.

From N.A. Martinis to Negronis to Old Fashioneds, and more, a 10 Piece Stirred Craft Cocktail Set ($60) will have your friends asking when you got so professional and how soon you’re going to open a bar of your own.

 

Cheers to Dry January, and 2023!