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What to drink when you’re not drinking: 12 of the best low and no alcohol drinks
Celebrate and wake up fresh with these great low and no alcohol beers, wines and spirits.
Every year, the summer holidays have one thing in common: plenty of celebrations. After a couple of months of indulgence over Christmas and the New Year, many of us are looking for ways to restore a little balance. Thankfully, you can hang out with friends, go to parties and invite your nearest and dearest around for a barbecue while still enjoying a delicious drink. Embrace the clean drinking trend with these great-tasting low and no alcohol alternatives. We’ve thrown in a refreshing booze-free cocktail recipe, too.
The best low and no alcohol wines
If rosé all day has been your catch cry this summer, chill a bottle of Squealing Pig Lower in Alcohol Rosé. This pretty blush pink wine has watermelon and strawberry shortcake aromas and a palate that includes fresh nectarine and white cherry flavours.
Another fresh summer number, this time with citrus and pear flavours and floral notes, is Zilzie Liv Lighter Pinot Grigio. It’s full of flavour but has a lower alcohol volume than comparable white wines.
From one of the most popular wine brands in Australia comes Yellow Tail Pure Bright Pinot Noir. With notes of cherries and red berries, and with just a hint of sweet spice, it’s a great choice for a relaxed picnic. Again, it has less alcohol than other pinots on the market.
If you’re the designated driver and enjoy a glass of red over dinner, bring a bottle of McGuigan Zero Shiraz. After fermentation, the wine is spun under low temperatures using the latest technology to remove all the alcohol but none of the characteristics of a good shiraz.
Wolf Blass Zero Shiraz has a palate of red fruits, dark plum, a little white pepper and tannin on the palate. It’s a great match for a steak, roast lamb, just about anything off the barbecue and hard cheeses like cheddar.
The best low and no alcohol spirits and liqueurs
Summer is all about a refreshing G&T as the sun goes down. Hooray then, that one of Australia’s most-awarded distillers has created a drink that tastes like gin but contains zero alcohol. Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Bandwagon uses the much-loved Bloody Shiraz Gin as a model. The distillers have taken their Bandwagon Dry, which uses oils of 10 botanicals extracted using steam distillation and blended with water, and mixed it with concentrated shiraz juice. Add a quality mixer, like Fever Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water or Fever Tree Indian Light Tonic Water, some ice and a slice of orange and you have a completely guilt-free summer refresher. Or whip up a jug of our simple summer mint bramble spritz (see recipe below).
The best low and no alcohol beers and premixes
The good news for beer drinkers is that most of the big-name brewers have long been making light versions, and now many are perfecting no-alcohol versions of their best sellers.
Hahn Premium Light doesn’t compromise on flavour, but has just 2.4% alcohol and is preservative free.
It has already won plenty of awards and, with only 0.5% alcohol, Tinnies Ultra Low Hoppy Ale will leave you feeling clear headed. It’s a true craft pale ale, displaying hoppy aromas of citrus and pine and a balanced bitterness.
If you love the flavour of Great Northern Super Crisp Lager, the good news is you’ll get the same flavour from Great Northern Zero. Only there’s no alcohol in this version, so it’s perfect for occasions when you’ve got the car keys in your pocket.
Want the Heineken you love without the boozy buzz? Heineken 0.0 has all the fruity notes and maltiness of the original, with the added benefits of being low carb and low calorie.
Carlton Zero uses the same brewing process as Carlton Draught, so has that classic clean, crisp flavour, but contains no alcohol – many people say they can’t taste the difference.
Some insist the James Squire Zero is very similar to its popular 150 Lashes, a classic pale ale, with a smooth mouthfeel and a real depth of flavour.
Try this no-alcohol summer mint bramble spritz recipe
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 60ml lemon juice
- 1 tbs caster sugar
- Ice cubes, to serve
- ½ cup (80g) frozen blackberries
- 180ml Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Bandwagon Zero
- 750ml chilled soda water
- Thinly sliced lemon, to serve
- Mint sprigs, to serve
Method
- Place the lemon juice and sugar in a tall 1.5L serving jug. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Half-fill the jug with ice cubes and blackberries. Add the Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Bandwagon Zero and stir to combine. Add soda, lemon slices and mint to serve.
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