You Don't Have To Do Dry January, You Get To Do Dry January
Originally published in Drink Monday blog.
As a reporter and the author of “Zero Proof: 90 Non-Alcoholic Recipes for Mindful Drinking,” I get hundreds of emails, comments and DMs about Dry January. Here’s the trend I’ve noticed: Most people begin by framing Dry January in a negative way. Typical emails and blog posts offer ways to “survive” Dry January, which is “a month of social exile” and is all but fated to be “boring.”
This type of attitude, that Dry January is something joyless to be gotten through, only reinforces the idea that alcohol is the default setting for good times, and everything else is lacking. Describing taking a month off of drinking with phrases like “social exile”, “survival” and “boring” paint Dry January in bleak terms that suggest it’s only meaningful when it’s over.
Those ideas are, frankly, the wrong attitude.
My favorite fitness instructor will often tell the class that you don’t have to work out, you get to work out. He will point out that being able to move freely, to dance even, is about finding joy, not focusing on tedium or even the short term pain of squats and planks. Changing that perspective, transforming repetitive lifts into mindful moments, can really make an impact in how one approaches daily workouts. I find this grateful-to-be-here attitude gives me a mental kick even if my body isn’t always entirely energetic at the moment. What happens next? You do the workout and you feel great afterwards.
In a similar way, this kind of thinking can apply to Dry January. No one has to do Dry January. You get to give yourself a drinking re-set.
There will be no suffering in social exile, but if you go into Dry January expecting it to be dull, maybe it will be.
Rather, if you think of Dry January as the re-set that it is, and approach it as a gift of mindfulness, not only will it be easier to do, but you may discover new things about yourself. A month off is a great time to build new habits or tricks that will resonate if you do go back to the occasional drink in the post-January months.
Everyone’s journey is different, but a positive attitude really does make nearly everything easier to tackle.
How to Bring the Zero Proof Vibes to Any Party
Originally published in Drink Monday blog.
Let’s just acknowledge the truth: Social culture is drinking culture. Across countries, cities, age groups, people like to drink socially. It’s built into the fabric of what it means to socialize, from friend catch-ups to first dates to co-worker bonding.
Which is why it’s so hard for non-drinkers or moderates to take a step back without feeling like outsiders. Many people who don’t like to drink will do a “reverse Prohibition,” and slyly ask bartenders to make them drinks that look boozy but are in fact zero proof.
But just as the nut milk and plant-based faux-meat craze is supported by people who also indulge in dairy and the occasional burger, the zero proof trend is also fueled by moderate drinkers that switch between non-alcoholic drinks as often as traditional boozy cocktails. According to recent data, around 60% of drinkers will switch between zero proof drinks and full proof drinks when socializing.
As Sober October kicks off, it’s easy to plan for a season of responsible partying with a dash of Bring Your Own Vibe (#byov). Here’s a few tips to incorporate into your social swirl:
Practice one-on, one-off drinking. Switch up between zero-proof drinks and boozy drinks. The majority of people aren’t actively trying to get tipsy -- they just want to be out with friends. So keep the party going by keeping a drink in hand, and try to make it a zero-proof sip throughout most of the night.
If you’re going to do shots, make them zero-proof. The fun of doing shots with friends is the ritual of a group action; that’s why the idea of shots persists. It’s about bonding first, alcohol second. Rather than introducing extra liquor quickly, switch up those boozy shots (and keep them at less than one ounce) with a quality zero proof alt-gin. All the fun, none of the regrets. Another option, borrowed from the bar world: Make a full size zero-proof drink, then break it up into tiny “shots”. You’ll still get that kick of flavor but in a sip-size amount, perfect for a round of toasts.
Keep the focus on the party, not the booze. Bringing a vibe is more than just about drinking, it’s about ambiance. (Notice how many top bars have meticulous playlists?) Design several party playlists and keep them on hand for the different moods of the night. Who doesn’t love a sing-along? When everyone’s singing and having a great time, it’s about the night, not about who’s drinking what.
Celebrate bonding, not drinking. People love parties and going to bars not only for the liquor. They go for the full experience, from gorgeous glassware to dark, sexy rooms to great music. If you’re planning to throw a #BYOV event or bring that spirit somewhere else, borrow at least one thing from your favorite past events, whether it’s spending an indulgent amount of money on fresh flowers, lighting rooms only with candles, only serving drinks in vintage glasses that you picked up at the secondhand store or dressing up rooms in social media-ready scenes.
People want vibes, and it’s easy to deliver, provided you put just a little bit of planning into it.
Zero Proof Summers: Surviving the Post-Lockdown Hangout
Here’s the good news: After a year of lockdowns, a summer of hangouts, backyard BBQs and overdue catch-ups stretches ahead.
The bad news: There will be alcohol around at many gatherings, and more crucially, there’s an assumption that everyone who wants to socialize also wants to drink booze. As I wrote in my book, “Zero Proof,” social culture is drinking culture, and when you choose to opt out of alcohol, people assume you want to opt out of social fun.
Far from it. That said, navigating the summer BBQ, or really, any social setting, can be fraught for those who are taking a break from drinking booze but still want to socialize.
How should you approach summer parties when you don’t want to drink? Acknowledging you don’t want to drink is the first, and maybe hardest, step. But once you know what you don’t want to do, the rest involves making a plan that reinforces your choices while also giving you flexibility for unexpected scenarios.
Bring Your Own Mixers
One way to control for unknowns is to take things into your own hands. Buy several packs of quality mixers, such as extra spicy Jamaican ginger ales, flavored French tonic waters or artisanal Italian bitter sodas. Bring enough that these can be presented as a hostess gift, while also ensuring you have supply you can dip into throughout the event.
Similarly, if you have a juicer, take the time on the morning of your event to make a large batch of juice. Use the freshest produce on hand and try multiple fruit-vegetable combinations such as yellow bell pepper plus grapefruit, mango plus carrots, watermelon plus pears. Bring a pitcher full of fresh juices, keep them cold and give them a hit of fizz with sparkling flavored waters and a quality non-alc alternative like Drink Monday.
Set Up a Check-In
It’s easy, in the swirl of social chatter, to get caught up in social drinking. If you want to skip the peer pressure or don’t want to spend time explaining yourself, ask a friend to partner up with you so you can check in on each other throughout the event. Going alone? Set up alarms on your phone to buzz you every hour or two to remind yourself of why you want to skip drinking.
Play Bartender for Your Friends
You don’t have to camp out at the bar all night but consider offering to make a round of no-proof drinks for your friends. It allows you to make the kinds of cocktails you’re in the mood for, while also presenting an opportunity to share your signature drink with friends. Maybe you’ll get to introduce them to a new recipe they haven’t had yet.
Fake It
Sometimes the simplest approach is the easiest: Keep the same glass filled with ice and garnishes so that others aren’t tempted to grab you fresh drinks or new cans of beer. Excusing yourself to freshen up your drink is a built-in way to keep you circulating around the party and finding new interactions.
Once you’ve tackled a few events, these habits will become second nature, and you may even develop your own techniques. The key is to be creative and adaptable, and build on the best techniques that work for you.
How To Build a Zero Proof Cocktail Bar at Home
Originally published in Tempest.
What do classic films and the pandemic year have in common? Both illustrate the importance of having a well-stocked at-home bar, whether it’s to enjoy a post-work aperitivo or to treat surprise visitors. At first blush, the zero-proof movement might be seen as the end of the at-home bar. It actually isn’t; a non-alcoholic at-home bar moment isn’t a disruption of home cocktail culture, but rather, an evolution.
As I wrote in my book, Zero Proof: 90 Non-Alcoholic Recipes for Mindful Drinking, the non-alcoholic drink’s pedigree goes back to the earliest days of cocktail culture, even if it hasn’t always boasted the best reputation. When Prohibition was enacted, ladies still had to entertain at home, and so the non-alcoholic drink was elevated into the realm of etiquette and proper hostessing.
Where to Start Building Your Zero-Proof Cart
It starts, as all things that matter do, with a little effort and a touch of research. Once you crack the code, or find something that works for you, it gets easier going forward.
When building a zero-proof bar cart, many of the traditional concepts still apply. You want to think about flavors and build around the classics. The good news is that there is a growing and vibrant new product category that makes stocking up as easy as buying traditional booze.
The backbone of any bar centers around the classic liquor flavors. Think gin, rum, tequila, whiskey. There are multiple products that replicate the taste of traditional liquor notes but leave the alcohol behind. Ritual Zero Proof has several expressions, including a very charming newly-released dark rum, which are designed to be mixed in the same ways as traditional booze. Drink Monday, Lyre’s, Wilderton, Everleaf and Seedlip also produce several non-alcoholic spirits designed to replace your classic London Dry.
Add in the Classic Bitter Flavor
Once you have a small library of base “spirits”, focus on products that deliver bitterness. Many classic drinks, such as the Aperol Spritz or the Negroni, are popular because of that just-so balance of sweet-to-bitter notes. Lyre’s Italian Orange, a non-alcoholic spirit, is a gorgeous zero-proof spin on the Italian amaro and will bring Aperol to mind. With full-blood orange flavors and a soft mouthfeel, Lyre’s Italian Orange pairs gracefully with sparkling waters and also brings a sophisticated depth to drinks.
Bitterness, any bar expert will tell you, is crucial to elevating drinks.
“I like to describe bitters as the spice cabinet of cocktails,” top bartender Erick Castro, proprietor of San Diego’s award-winning Raised By Wolves and Polite Provisions, says. “You don’t drive the cocktail with that ingredient but rather, bitters add depth and complexity.”
Be adventurous: Stock up on cocktail bitters in flavors such as celery, grapefruit, and chocolate. (Be sure to check labels because some bitters contain trace amounts of alcohol.)
“For somebody making non-alcoholic cocktails at home, I would highly recommend the bitters made by Fee Brothers,” Castro says. “Fee Brothers bitters are non-alcoholic and are glycerine-based. But they’re packed with flavor and add a lot of nuance.”
If you really want to treat yourself, splurge on San Pellegrino’s Sanbitter Rosso, a zesty non-alc soda as bitter as it is lipstick red. These tiny bottles are imported from Italy and are therefore expensive ($24 for a 10-pack, via Amazon) but are extremely worth it when you want to make drinks that remind you of sipping Garibaldis in Verona. (Amazon also stocks several other slightly less expensive, but still very Italian and very bitter, non-alcoholic aperitifs).
Be Prepared to Host No Matter What
Sometimes, the secret to being a great hostess is knowing when to let someone else do the work. Consider keeping a stash of non-alcoholic sodas, or elixirs, chilled and at the ready if you catch yourself with impromptu drinks requests or just want that “unwind after a long day” ritual.
The new generation of zero-proof ready-to-drinks are sophisticated and urbane, designed by people who love cocktails but not hangovers. In this new category, you can’t go wrong with Curious Elixirs (who have expressions reminiscent of French 75s and Negronis), Casamara Club (the sparkling amaro sodas you didn’t know you were craving), and For Bitter, For Worse (sodas crafted with smoky, citrus and bitter notes).
High-Quality Sweeteners and Mixers
When it comes to adding sweetness, always aim to use fresh juices that you make yourself. I swear by a subscription to Misfits Market, which delivers a box of farm-fresh produce each week. Experiment with different juice combinations like grapefruit plus yellow bell pepper or strawberry plus red beets. Combine a pitcher of fresh juices with ice and a base spirit and you’re halfway to a lively group punch or a summer sangria.
As with traditional cocktails, details matter all the way through the end.
Once you’ve put in effort into sourcing top-tier ingredients, don’t undermine your work by drowning out your delicate drinks with flavorless mixers. Invest in well-made mixers, such as Fever-Tree’s punchy and aromatic ginger sodas or London Essence’s delicate and pretty tonics. Even a bracingly brisk La Croix can bring zing to zero-proof highball.
Impress with Glassware
As any cocktail enthusiast knows, glassware is key. Have you ever lingered over a gorgeous glass in a bar? You want to bring that feeling home.
“Just like mixers, the glass you serve from often gets overlooked,” Fever-Tree CEO Charles Gibb says. “But glassware is just as important as everything that goes into the vessel. I always start with a Collins glass that is heavy in the hand, and personally opt for classic styles like flutes that instantly level up any bar cart.” Gibb recommends Schott Zwiesel, Williams-Sonoma and Riedel for lead-free dishwasher-safe crystal glassware.
Once you have the glassware, “simplicity remains the goal,” Gibbs says. “Add your favorite spirit and top with a hand-numbingly cold carbonated mixer like Fever-Tree and off to the races.”
A Dry Bar Crawl? How To Keep Dry January Going All Year Long
Originally published in Forbes.
Were you one of the millions that reportedly took part of Dry January? Are you thinking about continuing it?
To paraphrase Charles Dickens at the end of “A Christmas Carol,” you can keep the spirit of Dry January going all yearlong. Enter the dry bar crawl.
According to Jan. 2019 research by the University of Sussex, people who took part in Dry January were still practicing mindful drinking by August, resulting in less alcohol consumed as well less drunken days overall.
So how can you apply some of the mindful drinking skills your practiced during Dry January? Plan a night around socializing, but try out a dry bar crawl. As more bars add non-alcoholic options, with some planning, you can jump from spot to spot, and still enjoy the ambiance of your favorite bars.
In Brooklyn, for example, you can hop from The Getaway, a fully no-proof bar in Greenpoint to Cobble Hill’s Clover Club and Leyenda, then end the night at Crown Height’s Hunky Dory. Listen Bar, another non-alcoholic bar, has wrapped its month-long stint at the Williamsburg Hotel, but it has just announced a new lineup that will take it outside New York and the U.S. for the first time. (Check Listen Bar’s Instagram or website to find future pop-up locations.)
Want to stay in Manhattan? Check out the non-alcoholic offerings at Dante, the NoMad bar, Jungle Bird and Nitecap. Are you in the South? Wildcrafters, a new no-proof bar just opened in Jacksonville, Fla.
A night of non-drinking isn’t just about fizzy sodas. Look for drinks such as the Tom-Olive Collins at Clover Club (Seedlip Spice, verjus, tomolive brine, agave and tonic) or the Garden Party from Z Bar (Seedlip 108, lime, cucumber and rosemary).
Nor does a sober night necessarily mean it has to be dull. Witness the party atmosphere at Listen Bar, or the romantic mood lighting at Getaway. “It’s like a traditional bar,” Getaway Bar’s co-owner Regina Dellea says of coming to Getaway. “The lighting is dim, we have the music on. Sometimes it’s quieter and there will be quiet conversations. On Saturdays, when the bar is full, people talk to each other.”
As the so-called sober curious movement gains traction, more people have been questioning long-standing ideas that fun has to be linked to drinking. “Alcohol is one of those things that doesn’t always hold up under closer inspection,” Listen Bar founder Lorelei Bandrovschi says. “It’s supposed to always be fun and loose but it doesn’t always feel that great. Not drinking is supposed to be boring and restrictive. My experience has been that it’s actually fun and feels great. It has a power.”
A sophisticated dry bar crawl is hardly limited to New York. If you find yourself on the West Coast, plan a night with stops at Inko Nito, Providence, Bibo Ergo Sum and Employees Only LA. Chicago residents, don’t miss the stellar drinks at the highly lauded Kumiko, Z Bar and The Darling. The key is to do a little bit of research and some light social-media stalking to find menus and drinks. If all else fails, ask the bartender to whip up something special for you. Any bar with fresh syrups and sparkling waters is essentially a dry bar.