Enjoy these three non-alcoholic beverages for dry or damp January | Canada Voices

Juice, pop or energy drinks may not do the trick for those trying to avoid or reduce their consumption of alcohol for a Dry January. But a growing selection of non-alcoholic drinks are meeting a demand for taste and complexity. Producers of non-alcoholic beer continue to innovate and refine their offerings, while there are signs of improvements in creating credible alternatives to wine and spirits, the category remain a work in progress. The quality level of the best offerings make them something worth seeking out all year whether you’re cutting back or giving up alcohol. Here are three enjoyable non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy now.

Grüvi Juicy Dayz IPA (Canada), $13.99

Made in a crowd-pleasing fruity style, Grüvi’s Juicy IPA offers a mix of tropical (pineapple, mango) and citrus flavours as part of its sweet and hoppy character. Light and refreshing, this is enjoyable sipped out of the can but works best in a chilled glass or mug. Grüvi also makes a tasty non-alcoholic wheat beer, Weekday Wit. Vegan. Available at the above price for 6 x 355 ml cans, well.ca, $12.99 at various Loblaws, Fortinos and Real Atlantic Superstores outlets ($11.99 until January 22).

Leaning Post Verto (Canada), $25

Last year, Leaning Post owners Ilya and Nadia Senchuk set their minds to produce a non-alcoholic beverage that was as complex and enjoyable as the wines they produce in Niagara. Winemaker Ilya Senchuk says it was important to have a product with wine-like mouthfeel as well as a lingering finish. Verto is a 50/50 blend of riesling juice and a green tea infusion featuring peach, elderflower and other botanicals. The finished batch was bottled with a light fizz, which helps the fragrance rise from the glass and adds refreshment. Billed as a sparkling wine alternative, this is expressive and enjoyable. Available direct, leaningpostwines.com

Tanqueray 0.0 (Italy), $44.99

Launched in 2021, Tanqueray’s alcohol-free spirit alternative is produced with a similar mix of botanicals, including juniper, coriander and angelica root, as its original London Dry Gin. Its herbal and citrusy fragrance is a credible expression of the original, but the lingering finish is sweet and soapy tasted on its own. Best enjoyed mixed with tonic with a slice of lime or grapefruit. Available at the above price, upsidedrinks.ca