Lockdown might have been a tough time, but it certainly didn’t dampen the British spirit. Armed with newly-lockdown-tidied gardens and plastic wine glasses, Brits didn’t miss out on the beloved summer beer garden—we just adapted by making our own at home! So it might come as something of a surprise to learn that Brits are actually drinking less alcohol. UK alcohol consumption fell from 12.6 litres of alcohol per adult each year in 1990 to 11.4 litres in 2017. Numbers are predicted to drop even further to 11 litres by 2030!
This could be down to the fact that, as a society, we’re becoming more conscious of what we are putting into our bodies. According to research, one in five over-40s in Britain consider themselves as fitter and more health-conscious than they were in their 20s.
With so many more people reducing their alcohol intake or turning away from it altogether, there’s an increasing demand for low- and no-alcohol spirits. But cola or lime and soda can quickly become boring when customers are after something more sophisticated and enjoyable on their weekends away from work—research by Dalston’s reported that 80 per cent of respondents wanted better non-alcoholic drinks. So here, we’ll take a look at how you can improve your menu with low- and no-alcohol spirits.
Gin or Not Gin?
Gin is certainly the UK’s favourite spirit, and it is worth over £2bn and pushing ahead of vodka. Gin has been revolutionised and reinvented over the last few years, with so many different flavours.
That’s why it’s of the utmost importance as a bar in the UK to offer the perfect low- to no-alcohol gins to keep the customers coming back. The new Stryyk Not Gin is a sugar-free, herby and botanical spirit with notes of coriander, sage, basil, and the all-important juniper that makes it a considerable contender to a London Dry Gin. At 0 per cent proof, it’s a convincing gin when used as a higher spirit to tonic ratio than you’d typically use. And with tonic having a complete makeover to complement the spirit, you can top it off with favourites like lemongrass and elderflower.
Two of the UK’s best-selling cocktails are the bramble and a martini, so recreate these non-alcoholic drinks with Stryyk Not Gin:
Bramble
Recipe: STRYYK Not Gin 50ml, lemon juice 20ml, blackberry syrup 15ml
Garnish: Lemon slice, blackberry
Method: Mix all ingredients together in a shaker, shake, and strain into a rocks glass.
Gin Martini
Recipe: STRYYK Not Gin 75 ml
Garnish: Lemon twist
Method: Fill a shaker with ice, pour STRYYK Not Gin, and stir until cold, then strain into a chilled martini glass.
Light vodka
According to London cocktail bar owner Alan Sherwood, people are looking for flavourful and fruity alternatives. Appearance is important and low- to no-alcohol cocktails need to be indistinguishable from their high alcoholic counterparts, so a low-alcohol vodka is essential to achieve these favourites.
KEEL Vodka is 23.8 per cent proof compared to the usual 40 per cent, created after seeing customers order a sugary vodka drink then order a light beer due to the sweetness and high calories a sweet and fruity cocktail brings. This light vodka is perfect for those health-conscious consumers who aren’t quite ready to go teetotal.
Pornstar Martini
Recipe: Keel Vodka 50ml, passionfruit puree 35ml, vanilla syrup 10ml, passionfruit syrup 10ml
Garnish: Half a passionfruit floating on top
Method: Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Cosmopolitan
Recipe: Keel Vodka 50ml, cranberry Juice 25ml, fresh lime juice 10ml
Garnish: Orange peel
Method: Shake all the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a martini glass.
Source: Shutterstock, by bogdanhoda
A warming rum
You’d think that a low- or no-alcohol rum would lack the lovely warming sensation it gives your chest, however, RumISH is a 0.5 per cent rum spirit that naturally contains alcohol through the botanicals and slight fermentation of sugars used, giving that familiar and comforting warming feeling. Made from Madagascan vanilla, nutmeg, baked apple, and chilli, this spirit is a perfect beverage for someone who wants a fresh morning after a night out.
Old Fashioned
Recipe: RumISH 5cl, Rittenhouse rye whisky 2cl, Monin dark chocolate syrup 1cl, 2 dash Angostura bitters
Garnish: Orange peel and Amarena cherry
Method: Add the ingredients to a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until chilled, then strain over ice into an old-fashioned glass.
Rum and Ginger
Recipe: RumISH 5cl, Fever-Tree ginger beer 10cl, 1 dash Angostura bitters
Garnish: Lime wedge
Method: Pour the RumISH into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with ginger beer and add a dash of Angostura.
Source: Shutterstock, by Brent Hofacker
It’s important to offer low- to no-alcohol drinks to appeal to the new masse who are looking for something better than fizzy drinks from the gun. Impress them with fantastic alternatives and they’ll keep coming back!