Whether you’re a lifelong abstainer or just looking for a booze-free break between the bubbles this Christmas, try these zero alcohol zingers.
Minty Mocktail with 96 Degrees
Ideal as a dry digestif to settle the stomach after all the feasting, this mint tea from 96 Degrees is the perfect summer cooler. Enjoy it hot or chilled – just brew a small amount and top up with plenty of ice. It’s made from spearmint for the coolest, cleanest flavour. We mocktailed up a mint ice tea with lemon, fresh basil and simple syrup. 96 Degrees has a range of green, black and herbal teas with turmeric coming soon.
Mint tea from 96 Degrees, also available from Coles and Amazon
Honey Orchid Red Sparkling Tea
We came across this fabulous fizz at the Summer Hill markets in Sydney. It’s made from Phoenix Honey Orchid Red, a unique black tea from the Phoenix Mountains in Chao Zhou, China. With only a touch of grape juice, rosemary extract and sweet osmanthus ear – which is actually a mushroom that looks like the flower and is used as a natural preservative – all the incredible tropical honey peach notes come from the tea itself. This definitely stands up as a sin-free champagne to toast the season!
Honey Orchid Red Sparkling Tea is available at $35/750ml bottle, $186/6-pack from Juno Drinks and a range of stockists in Marrickville and Newtown/Enmore
Seadrift BY JULES Positivo
Seadrift BY JULES Positivo is a summery, sinless spirit in two enchanting flavours: hibiscus scented with lime and lemongrass, and Italian-style orange flavoured with bitters and basil. The hibiscus is super-sec and very herby-peppery – the perfect “grown up” addition to a drink when you don’t want a sugary sip. In contrast the orange is cordial-sweet and tastes like a deliciously aromatic marmalade. We also tried mixing them together and the result was fabulous – spicy floral orange with a real kick to it.
A collab between Seadrift Distillery and entrepreneur Jules Robinson, a portion of the proceeds from every bottle sold will be donated to the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter (NBWS). Seadrift also makes two non-alcohol gins, traditional and Wild Pink Hibiscus, and a non-alcoholic vodka and whisky.
Seadrift BY JULES Positivo is available online from Seadrift Distillery for $54.95
