Dry(ish) or “Damp” January 2024? Taking it Back a Notch?
Mock-tails, No-Alcohol Wines, and No/Lo Beers Revealed
Considering Dry, Damp or Dry(ish) January? This New Year’s resolution trend began in 2012 as an initiative by Alcohol Change UK, a British charity, to “ditch the hangover, reduce the waistline, and save some serious money by giving up alcohol for 31 days.” If you choose to stop short of that strict goal, consider a Dry(ish) January this year.
I have written before about a Dry January goal, and about making lower alcohol cocktails, “Lower Alcohol Cocktails with Texas State Mixologist, Shaun Meglen,” March 22, 2022. Millions of people now take part in the UK-initiated challenge with more Americans taking notice each year. Since there are 123 calories in a 5-ounce serving of wine and 100 calories per ounce of most spirits – many people have another incentive for Dry or Damp January: cutting calories. New Year’s Day resolutions are being set this week with health-related goals at the top of the list. These tips apply for those who do not drink alcohol for other reasons: pregnancy, dislike of taste, religion, or other health reasons.
Risks and Benefits to Consider
A Washington Post article, “Ask a Doctor: Will ‘Dry January’ Trigger Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?”, surmises that 14% of adults in the US have an alcohol use disorder, and that 1 in 5 will experience withdrawal symptoms. Another article in the Washington Post states, “The Benefits of ‘Dry January’ last longer than a month, Studies Show.”
“A few of those benefits may be improved sleeping, saving money, losing weight, having more energy, and concentrating better.” – The Washington Post, December 27, 2022
Perhaps a Dry(ish) or Damp January is more appealing to you? Possibly limiting drinking to weekends, reducing consumption by 50%, substituting low or no-alcohol cocktails or is wine preferred? Dry(ish) style is my personal plan: 2 glasses of a great wine a week. Whatever your New Year’s resolution below are some helpful tips to achieve a successful result.
Benefits of a Dry, Damp, or Dry(ish) January
Some of the benefits of less alcohol have been reported:
*Increased energy
*Better sleep, non-interrupted REM sleep
*Lower calories, lose weight
*Feeling less irritable and anxious
*Fewer headaches
*Better skin hydration, increased hormones
*Improved Stress Management
*Improved relationships
*You get a mood boost
*Stronger Immune system
*Sunnier mornings with no hangover
*Save money
*Less IBS and gastrointestinal issues
How to Start/What About February? May?
*Rely on friends and family for support or create a Dry or “Dry(ish)” January group of friends.
*Keep a journal about how you feel.
*Create activities or take a class during cocktail hour.
*Give yourself a break and don’t beat yourself up. Starting gradually works.
*Limit alcohol to a special Friday night date.
*Just because it is February, you can still keep up the “dryish” habits like new activities.
* See some mocktail and cocktail recipes below.
*Add more tea and water into your day for hydration.
*Go slow in February and it may be surprising that you discover your favorite drinks taste different/better.
*Why not do a Dry May or June when you have new outdoor activities to enjoy?
Mixing it Up with Exercise
If you feel you don’t want to fully abstain in January, you may do what I’m doing: a “dryish January” with some healthful substitutes during the weekdays. Change up your healthy habits with home-based BeachBody video workouts, pickleball, or yoga. Most nutritionists say that replacing an evening cocktail with a good habit actually works. Wineries like Clif Family Winery, located in Napa Valley, are mixing up entertainment with exercise by incorporating cycling with wine tastings.
Non-Alcohol Beer and Wine
*Voted “best non-alcoholic beer” by “Business Insider Magazine”, try Athletic Brewing Co, Run Wild. My son loves it. He also recommends Lagunitas, IPNA.
In general, I have not been a fan of many non-alcohol wines. I would prefer a mocktail during Dry(ish) January. However, there are a few that are noteworthy. Good non-alcohol red wines are tougher to find as the balance of tannins and body are harder to achieve without the counterbalance of the alcohol. So I have only recommended white, rosé, and sparkling choices.
Thomas & Scott Noughty, Alcohol Free, Organic Sparkling Chardonnay, Vegan, $25
Eric Asimov panel, NY Times describes this wine: “lightweight fizz, and faint aroma of apple, fruity, tart.”
Thomson & Scott Noughty, Sparkling Rosé, Vegan, Organic, $26
Eric Asimov panel, NY Times: “made with organic Tempranillo grapes from southern Spain, mouth-watering tartness and toasty scent.”
Starla Sparkling Rosé Wine, $20
This wine is one of the better non-alcohol wines I have tried. With aromas of candied cherry, strawberries, and rose petals this wine has a nice sparkling mousse and flavors of a strawberry spritzer. Great find for 5 calories per glass.
Non- Alcohol Spirits: Cocktails and Mocktails
I tried each of these cocktails below, and they have my vote for a Dry(ish) January. Cheers!
SeedLip Non-Alcohol Spirits, $32, or a Trio of Grove 42 Citrus, Garden 108, and Spice 94 for $89
SeedLip offers several choices for its non-alcohol spirits. My favorite is the Grove 42 Citrus, which boasts a botanical flavor. I personally tried and recommend both the CosNo and Grove Margarita.
CosNo Recipe
This recipe is a non-alcohol twist on the Cosmopolitan.
Ingredients:
Seedlip Grove 42: 2 oz.
Organic Cranberry Juice 1 oz. (or opt for a low-cal cranberry juice)
Lime Juice: .5 oz.
*Simple Syrup .5 oz. (See below.)
Glass and Garnish: Coupe or Martini glass and orange peel
Method:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake & Strain into a glass. Garnish with an orange peel.
* To make Simple Syrup: combine equal parts very warm water & sugar. Stir to dissolve. Let cool.
Kentucky 71 Distilled Non-Alcoholic Whiskey, $36
Spiritless Maple Pecan Old Fashioned
Spiritless Kentucky 74, 2 oz.
Maple Pecan Simple Syrup, 1 oz. *
Dashes Salt Tincture (like making simple syrup, 1 part salt, 4 parts water, dissolve)
Orange Peel
Method: Stir all ingredients in a glass with rocks. Garnish with orange peel.
*Maple Pecan Simple Syrup- 1 cup pecans, 1 cup maple syrup, 1 cup water. Add water and maple syrup to pan, then stir. Heat and dissolve, add pecans and let simmer for 15 minutes. Sit off heat for 1 hour. Stir and strain into a container. Store in refrigerator.
DIY – Non-Alcoholic Drink Suggestions
Do-it-yourself non-alcoholic cocktails are endless. Fruit-based and smoothy-style drinks are the most flavorful.
1. The Virgin Bloody Mary – be sure to make this extra spicy. Seedlips Garden 108 has traditional garden herbs that make this a delicious cocktail for brunch.
2. The Virgin daiquiri – you may want to make this extra sweet-tart.
3. The Virgin G&T – use diet tonic and you’ll have a truly low-calorie drink. Add some of your own botanicals to make up for the gin -- like cucumber, rosemary, or basil. Personally the Fever Tree Light tonic is my choice.
4. Cranberry Spritzer – instead of a cranberry and Prosecco drink, use sparkling water.
5. Mock Baileys and Coffee - choose a low calorie and flavorful creamer instead of Baileys. Nut Pods come in Hazelnut and French Vanilla flavors.
6. Blood Orange Cooler – 4 oz. freshly squeezed blood orange juice, 4 oz. coconut water, ½ of a lime, juiced, 2 oz. of seltzer water. Serve with lime slice.
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