Dry(ish) or “Damp” January? Taking it Back a Notch?
Mock-tails and No-Alcohol Wines 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.”
I have written before about Dry January and lower alcohol cocktails in the past. Millions of people now take part in the challenge with more Americans taking notice each year. Since there was a spike in drinking during the coronavirus crisis, some people are more mindful now about exploring alternatives in January and the rest of the year. There are 123 calories in a 5-ounce serving of wine and 100 calories per ounce of most spirits -- another incentive for Dry or Damp January if you are cutting calories. Many New Year’s Day resolutions are being set with health-related goals at the top of the list. Additionally, benefits are achieved from the tips for those who do not drink alcohol for other reasons: pregnancy, dislike of taste, religion, or other health reasons.
A recent 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. Some researchers believe the test group had a dramatic reduction in insulin resistance, a risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes. Of course, your doctor is your best advisor.
Perhaps a Dry(ish) or Damp January is more appealing to you? Perhaps limiting drinking to weekends, reducing consumption by 50%, drinking low or no-alcohol cocktails or wine is preferred? That is my personal plan. Whatever your New Year’s resolution, below are some helpful tips to increase 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. Adding additional activities to your workout routine can help. Change up your healthy habits with home-based BeachBody videos workouts, pickleball, or yoga. Most nutritionists say that replacing an evening cocktail with a good habit works. Wineries like Clif Family Winery, located in Napa Valley, are mixing up entertainment with exercise by incorporating cycling with wine tastings.
Non-Alcohol Wines
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 the 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, $26
Eric Asimov panel, NY Times: “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.”
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 coupe or Martini 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 5
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.
Grove Margarita
Ingredients
Seedlip Gove 42: 2 oz.
Agave Syrup: 1 TBSP – we used the lite Agave for less calories
Fresh Lime Juice: .5 oz.
Glass and Garnish: Rocks, Salt rim, Lime Wheel
Method:
Add all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain over ice. Garnish with a Lime wheel and half-rim of salt. To create a salt rim: run a lime around the rim of the glass. Put kosher salt in a large saucer. Rim the glass with salt.
DIY – Non-Alcoholic Drink Suggestions
Do-it-yourself non-alcoholic cocktails are endless. Fruit-based and smoothy 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.
4. Cranberry Spritzer – instead of a cranberry and Prosecco drink, use sparkling water.
5. “Baileys” and Coffee -- choose a low calorie and flavorful creamer. Nut Pods- instead of Baileys comes 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.
Wine Wanderings Editorial Calendar
A Texas Winery with Napa Valley History: C. L. Butaud
A White House State Dinner- Contrasting Administrations
Uruguay Wines – The Tannat National Grape and Trending New Wines
The Varieties of Napa Valley
1881 Museum Napa Valley: A Transformation of the Oakville Grocery
Unexpected Blends – Explaining this Phenomenon
North Texas Premier Wine Destinations
Meet Eden Hill, Lone Star, and Blue Ostrich
Olive, Thanks for your note. They have a French connection! Tricia
I am really looking forward to your comments concerning White House wines.
Olive