Whether you’re pregnant, sober or just want something special to drink (minus the booze), these tasty wines, spirits and mocktails have you covered.
We giggle at #WineMom memes as much as the next parent, but there’s something to be said about staying sober while still celebrating (Hello, 6 a.m. toddler wake-up calls!). Raise a glass without worry by pouring one of these tasty non-alcoholic drinks.
Photo: Water Wine
1. O Vine White Wine Essence Water
This may just be the closest thing to real vino—minus the buzz. During the traditional winemaking process, roughly 25 percent of the grapes used (mostly skins and seeds) are tossed as waste. Israel’s Galil Mountain Winery developed a process that captures the taste, aroma, colour and antioxidants hidden inside used wine-grape skins and seeds to create “wine” that is free of alcohol. Choose from red, white, sparkling, chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon water essences. $7, pusateris.com
Photo: Well
2. Seedlip spirits
Made with the same care and attention as a bespoke spirit, these non-alcoholic beverages are based on the recipes from the 17th-century book The Art of Distillation. Choose from Garden 108, a fresh and floral blend of handpicked peas and hay from founder Ben Branson’s farm; Spice 94, a distilled Jamaican allspice berry and cardamom mixture, which pairs perfectly with tonic and red grapefruit; or Grove 42, a citrusy blend of blood orange, mandarin, lemon and ginger. $45, well.ca
Photo: Lumette!
3. Lumette! non-alcoholic distilled spirit
Handcrafted and distilled using traditional methods on Vancouver Island, these tasty spirits claim to deliver the same experience as a contemporary-style botanical based spirit, with zero percent alcohol. The new London Dry is perfect for gin-lovers with a juniper citrus-forward flavour, while the Bright Light is distilled with a bounty of botanicals giving you the uniqueness and versatility of an aromatic spirit. $33, enjoylumette.com
Photo: Amazon
4. pink House Alchemy Ginger Shrub
Many mixologists use shrubs to enhance the flavour of spirits, but this concentrated syrup can also play a starring role in your glass. Simply add soda and a slice of candied ginger and you’ve got an impressive-looking mocktail. $18, pinkhousealchemy.com
Photo: Hill Street Beverages
5. Vin(Zero) Brut Rosé
Self-described as, “if you crossed a peach with a rose, kissed it twice, and served it up poached in the essence of fairy dust.” This sparkling beverage is the perfect centrepiece to any celebration, without the ugly hangover. $13, hillstreetbeverages.com
Photo: Superstore
6. Loxton De-Alcoholized Wine
Wondering what the heck “de-alcoholized” wine is? This multi-stage process removes nearly all the alcoholic content from a traditionally made vino. The result isn’t always great, but Vancouver natives Malcolm and Linda Gillis scoured wine regions across the globe to find a de-alcoholized wine that was worth raising a glass to. They found it in Australia and developed a collection of 99.6-percent alcohol-free red, white, rosé and sparkling wines. $7, loxtonwines.ca
Photo: LCBO
7. Clausthaler Non-Alcoholic Beer
While non-alcoholic beer isn’t new, most producers use a complex method of extracting the alcohol after the fact (similar to de-alcoholized wine). Instead, Clausthaler adds the hops at an advanced stage of the brewing process, so only a negligible amount of alcohol is produced and the beer’s flavour isn’t compromised. $2, lcbo.com
Photo: Heineken
8. Heineken 0.0
This non-alcoholic beer is a first for the popular Heineken brand, who spent two years perfecting the taste so that it tastes just like the beer brand you know and love. Order this when you want that refreshing beer taste, but need to go to work in the morning. $13/6-pack, thebeerstore.ca
Photo: Walmart
9. Mr & Mrs T Mai Tai Mix
Sugary cocktails like daiquiris, margaritas and Mai Tais are all about the syrup. These tasty mixes make it easy to skip the spirits while still getting that spent-the-day-by-the-pool vibe. $5, walmart.ca
Photo: Roberto Caruso
10. Sangria Berry Mocktail
Stir up orange, pomegranate and lime juices with some frozen fruit and soda and you’ve got a fizzy, sweet-tart mocktail perfect for toasting. Get the recipe: Sangria Berry Mocktail
Photo: Roberto Caruso
11. Sparkling ‘Champagne’ Mocktail
The French may disapprove of the name, but this bubbly brew ensures that everyone can clink glasses—even tiny revellers. Get the recipe: Sparkling ‘Champagne’ Mocktail
Read more:
14 family-friendly wineries where kids are welcome
25 Things to Do In Toronto With Your Family Over the Holidays
