If you need a sophisticated, premium alternative to a sparkling fruit juice this Dry January, we have good news … there’s no need to settle for a sugar-laden soft drink anymore. There’s now a range of non-alcoholic spirits available to previously-thirsty South Africans who aren’t ‘drinking’.
Truman & Orange have brought us two new non-alcoholic spirits, the locally-produced Abstinence and the imported Fluére. Though not meant to replace alcoholic drinks, they add diversity and more options so that when you aren’t drinking you don’t have to compromise on flavour or ingredients. You can experiment with mixers, garnish and flavour combinations to create perfectly balanced cocktails, just as you would with an alcoholic spirit.
But how should you enjoy them? Do they simply replace gin? What do they really taste like?
Here are two simple ideas for you to add some sophistication to your Dry January drinks:
Abstinence Negroni
You’ll need:
50ml Abstinence Blood Orange Apéritif (Key botanicals: African Wormwood, Cinchona Bark, All Spice and Clove support a dominant Blood Orange); 50ml Abstinence Cape Spice (Key botanicals: a medley of spices and Honeybush) OR 50ml Abstinence Cape Citrus (Key botanicals: Buchu and Western Cape citrus); pinch of Salt
How to:
- Combine Blood Orange Aperitif and Abstinence Spirit over ice in a cocktail beaker or tumbler.
- Add a small pinch of salt and stir well.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice cubes.
- Garnish with an orange peel.
Fluére Collins
You’ll need: 60ml Fluére Original, Spiced Cane or Raspberry; 30ml lemon juice; 20ml simple syrup; soda Water
How to:
- Pour all of the ingredients over ice cubes in a smooth Collins glass until it’s ¾ full.
- Top it off with crushed ice.
- Garnish with lemon wedge and either maraschino cherries (if you’ve chosen Fluére Raspberry) or a sprig of mint (if you’ve chosen Fluére Original or Spiced Cane).
The Abstinence Cape Spice, Cape Citrus and Cape Fynbos (R250), the Abstinence Aperitif (R149.99) and Fluere Original, Spiced Cane and Raspberry (R230) are available at all good liquor outlets including PnP Liquor, Tops@Spar and Norman Goodfellows.