My Non Alcoholic Spirits Blog

Lyres Spirits were pioneers in the non-alcoholic drinks industry and set the bar high for their competitors. Since launching in 2019, they have introduced us to 16 non alcoholic spirits including their award winning Amaretti. 

With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to know where to begin. In this guide, I’m going to tell you about my personal five favourites and the different ways that I serve them. 

The non-alcoholic drinks market has well and truly boomed in the last few years and you can now find an alcohol-free alternative for almost every single drink. But there are a few exceptions, and a replacement for the famous Bailey's Irish Cream is one of them...until now!

The Butterfly Pea is a plant that’s native to Asia and is known for its vibrant blue flowers. It’s rich in antioxidants and has been linked with a number of health benefits such as skin and hair health. But there is much more to this dynamic ingredient.  

Did you know that rum is the oldest spirit in the world? The first rum distillation took place in the Caribbean in the 1620s which led to it becoming the first alcoholic drink to be manufactured for enjoyment and not just for medicinal reasons.

The Cosmopolitan is a modern classic that dates back to 1975. According to the story, the cocktail was invented at the Cork & Cleaver steak house in Minneapolis. The bartender, Neal Murray, added a splash of cranberry juice to a Kamikaze (which was made with vodka, triple sec and lime juice) - the first person to taste it enthused, 'how cosmopolitan' and a new drink was born. 

Like many women my age, I associate Cosmopolitans with nights out with the girls, perhaps thanks to Carrie Bradshaw and Co. It's a cocktail that is tart and sweet and oh so easy to drink.

While non-alcoholic beer and wine have been around for decades, non-alcoholic spirits is still a fairly new category. But with brands such as Sans Bar, Ms Sans, Lyres Spirits and Monday Distillery on the case there are now alcohol-free alternatives to the 7 alcohol spirits.

When it comes to whiskey mocktails there are a so many options from classics like the Old Fashioned to modern takes that are premixed and ready to drink.

The Mojito is one of the world's most popular cocktails - it's refreshing, flavoursome and thanks to Ms Sans Mojito, it's never been easier to make. 

No one knows the exact origins of the Mojito. Some historians believe that it dates back to 1586 when it was used as a medicinal drink. In fact, according to the story, an early version of the Mojito was named the Draque, after Sir Frances Drake who was sent to Havana by Queen Elizabeth 1. 

There were great alcohol-free alternatives to gin, rum, whiskey, but non-alcoholic vodka was hard to find - and customers kept asking for it. I understood the demand, there are just so many classic drinks that are best made with vodka. So while I knew that it would be a tricky process, I wanted to be the person to make affordable non-alcoholic vodka a reality.

I'm so excited to introduce you to this new non-alcoholic gin. Sans Bar Notting Hill Stroll has a very special place in my heart because it's part of my new range of alcohol-free spirit alternatives. I created Sans Bar so that I could put everything I have learned about non-alcoholic drinks into practice and give my customers exactly what they're looking for.

A popular misconception about alcohol-free drinks, whether they’re spirits, wine or beer, is that they should be low-priced. Not just cheaper than the alcoholic equivalent, but much, much cheaper. Cheap like lemonade. 

The Margarita is one of the world's most popular cocktails, and now, with the launch of my very own pre-mixed Ms Sans Margarita, you can enjoy them, fuss free, any time you like.

When it comes to cocktails the global trends can change from elaborate to simple and back again. But with more than 16 million #cocktail posts on instagram it's clear that these mixed drinks are not going anywhere any time soon.

While every season is mocktail season, there is something about the first spring blossoms that put me in the mood for something special. 

 

Nine Elms No.18 is a game-changing, award-winning, first-of-its-kind drink that has me super excited. Served at some of London's top restaurants, Nine Elms No.18 is totally different from other types of non-alcoholic drinks.

New from Lyres Spirits, the Pink London Spirit is an incredible alcohol free alternative to pink gin.

This classic cocktail is over 100 years old, but it's set to be one of the trendiest drinks of the summer.

Swapping out your regular alcoholic drink for a non alcoholic alternative is easy when you have so much choice.

Form the Italian word for ‘a little bitter’, Amaretto is a sweet Italian liqueur that originated in Saronno a city in Varese Province, in the Lombardy region of Italy.

The Gin & Tonic is probably the most iconic cocktail in the world so it's no surprise that when it comes to alcohol free drinks, gin alternatives are among our best sellers.

The Aperol Spritz is one of the most popular drinks in the world. In fact, data published in the Sydney Morning Herald showed that the Aperol Spritz was one of the most ordered drinks in bars, restaurants and pubs post lockdown.

If you've been a fan of non-alcoholic drinks for a while then you may have come across The Mindful Mocktail.

Gin mocktails are very on trend this summer and with a vast array of non alcoholic gin alternatives on the market there are more options that ever before.

Made in London, Wilfred's is one of the UK's most popular non-alcoholic drinks and it's easy to see why.

If you are hosting a party over the festive season you will want to check out my top five recommendations for tried and tested mixed drinks.

Aperol and Campari are two popular Italian aperitifs with a bitter orange flavour, and although they do have a few similarities, there are some key differences.

G&T is one of the most loved mixed drinks on the planet and with an array of non-alcoholic brands on the market there are multiple options available.

Here's something I get asked a lot: "Do you sell non alcoholic vodka?" The short answer, at the moment at least, is no. But the long answer is a bit more complicated.

Summertime in Australia marks a shift in our drinking habits, leaving the winter warmers behind us as we opt for chilled, refreshing drinks that will stand up to the warmer weather. Enter the non-alcoholic version of the Aperol Spritz.

In the spirit of showcasing some of our best-selling non-alcoholic drinks, let's  shake things up with 7 classic cocktails recreated with no alcohol at all. 

A couple of summers ago, seemingly out of nowhere, Aperol (or more specifically) the Aperol Spritz became the drink of the summer.  But why do we all love it so much?

Every day customers from the Sans Drinks community leave reviews on our alcohol free beer, wine and spirits. These reviews, good, bad and ugly, are one of the reasons that people love to shop with me.

Sea Arch make a popular non-alcoholic gin and a range of non-alcoholic gin and tonic premix and they have a string of awards to their name. 

 

Designed for coffee-lovers, these mocktails are bursting with flavour and, if you need a kick, caffeine (But don't worry, they will work just as well with de-caf)

Tonic water, or Indian tonic water as it’s also known, is a classic addition to many a mixed drink. But  did you know that the carbonated soft drink was originally invented as a palatable way to give quinine to British soldiers stationed in India, in order to fight malaria?

The Naked Life story begins back in 2016 when founder David Andrew gave up sugar. Since then the 'no nasties' brand has grown from soft drink aficionados to alcohol-free enthusiasts - and their new range of mocktails and premixed drinks makes them a brand to watch.

If you love a gin and tonic as much as I do then you will be excited to hear about the latest wave of non-alcoholic gin.

Lyre's was one of the first Australian brands to create non alcoholic spirits. Since they first launched Lyre's Dry London non alcoholic gin, the market low-to-no alcohol market has exploded. I had a chat with Marc from the Lyre's team to find out more about their journey from start up to global best seller.

As the popularity of non-alcoholic drinks continues to grow, premixed mocktails are set to be the biggest drink trend this summer. But if you're not keen on mixing up your own, RTDs, or 'Ready to Drink' mocktails are here for you. 

It's such an exciting time for the non-alcoholic drinks market with new alcohol free beers, wines and spirits being released on an almost weekly basis. Here are 8 products that I have added to my shop in the last few weeks. 

A birthday celebration is a great time to push the boat out - and there are plenty of alcohol-free drinks to get the celebrations off with a bang. 

The Naked Life ready to drink mocktail range are all natural, sugar free and ultra low calories. There are lots of reasons that people cut back on alcohol, but the most common is that they just want to live in a healthier way.

Of all the classic spirits, rum is one of the most versatile - essential for everything from a Dark and stormy to a Mojito. Here we look at the best zero alcohol Rum on the market has to offer.

G&T is of of the most iconic drinks in the world and with an array of impressive ald-free alternatives on the market there is no need to miss out.

Alcohol can play a big part in socialising, so it can be daunting to go booze free. But whether you're joining a dry month challenge or making a permanent change, you can still enjoy time with your friends.

Monday founder Sam Manning used her background in botanicals and beverages to develop a range of drinks that have the taste, vibe and emotional connection of classic drinks such as G&T, Dark & Stormy and Whisky & Dry without the alcohol.

Whether you are going dry in July, or planning a break from booze, cutting out alcohol can be really daunting. But getting through a month without alcohol isn’t as hard as you might think.

It's not just non-alcoholic beer, wine & spirits that are changing the way we drink in 2021, alcohol-free cocktails have been experiencing their own revival. In this next blog we introduce NZ’s The Good Cocktail Co. and show you how to use them to make the best mocktails.

‘Tis the season to begin moving through that Christmas gift to-do list, no more procrastinating! If you’re on the hunt for non-alcoholic wine or spirits to gift this season, let me make it simple for you because I know it can be both overwhelming and tricky!

Social situations have seemingly always involved drinking - what’s a business mixer without mixed drinks or a dinner party without wine? But things are seriously starting to shift, and soon those same occasions could be paired with alcohol-free alternatives. 

If you love your G&T and have been looking for a non-alcoholic gin substitute or you're keen to do distillates without the % – hello.