The Booze Buzz
Tony Cox looks at the latest moves towards low alcohol, no alcohol and ready-to-drink, easy-to-transport booze. It is the silly season after all!
With the crazy season upon us, now isn’t the time to take Man of the Match awards at the annual work bash. Nothing gets you passed over for promotion better than posting your posterior on the photocopier and then having to endure everyone tilt their head to the side trying to look around at the guilty body part the first week back after Christmas indulgences.
Luckily, there is an abundance of options to help you keep a lid on overindulging this festive season.
Your scribe has been impressed by the recent launch of Enough, a 22% ABV range of vodka, gin and agave spirit range launched by Noosa local, Tahli Watts.
Discovering that her favourite drink, Negronis, packed a punch Tahli sought an option that allowed her to enjoy her favourite drink without peaking too early or compromising on quality. Enough allows you to enjoy the flavour and texture of full alcohol spirits without the aftereffects.
For those of you who are electing to skip alcohol altogether, there are several alcohol-free options in the market. Your scribe’s major criticism around the zero-alcohol wine and spirits to date has been the inability to replicate the viscosity, flavour and warmth of alcohol, which are significant factors in the enjoyment of those drinks.
Zero Hour Prosecco seems to have navigated around this with the clever use of fizz. Expect notes of crunchy pear, lemongrass and honey with the finest of bubbles bringing the sparkle, flavour, and festive flair of traditional Prosecco, with the alcohol gently removed.
It caught a few people out with tastings offered at this year’s Noosa Eat & Drink (now Noosa Food & Wine, again), including our very own Editor-in-Chief Deb Caruso who stars in their sizzle reel video along with many others who were genuinely shocked when they were told it was alcohol-free. Well mostly, Zero Hour Prosecco contains no more than 0.5% alcohol by volume – about the same as what’s naturally found in fruit juice.
A lot of people expect alcohol-free to cost considerably less with the belief that the buzz is the expensive part of the process. Not necessarily so. Zero Hour is a good case in point as its journey begins just like any traditional Prosecco – from vineyard to winery, using premium Australian grapes. The magic happens in the final stage, where advanced de-alcoholisation technology removes the alcohol while preserving the wine’s texture, complexity, and character. Doesn’t sound like a cheaper, easier production process to me.
Back to the issues of viscosity, flavour and warmth that alcoholised drinks deliver. These have been alleviated somewhat by some companies serving the spirits in RTD (ready-to-drink) format with pre-mixed cans. Lyre being one example with a range of G&T, Amalfi Spritz and Classico (a nod to prosecco) included in the convenient, well-packaged, single serve can option.
Smug AF has built its whole range around alcohol-free cocktails/mocktails in a can. Inspired by popular cocktails and presented in eye catching cans, their Peach Bellini, Mint Mojito and a range of Margaritas including Classic, Coconut, Chilli or Grapefruit plus a handy range of garnishes and sherbert rimmers – Peach Fuzz anyone?
They represent the ideal party or BBQ buddy – again without the repercussions of overindulgence.
For those of us who like to indulge and have some buzz in their bellini, there are a few options around which are conveniently packaged and make a lot of sense if camping, visiting friends or just seeking effective portion control.
Clever packaging makes it easy to chuck in the handbag, esky or Christmas stocking without taking up too much room. Also, perfect for squeezing into the fridge which will be no doubt chock-full of leftovers from Christmas Eve until the New Year.
Cin Cin Beverages takes this convenience to the next level with its ready-to-drink, compact spritzed canned cocktails. It has a range of classic cocktails in 250ml cans which sit at 6% ABV, approximately one standard drink.
The range consists of the classic Bellini and Caipirinha along with Frenchie – a spin on a 110-year-old cocktail a sophisticated sip, zesty, fresh lemon juice, smoothed out with a gin kick and bubbly fizz of Prosecco.
Never one to rest on their laurels, multi-award-winning team at Sunshine & Sons Premium Spirits and Nil Desperandum Rum offer a range of 50ml pouches, which are ideal for camping, hiking, basically any outdoor activity where you lug equipment and wish to keep weight loads down.
I couldn’t think of anything better than twisting open a 50ml pouch of Sunshine & Sons Premium Spirits around the resort pool or Nil Desperandum Rum sitting around the Glampfire – your scribe doesn’t rough it!
For those of you wishing to refrain or reduce your alcohol intake, there are a growing number of options on the market. The team at XO Cellars in Noosa Junction and downstairs from XO restaurant in Sunshine Beach, are ready to point you in the right direction.
They’re also pretty knowledgable and well-stocked with an excellent range of quality wines, spirits and independent beers from around the world and closer to home.
To all, a safe season of restraint, indulgence or overindulgence – whichever you select, there are plenty of tasteful options.
Cheers and good drinking!
Tony
