If you’re doing Dry January and have kept it up – congratulations, there’s only a few more days to go. You’re probably feeling lovely and pure; saintly and fresh… maybe a tad smug? And also, possibly, bored. It’s easy to stay at home during the first few weeks of the year but round about now you find yourself wanting to head back into the wider world and socialise. Well, for all you sober sippers who are looking for things to do in London, we’ve rounded up some awesome events and cool non-alcoholic bevvies for you to enjoy – all guaranteed to be hangover free.

Soft drink grow up with ROCKTAILS Citrus Spritz

If the idea of ‘soft-drinks’ still has you thinking of fizzy pop and lurid, sugary liquids consumed by hyped up children, then you’re not alone. However, craft drinks specialist ROCKTAILS is here to change your perception, with their first lightly sparkling botanical blend – ‘Citrus Spritz’.

Made using the finest distilled botanicals, this delicate blend combines lemon zest with juniper berries, along with base notes of grapefruit peel, and a gentle aroma of lavender and basil. Reviving century-old techniques, ROCKTAILS use a copper pot steam distillation process to extract their botanical flavours in small batches – resulting in a pure and complex blend.

The intention? To be refreshing, refined, and that little bit more sophisticated than your usual alcohol-free drinks. And while we also kinda think like it would go amazingly with gin, we’re going to avoid the alcohol and pour ourselves a large ROCKTAIL over ice – ideal for that midweek treat when your next-day brain would really prefer no booze.

Rocktails launched on January 15th in select London restaurants and bars. Available in premium retailers including Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, online at Specialitydrinks.com

www.rocktails.co.uk

Booze-free beverages at Benares

Off the alcohol but still after a tasty drink? Keep it chilled with this Coolcumber cocktail from Benares restaurant and bar in Mayfair. A refreshing blend of muddled cucumber, fresh lemon, cloudy apple juice and homemade beetroot and cinnamon syrup that’s then topped with Fever Tree lemonade, this taste-sensation will have you laughing off the lack of booze. They’ve also got a rather tasty non-alcoholic version of a Mojito – the Moksha – made with fresh pressed green apple juice, fresh mint and fresh lime juice, topped with lemonade. Dinner and drinks in Dry January? Easy peasy.

benaresrestaurant.com | @Benaresofficial |

Get the facts about fermentation with An Introduction to Kombucha

If you’ve yet to hear about the magic of kombucha, then 2018 is the year to get more acquainted. Nope, not a Japanese martial art – this is in fact a variety of fermented, sweetened tea, that’s produced by adding specific strains of bacteria, yeast and sugar to black or green tea, then allowing it to ferment for a week or more. This process also creates plenty of probiotic bacteria which provide your gut with healthy bacteria which can improve many aspects of health, including digestion, inflammation and even weight loss, according to some studies.

And it also makes a great non-alcoholic alternative to all those staying sober, so Borough Wines & Beers are holding two masterclasses and tastings with the founder of the Real Kombucha Company David Begg. Guests will learn about kombucha and its history, before a guided tasting of the Real Kombucha range, alongside a matching seasonal menu of vegetarian light bites.

There are two ‘Fine ferments – An introduction to Kombucha‘ masterclasses – on Wednesday 24th January and Thursday 25th January. Tickets are priced at £25 and are available here (for 24th) and here (for 25th)

LOCATION: Borough Wines & Beers | TIME: 7.15pm – 9pm | realkombucha.co.uk

Soda Sessions at Nine Lives: London’s best booze-free party

Your Tuesday tipple just got a lot less alcoholic – and a whole lot more funky! Head to Nine Lives in Bermondsey every Tuesday for Soda Sessions, where you can enjoy a killer 90s hip-hop soundtrack, shuffleboard competitions, booze-free cocktails and pizza by the slice – all without the midweek party guilt.

Nine Lives are working with the world’s first non-alcoholic spirit, Seedlip, to create delicious booze-free tipples such as the ?NOgroni? and the ?Garden Sour? made with Seedlip Garden, apple, rosemary & thyme. These creative connections sit alongside other non-alcoholic seasonal drinks such as ?G&T Kefir? made with ginger, turmeric & lemon water kefir and the ?Recharge? with ginger, lemongrass & sugar-free Red Bull.

Every Tuesday | 8 Holyrood Street, SE1 2EL | ninelivesbar.com/ | @ninelivesbar

An alcohol-free Asian delight at Sexy Fish

Embrace the romance, mystique and exotic charm of the Orient with this tasty alcohol-free cocktail from sleek bar Sexy Fish. Consisting of lime juice, agave, Ylang yang, tonic cordial, cucumber and chilli, it’s got the sweet, sour hot, refreshing combination that flings us directly to the Far East.

sexyfish.com | @SexyFishLondon |

By Rebecca Milford

The Cocktail Lovers

The Cocktail Lovers are Mr G and Ms S, a man and a woman who share a passion for cocktails. (We also happen to be married, so we’re cocktail lovers in more ways than one…)