Dry January and Beyond
In our fast paced world of instant gratification, it's always important to take a break from time to time. We're constantly bombarded with ads for fast food, alcohol, flashy cars, fashion, and electrics, along with every other imaginable type of dopamine supply. Every year, this crescendo of consumerism is at it's full peak by the end of the holiday season, leaving many of us drained. It's for this, and many other reasons, many people choose to engage in a fast-growing trend known as "Dry January."
Hello my thirsty readers! I know it's been awhile since we last met, but I'm back today to wrap up January, which has become the most popular reset month on the calendar. For those of you who've followed along for awhile, you'll know that, while I create cocktails on the daily, I gave up drinking them many years ago. Though all of my months are dry, the trend of Dry January is unavoidable for everyone. You see it everywhere, from bars and restaurants, to ads for N/A beers and sprits. Stepping away from alcohol as a lifestyle has become a trend that's here to stay, but where did this growing surge for the month of abstinence begin?
The first recorded use of "Dry January" was by Frank Posilico of Huntington, New York. After shedding some pounds and increasing his energy, Frank's journey inspired others to do the same. One of these sober-curious people was Emily Robinson. While training for a half-marathon, she decided to give up alcohol as a way to live healthy and focus on training. Emily later teamed up with Alcohol Change UK (formerly known as Alcohol Concern) starting a Dry January campaign that began in England, soon spreading like wildfire. In 2022, studies showed 35% of American drinkers taking part in some type of Dry January. That's a lot of people who need some zero-proof cocktails!
To wrap up this month, and possibly give you a little something to enjoy anytime you're taking a break, I've included some nonalcoholic recipes below to shake on your own. Whether it's just January, or if you're making a serious lifestyle change, I feel that everyone deserves to be included. The next time you're feeling burn out from all the rum rhapsodies, whip up one of these. We all need to prioritize ourselves, so we can spend time with our families, focus on our careers, and above all else, keep shaking.
Palermo Tonic
1oz Prickly Pear Puree
1oz Orange Juice
.5oz Honey Syrup
.5oz Lemon Juice
(Tonic Water)
Shake and strain over ice in a Collins glass.
Top with Tonic Water.
Garnish with orange slice.
Dream Life
1.5oz Vanilla Syrup
.5oz Lemon Juice
1.5oz Orange Juice
3 drops Orange Blossom Water
(Soda Water)
Shake and strain over ice in Collins glass.
Top with soda water.
Garnish with Orange Peel.
Boogie Board
1oz Cream of Coconut
1oz Passion Fruit Puree
1oz Honey Syrup
.25oz Lemon Juice
1oz Cranberry Juice
(Soda Water)
Shake and strain over ice in an old fashioned glass.
Top with soda water.
Garnish with orange wheel and parasol.
Giardino
1.5oz Strawberry Puree
.75oz Basil Syrup
.5oz Lemon Juice
2oz Black Tea
2 dashes Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters
Shake and strain into a chilled Coupe.
Garnish with expressed lemon peel.
Puttin' on the Spritz
2oz DHOS Bittersweet Nonalcoholic Aperitivo
1.5oz Naughty Alcohol Free Sparkling Chardonnay
1.5oz Soda Water
Build in wine glass over ice.
Stir lightly to combine.
Garnish with orange slice.