Non alcoholic evening drinks (for adults!)

[YeahWellWhyNot]

Probably seems a daft question but what do you drink of an evening that doesn't contain alcohol? Going into winter it feels like red wine season will be upon us soon and the days of something fizzy with ice are perhaps behind me with the summer. As well as the benefit of not slipping into evenings with alcohol I'd like to avoid the extra calories and lose a little weight. I do like grapefruit juice with tonic but not sure I can drink it every night. Also ruling out flavoured teas thanks to overdoing those during pregnancy and not getting over it 🤢🤢🤢

I like the Trip drinks and Kombucha. Then I’ll have a sleepy tea.

May I ask, for those who drink the CBD drinks - do they make you "feel" anything? I ask because I can't abide how pot makes me feel. I know it's different (obviously), but if it's even a remotely similar feeling I don't want to have a try and feel awful.

Rosehip syrup is quite wintery tasting and tasty. I get it at the Polish/Ukrainian shops in town.

I also think Norfolk punch is pretty tasty (if expensive!). Mulled apple juice is pretty nice but doesn't save you any calories over alcoholic drinks!

No It’s not that kind of feeling. I just feel slightly relaxed. Hard to describe. But nothing that noticeable!

Thank you! I've been eyeing them up out of interest, but I've always been a bit wary. I'll have to give one a try!

Recently bought a a soda stream - love it. Especially the peach and ginger mocktail

I love red wine, but it is starting not to love me back. For me there is no substitute.
But in cases where there is no choice: a good redbush tea, or a fruit tea which is Polish and described as mulled wine with plum (no alcohol) made by a label called Loyd. You can add a tot of something to it in true winter cold if needed, but it can stand elegantly without it.

Bottle green do a lovely spiced berry cordial that's really tasty hot.

We buy some of the Monin syrups. They are expensive but last ages. I can particularly recommend their coconut mixed with pineapple juice for a non-alcoholic Pina Colada and also a blob of their strawberry syrup with some Robinson's Mint and Lime cordial, topped up with soda water. https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/MONINUK/BESTSELLERS/page/BB09927C-29A3-4154-BED6-FA8782A048F9

I love a glass of Rochester Ginger, warming and feels grown up. Available from Holland and Barrett, not sure where else you can get it.

I quite like a glass of shloer with ice, the sparkling grape one is nice can almost pretend it’s wine 🤣

I like the dark caleno (supposed to be like rum but not sure if tastes like rum really) either with ice or with lime soda.

Virgin bloody Mary. Extra spicy!

Fevertree elderflower tonic water.

Also decaff coffee and bog standard tea.

I know what you mean OP - you want something that feels a bit cosy, not ice cold at least if not actually warm!

I know you said no herbal teas but I love ginger and turmeric steeped in hot water - doesn’t feel like herbal tea somehow

cloudy apple juice warmed with spices?

or ginger beer - cold obviously but feels a bit warming?

or tomato juice with whatever you want from the usual Bloody Mary additions. Again this is perfectly nice not freezing cold

Not sure on the wintry vibe but I like the fever tree flavoured tonics as they’re not too sweet

We drink black tea or decaf coffee and water, I also second the option of alcohol free beer, really nice and not calorific at all.
DH and I became quite addicted to it recently, we opened a bottle of Marlborough last week and were a bit disappointed 🤣 back to beer then

I don’t drink in the week so just green teas usually. At the weekend I might have a couple of glasses of wine.

AF beer is quite calorific compared to water or tea. 70 cals or thereabouts.

69 calories for a 330ml bottle of Heineken zero. Not no calorie but not massive and half the same with alcohol

Placemarking

I think the glass that you drink out of makes a difference - Ribena in a nice wine glass is much nicer than Ribena in a normal glass.

Goodrays CBD drinks as mentioned above.

Martini do a non-alcoholic ‘Aperol’ type drink. Mix with soda or non alcoholic fizz. It’s really sweet so could be made to feel ‘wintry’.

Theres a company that do 3 different ‘spirits’ - one is for evening. Think it’s called ‘Nightcap’. Will research and report back.

Yorkshire ‘Bedtime Tea’ is lovely.

https://threespiritdrinks.com/products/the-double?gc_id=17853776818&h_ad_id=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAC5THsutJnUYYaqc17up_NfwhwDWI&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgL-3BhDnARIsAL6KZ68bh1AsiYH0vvQDvDMTvGZ_uueIhBqFYMdETIIFZFn-boRTa3eI100aAqJ7EALw_wcB

edited to add link.

Glöggi syrup and hot water. Very wintry

Bottle Green Winter Spiced Berry Cordial, make with hot water. Awesome!

www.bottlegreendrinks.com/cordial/winter-spiced-berry-cordial/