Non alcoholic drinks

[freesolo76]

Morning everyone! I gave up alcohol in April as my drinking had become problematic and I am now searching for that perfect drink that's not full of sugar or sweetener. I started drinking too much Diet Coke and have now switched to ginger bitter (Gimber) with soda water. It's nice and everything, but meh...I love the ginger kick but it's missing something (and not alcohol 😆)
Can anyone recommend some nice bitters that go with soda water?

Just to add not looking for an alcohol substitute, I could happily drink ginger beer or cherry cola all day but I want something healthier

Not sure if it's what you're looking for but I drink Becks Blue and lemonade. Low calorie, alcohol free and sweet.

I just drink sparkling water normally, squeeze of lemon/ lime for something fancy. Fevertree tonic or the Aldi dupe is nice.

Someone on another thread recommended Three Spirits and I have just bought the sample bank and I have to say I'm pretty impressed. You can mix with all sorts but I've just been happy with just soda water or tonic.
I also really like the Fevertree Italian Blood orange soda (with a slice of grapefruit) or Martini do a non alcoholic Aperitivio I think it is called Vibrante, that's also really good with soda and is a really grown up taste. DH also recommends the brand Green they do cans of Sour Cherry (available in Sainsburys).

Some good recommendations, thanks 🙏 will try fever tree first I think

Ooh and the three spirits sounds nice. I always thinking adding a squeeze of lime or lemon helps most drinks!

Lime and soda is nice

Fever tree do a good ginger drink with a decent kick

Punchy do a nice one - Blood Orange, Bitters & Cardamom.

Punchy Drinks - Premium Soft Drinks, Vitamin D, All Natural, Low Calorie, Non Alcoholic, 250ml (Blood Orange, Bitters & Cardamom, 250ml (Pack of 24)) amzn.eu/d/dzLTg2a

I like the Fevertree Mexican Lime soda - I add fresh lime, crushed mint from the garden and a dash of ginger cordial if I’m feeling fancy.

@freesolo76@feliciabirthgiver i absolutely love three spirit nightcap (not too fussed on the other two) but its quite expensive as the bottles are only 500 mls (£25) and I can get through one a week! But I need to remind myself it’s still cheaper than the gallons of booze I was sinking.

for those who haven’t tried it - it’s a woody, gingery, peppery drink and probably not for everyone . I drink it over ice in the evening but also with tonic if I want a long drink. At bedtime, it gives you a nice warm glow. It’s supposed to help you sleep and I am sleeping better but I think that’s mainly being off the booze.

It is expensive but if you spend over a certain amount/bulk buy, you get free shipping and there are always offers for 10/15% off. I ordered 3 bottles yesterday when I got paid!!

I really enjoy kombucha. It has a more sour/savoury note to it than sweet fizzy drinks.

I also really like the Martini non-alcoholic aperitfs - there's a red one that looks like aperol and a white one. Both are nice. I have them with tonic water or you could also do soda water.

And I know you didn't specifically ask for it AF drinks, but I really enjoy AF beers. There's so much out there now beyond the standard Beck's Blue. I wasn't a beer drinker at all when I drank, but I like them now because they are 'grown up' feeling drinks but not sweet.

And yes, I also really like the Three Spirit Nightcap (and not really the other too either!). It's a special occasion drink though and I literally only have it as a 'nightcap' when husband or friends are over and having a whiskey or something similar.

a couple of sprigs of mint are really nice in soda water & really easy to grow (in pots)

I’d highly recommend Bon Accord drinks - especially the rhubarb flavour, it’s so delicious, promise. Auger content isn’t too high and they’re so tasty and refreshing.

A few that I love are

coconut water, especially the M&S one. Not too sweet, but somehow satisfying
Aqua Libra or DASH cucumber, with ice and a slice of cucumber. Properly delicious
and for a beery one, Nanny State alcohol free is very refreshing and stops people squeaking “ooooh, why aren’t you drinking” because it looks like beer

also : Congratulations and yayyyyy to you, OP

Trip CBD drink. Tastes great and feels like a treat / grown up drink. The peach and ginger is my favourite

Fevertree have recently brought out a range of really nice drinks that are low sugar and with no artificial sweeteners. There are a few flavours and they have a nice bitter kick.

Theres also a range by Belvoir of sodas which have a good kick, low sugar and no sweeteners. Long overdue to the
market to have drinks that taste good and are low sugar with no artificial sweeteners!

DH has just made me a virgin mojito with ginger beer, fresh lime, mint and ice - it’s lovely!

My favourite go to Mocktail is a virgin mojito, super refreshing and delicious! If they don’t do Mocktails then I love elderflower with fizzy water or anything fentimens

Dorset Ginger

Nonsuch Shrubs have got some amazing cordials, fantastic with soda water and ice.

Poss a bit too close to alcohol but I really like Gordon's 0.0% pink gin and lemonade - I don't normally like the AF equivalent of actual booze but I didn't really drink gin when I was drinking, so this doesn't trigger me.

Also have a look at Club Soda - lots of options and recommendations there.

The fever tree blood orange Italian soda is lovely but also try dalstons sodas. Lovelty real fruit based sodas,less than 50 calories per can and great intensity of flavour, the cherry is amazing and I often let it down a bit with fizzy water and a slice of lime and get 2 drinks out of a can. The peach, rhubarb and ginger beer are also excellent.

if you want something. A bit more grown up try Wilfred’s. It looks like aperol and I make it the same way with tonic, soda and a slice of orange, it is bitter sweet aperitif without the booze. Absolutely love it.

Finally Robinsons lime and mint cordial is super refreshing- get yourself a soda stream, that and some ice and you’ll be happy.

I like Crodino and Seedlip Spice (with ginger ale, but there are lots of other nice mix options).

Have you tried Kombucha?