Arranging Alcohol-Free and Low-Alcohol Drinks for Christmas: A Festive Guide

As the Christmas season draws near, the joy of gathering with friends and family becomes the centrepiece of the celebrations. 

But not everyone wants to indulge in high-alcohol beverages. 

Whether it’s due to personal preference, health choices, or simply wanting to maintain a clear head for the next day’s festivities, offering a range of alcohol-free and low-alcohol options ensures all your guests feel included and catered for. 

Here's how to arrange an impressive selection of these drinks to elevate your Christmas celebrations.

1. A Festive Wine Selection

Wine is a staple for Christmas feasts, and fortunately, there are fantastic alcohol-free and low-alcohol alternatives available that don’t compromise on taste.

Alcohol-Free Wines: Brands like Eisberg or Torres Natureo offer a variety of alcohol-free wines, from crisp whites to full-bodied reds. A light, alcohol-free sparkling wine is a must for any Christmas toast and goes wonderfully with starters like smoked salmon or canapés.

Low-Alcohol Wines: For those who want to enjoy wine with a little kick but not the full strength, low-alcohol options (under 5.5%) such as FirstCape Light or Black Tower are a great fit. These wines still carry the depth of flavour that pairs beautifully with Christmas roasts, cheese boards, or a festive dessert.

2. Beers and Ciders: Perfect for a Casual Christmas

Offering alcohol-free and low-alcohol beers and ciders is a great way to keep the festivities fun, especially if you’re hosting a more relaxed gathering.

Alcohol-Free Beers: Many breweries are crafting alcohol-free beers with exceptional quality and taste. BrewDog's Nanny State, Heineken 0.0, and Beck’s Blue are great options that still deliver on that familiar beer experience. Guinness 0.0 is a very fine version of the Guinness Stout type of beer.

Low-Alcohol Beers: Look for beers like Big Drop Brewing Co. or Small Beer Co., which specialise in low-alcohol craft beers that come in various styles – from pale ales to lagers and even porters, perfect for the chilly Christmas weather.

Alcohol-Free Ciders: Cider is a refreshing option, particularly for those who prefer something fruity. Brands like Kopparberg and Stowford Press offer delightful alcohol-free versions that retain the sweetness and tang of traditional ciders.

3. Spirit-Free Cocktails and Mocktails

No Christmas party is complete without a few festive cocktails, and alcohol-free spirits and mixers can make for some creative alternatives.

Alcohol-Free Spirits: Brands like Seedlip, Lyre’s, and Caleño offer incredible alcohol-free versions of popular spirits. From gin-like botanicals to rum-style blends, these can form the base for a range of delicious mocktails.

Mocktail Ideas:

A Christmas Cosmo made with alcohol-free vodka, cranberry juice, and a dash of lime, garnished with frozen cranberries.

A Mulled Apple Punch with alcohol-free rum, spiced apple juice, and cinnamon, ideal for warming up during winter evenings.

A No-Groni, using Seedlip’s spice blend in place of gin, mixed with alcohol-free bitters and vermouth for a festive twist on a classic Negroni.

4. Tips for Presentation and Pairing

Once you’ve chosen your selection of alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks, it’s time to think about how to serve them. Presentation is key, and serving these alternatives in attractive glassware makes them feel just as special as their alcoholic counterparts.

Chill and Serve: Ensure wines and beers are properly chilled, and garnish cocktails with fresh herbs, citrus, or edible flowers to add a festive touch.

Pairing: Just like regular alcoholic drinks, it’s important to think about food pairings. Alcohol-free reds pair well with hearty roasts, while a sparkling white is perfect for nibbles and canapés. Citrus-based mocktails can cut through the richness of Christmas pudding or mince pies.

5. Incorporating Tradition with a Twist

For a nod to tradition, consider recreating classic Christmas drinks in an alcohol-free way:

Alcohol-Free Mulled Wine: Simmer fruit juices like apple or grape with Christmas spices like cloves, cinnamon, and star anise for a warming winter drink.

Non-Alcoholic Eggnog: Make a creamy, indulgent eggnog using a base of almond milk, sugar, nutmeg, and vanilla, leaving out the alcohol or using an alcohol-free spirit for a bit of a kick.

Conclusion

Christmas is a time for bringing people together, and offering alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks is a thoughtful way to include everyone in the celebrations. By curating a diverse and appealing selection, you ensure that your guests, whether teetotal, sober-curious, or simply pacing themselves, can enjoy the festive fun without compromise. So, this year, raise a glass – alcohol-free or otherwise – to a very merry Christmas!

Be a hero with zero! Award-Winning Sparkling Wine Brand Founded by the Delevingne Sisters Launches 0% Della Vite Zero

Goodbye Christmas hangovers! Why? Because Christmas 2024 is all about bubbles with balance and waking up feeling fresh and without the morning after headaches and feeling of guilt!

Introducing Della Vite Zero, a fantastically delicious non-alcoholic sparkling wine from the Delevinnge sisters, Cara, Poppy and Chloe. 

It's a sparkling French Rosé, bursting with flavours of cherry blossom, red berry, and fresh red apple. It's a festive fizzy drink yet with some serious flavours: perfect for sharing with friends, bringing to the table at Christmastime family gatherings and office parties, or a thoughtful gift for someone who may be cutting back on excess this festive season. Now there's something for everyone from Della Vite: and we're all invited!

It's the third release from Della Vite, (the range also includes award-winning proseccos Della Vite Superiore and Della Vite Treviso Rose) and this again is truly wonderful family affair: this time the sisters worked closely with a 4th generation French wine-making family in Beziers, France, who cultivate Della Vite Zero using Grenache grapes, the liquid undergoing a careful de-alcoholisation process to create complex and fresh flavours, and that all important pop of fizz. 

Because after all, everything seems better with bubbles, right? What's more, Della Vite Zero has one of the lowest sugar and calorie levels for this kind of product: perfect for those looking for healthier options during the Festive season.

Says Cara Delevingne:  “Alcohol-free doesn't mean having to compromise on taste, fun or new experiences. I've really wanted to create something like this with my sisters for a long time, but we were patient and finally found the right partners to work with. 

"It was well worth the wait. Sugar-free, low calorie, vegan, sustainable and absolutely bursting with flavour. There's no need to miss any party now, and you can show up 100% at 0% this Xmas be it at the family Christmas Dinner, the Christmas Office Party or gatherings with family or mates."

Cara explains: "We initially sold out via Selfridges so next we wanted to make sure thatno one missed out on the next batch, so we're delighted to share Della Vite Zero via Selfridges and Amazon, too. Come join us for a sip!"

Della Vite launched in 2020 and is now a multi-award-winning global sparkling wine brand with listings across the world as well as World Duty Free. Della Vite Zero is the brand's first foray into 0%.

Follow @della_vite for news, serving suggestions and more 

Della Vite Zero 0% the RRP is£14.99 to £15.64, 750ml, available from Selfridges and Amazon.

Record demand predicted for no and low drinks this Christmas at Tesco

It's reported shoppers are ready to create record demands for no and low alcohol beer, wines and spirits over Christmas.

That’s the prediction from Tesco after the supermarket saw its strongest ever sales in 2023 with high demand sustained across the entire year.

Demand for no and low alcohol beer at the supermarket this year has soared by over 20%, while sales of no/low wine rose by almost 15% per and demand for alternatives to spirits grew by nearly 10% per.

To give some indication of how strong the thirst for no and low drinks has been throughout this year, during the first three weeks of the June heatwave, demand at Tesco was over 25% higher than it was for the first three weeks of Dry January.

Another massive success has been pop star Kylie Minogue’s 0% Sparkling Rosé which launched in Tesco last year and which has now become the UK’s top selling premium no alcohol wine

As a result, Tesco prepared itself for its strongest ever demand in December and ordered in extra stock.

Tesco says that the main reasons for the no and low alcohol boom are:

New found shopper confidence in the quality of the drinks, often driven by recommendations from family and friends

Greater interest in health and moderation

An increase in product choice

Ease of selection in its stores with all products sitting in their own fixture

Tesco no and low alcohol wine buyer Joe Olding said: “Based on the massive demand throughout the year we're anticipating this festive season to not only be bigger than this year's Dry January, but to be the biggest Christmas ever for no and low drinks.

“A few years ago no and low alcohol drinks might have been a consideration to have on hand for special occasions but, as our latest sales data, shows they’ve become mainstream and are now popular all year round.

“We’ve also made it easier for customers to find no and low alcohol drinks as they all sit alongside each in the same aisle.”

Among the top brands driving the no and low boom are Lucky Saint, Athletic Brewing and Guinness 0% in beer; Gordons 0% Alcohol Free Gin and the Clean Co brand in spirits; and Nozeco, Not Guilty and Kylie 0% Sparkling Rosé in wine.

The rise in demand for Kylie Minogue’s no alcohol wine has been spectacular with demand rocketing throughout the year with one million bottles sold across all UK retailers.

The drink uses a unique filtration process in order to make it less sweet and retain more of the original wine taste but without any of the alcohol.

Kylie Minogue said: “When we launched our 0% Sparkling Rosé last year we knew health and wellbeing was becoming more and more important in people’s lives and so many of us are leaning toward more self-care.”

Drinkaware, an independent UK alcohol education charity which helps people make better choices about their drinking was happy to hear the news.

Karen Tyrell, CEO of the charity Drinkaware said: “It’s good people across Britain are more open to trying no and low alcohol drinks this year. 

“Drinking lower strength and alcohol-free products can be a helpful way for people to moderate their drinking and stay within the low-risk guidelines of 14 units a week. If you are unsure about how much you’re drinking, take our simple Drinking Check on the Drinkaware website."

www.tesco.com

Alcohol free Christmas cocktails with Fever-Tree?

43% of consumers now opting for non-alcoholic alternatives. Fever-Tree's new Cocktail Mixers are perfect to shake up your Christmas drinking by helping you swap your favourite cocktail for a mouthwatering mocktail!

Fever-Tree's cocktail mixers are ideal for creating a super easy mocktail, simply by switching out the spirit for a non-alcoholic version. Fever-Tree recommend Everleaf's non-alcoholic spirits range as a perfect pairing!

Jazz up your Christmas and treat yourself to a booze-free Mojito or Margarita to kick start the New Year in a mindful, indulgent way.

The lineup:  

Fever-Tree Classic Mojito Mixer: Fresh Mexican Limes meet Moroccan Mint for a zesty, refreshing twist. Just add non-alcoholic rum and ice for a mojito masterpiece. 

Fever-Tree Classic Margarita Mixer: Packed with fresh Mexican limes, sweet Italian Blood Orange, and a hint of sea salt. Add a non-alcoholic tequila alternative, shake or stir, and enjoy an authentic margarita.  

Available now at Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and online at Ocado, for just £4.50.

Say goodbye to the hassle of squeezing limes and adding multiple complex ingredients! Just mix, shake and serve!

How to make the perfect mocktail at home:

Simply add ice to a glass.

Pour in 50ml of your chosen non-alcoholic spirit and top it off with Fever-Tree's mixer.

A quick stir, and it's ready to sip and enjoy. Ideal for an evening with friends or a night in front of the telly during the winter nights.

And don't forget, next month is Dry January and you can ramp up you mocktail mixing abilities then.

Celebrate a Luxurious But Alcohol-Free Christmas With Savyll

Elegant ready-to-serve brand Savyll welcomes everyone to celebrate a luxurious Christmas with its enticing array of non-alcoholic cocktails.

Perfect for a Christmas gift or as a festive party tipple, the four flavours are; an aromatic peach Bellini, a fresh and crisp Mojito, a zesty grapefruit Paloma and a fiery Moscow Mule.

Here's more about these delectable drinks:

Bellini: A sparkling Bellini flavoured cocktail crafted with a fusion of delicate floral white peach notes on the nose, and a pleasantly dry white wine finish. The Bellini has been given one-star by the Great Taste Awards.

Mojito: A sparkling Mojito flavoured cocktail with a balanced arrangement of citrus, sweet spearmint, rosemary and lime, combined with a spice aroma.

Paloma: A sparkling Paloma flavoured cocktail crafted with earthy agave and bittersweet grapefruit characteristics on the nose, crisp lime on the palate, and a pleasing acidic finish.

Moscow Mule: A sparkling Moscow Mule flavoured cocktail with a delicate balance of lime and ginger on the nose, with herbal notes on the palate, and a little heat on the finish. It was awarded Double Gold in the San Francisco Spirit Awards in 2023.

They are all vegan-friendly, gluten-free, crafted from natural ingredients, and contain less than 4g of sugar per 100ml. Each drink is available in a 250ml can and has an RRP of £2.40.

Savyll's created the perfect stocking filler gift this Christmas - their beautifully presented Collection Pack allows you to explore the full range of sophisticated flavours mentioned above.

Born in the melting-pot of London, Savyll was created by Avnish Babla. Avnish's vision was to create a range of premium non-alcoholic cocktails that drew inspiration from their traditional alcoholic counterparts. The brand has listings with the likes of Whole Foods, David Lloyd, Ocado and Warner Hotels.

Avnish said: "Mocktails have been around for quite some time, but they often come across as bright, loud, and full of sugar. We wanted to create a brand that conveyed classic sophistication, and appealed to a more discerning consumer.

“We have a significant number of customers who, due to health or cultural reasons, don't want to drink alcohol - but they want something more high-end and palatable than just a simple juice or soda. If you serve Savyll's range of cocktails to your AF guests this Christmas, they're sure to be wowed.”

The Savyll Collection Pack can be purchased on the website. It can either be bought as four 250ml cans for £10 or 12-can packs for £25. To find out more, visit www.savyll.com.