Low and No – It’s all go!!
This month we have pulled together a highlights package of cool new adult drink options that have recently hit the market. But these are not just any drinks – they are an exciting mixture of low and no alcohol products as well as some low carb and lower sugar drinks that we think are worth a try this Spring. Afterall – there’s no need to sacrifice flavour and taste when you are watching your SIZE, SPACE & PACE.
Lower Alcohol:
- Prosecco – Did you know that as a wine style, Prosecco is naturally lower in alcohol making it a great choice for anyone who is wanting to watch their alcohol consumption. Dating back centuries in Italy, Prosecco is traditionally light tasting, crisp and fruit-forward with a range of sweetness levels. Our fav at the moment is Graham Norton’s Own Prosecco (11% ABV) – a fresh, gentle drink with notes of lemon curd, crisp green apple and white blossom and a slight bitterness.
- Mac’s Stunt Double – In keeping with the Mac’s tradition for great tasting beers with a unique twist, Stunt Double is a bright and refreshing golden ale specially brewed to have less than 0.5% alcohol. The best bit is it tastes like beer! Brewed to give a smooth caramelised malt flavour and a lingering hop bitterness – this is a great way to satisfy your beer needs whilst not interfering with your other responsibilities tonight or tomorrow.
- Lindauer Free* – If wine is more your thing check out these great 0.5% Alcohol options from NZ’s largest Sparkling brand. Made with the same Lindauer philosophy – to create exceptional sparkling wines for everyone to love, these Brut and Rose wines are made predominantly from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes harvested in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay. Fresh and vibrant, with a creamy, lingering finish these are a must have when you are hosting any occasion.
No Alcohol:
- Speight’s Summit 0.0%* – While 0% beers are not new, here is a newcomer to the market that we think deserves a thumbs up. Launched in July, Summit 0.0%* builds on the success of its Low Carb brother Summit Ultra to provide a full flavoured, crisp, and refreshing lager without the alcohol – a great way to celebrate a job well done. * Less than 0.05% ALC/VOL
- Pals Zero – this is another super new kid on the block. Pals Peach Passionfruit & Soda Zero Alcohol is a limited edition that we hope will hang around. Combining Central Otago peach, passionfruit, and soda – it tastes like the real deal and has just five calories per 100ml. In-keeping with the rest of the Pals range, this new recruit is all natural, vegan and gluten-friendly making it a great addition to any social occasion.
- Finery 0% – Sugar Free, Carb Free and Gluten Free, Finery’s exciting new 0% range uses seven times distilled sugar cane vodka, sparkling water and a blend of fruits, teas, and botanicals to provide 4 naturally flavoured, great looking no alcohol drink options – Vanilla & Elderflower, Lemon Myrtle Lime & Black Tea, Grapefruit Cucumber & Mint, Ginger Green Tea Honey Mint & Lemon. If you’re keen to try them all to find your favourite flavour check out their mixed pack selection here.
- For all your cider lovers out there – we seriously recommend you try the Zeffer 0%* Crisp Apple. Not only is this a deliciously crisp (as the name suggests) cider made with Hawke’s Bay apples, it is also the first NZ cider to be 100% carbon neutral which we think is pretty cool! Full of flavour with a delicate sweetness, Zeffer 0% is also vegan, gluten-free and has only 39 calories per 300ml can. * Less than 0.05% ALC/VOL from the natural fermentation process
- AF Drinks have been getting some good airtime of late and for good reason …. They taste amazing! Started by social enterprise ‘Eat My Lunch’ Founder Lisa King, the AF range provides a sophisticated selection of adult drinks that are 100% alcohol free. The range includes 3x Alcohol free G&T options, 3x Spritz options and 3x Darks all of which include a 100% natural botanical extract called ‘Afterglow’ that mimics the warmth you get from drinking a spirit without the other sometimes nasty side effects!
Low Carb:
- Mac’s Ultra Violet –This hoppy Pale Ale combines tropical fruit and citrus flavours to create an easy drinking lighter option with 50% less carb than other Mac’s Beers. While low carb beer has historically been a bit dull and gloomy, this new addition still provides a smooth bitterness and crisp clean finish that Mac’s drinkers know and love. We’ll drink to that!
- Speight’s Summit Ultra (4.2% ABV) – Summit Ultra is a refreshing full flavoured golden lager with a crisp finish. Brewed for longer it has 75% less carbs than the average carb content of leading NZ beer brands. Making it the great choice for those who are watching their waistlines in the countdown to summer! The hoppy bitterness makes this brew a great match for fresh seafood and spicy dishes.
- Pals Gin – Hawkes Bay Lemon, Cucumber & Soda (5% ABV) – the gin category is exploding in NZ right now, so this tasty little number is bound to be a hit. With just 33 calories per 100ml and 1.1g sugar per 100ml this refreshing drink combines premium gin and real fruit extracts from some of NZ’s best fruit producing regions to create what some have described as “summer in a can”. Even better – its Gluten free and vegan friendly. If you prefer dark spirits, Pals have got you covered there too with other low carb options including Pals American Whiskey with Hawke’s Bay Apple (5.8%).
Lower Sugar:
- If reducing your sugar intake was a New Years resolution you might like to check out the Clean Collective Range. With Vodka, Gin and Italian Spritz based drinks available, these drinks are Sugar Free, Carb Free, Gluten Free, Preservative free, Vegan and made using natural ingredients right here is good old NZ!
- If RTDs and pre-mixed drinks are not your thing then why not try one of our great Lower Sugar cocktails recipes which you can find here
It is important to note that while all the above drinks may be ‘healthier’ in one way or another, any amount of alcohol can impact your health and wellbeing, so it is important to always make the choices that are right for you when it comes to drinking alcohol. If you would like help making smarter, more informed drinking choices check out our fun, interactive online modules here. If you specifically want information about the health impacts of drinking alcohol, click here
Like always, we love your feedback so please feel free to email us with you latest and greatest drink choices so we can share them with other kiwi drinkers just like you who are keen to make the good times last longer when they are out and about socialising.
Cheers