In Episode 4 of The Cancer Pod, we discussed the good, the bad, and the ugly of alcohol.
We’ve all heard how alcohol not only increases the risk of cancer but the risk of recurrence. So what’s a cancer person to do?
Good news! There are options if you choose to abstain! Here are some of my favorite non/low-alcohol drink alternatives.
If you like beer, try…
Hop Tea by Hoplark
A sparkling tea blended with hops, of the original four tasty flavors, there’s bound to be one that suits your fancy. Hop Tea provides the hoppiness and effervescence of beer and are packed with flavor. The Really Hoppy One is made with black tea, so it’s perfect when you need a bit of a caffeine kick. The Green Tea One is made with green tea and mosaic hops, which are known for their “blueberry” or “fruity” profile. The Citra Bomb is a blend of white tea and citra hops, which offer (you guessed it) a citrusy note. The Calm One is my favorite relaxing bevvie at night, made with chamomile tea and citra hops. Did we mention they are also gluten-free, vegan, and ZERO CALORIES?
Partake Brewery Non-alcoholic Beer
Partake is a Canadian brewery that makes great tasting n/a beers. They contain 0.3% ABV (alcohol by volume) and come in a variety of flavors including IPA and dark/stout. My personal favorites are IPA, Pale Ale, and Blonde. All of the beers are made with barley and therefore can’t be called gluten-free, but they are processed in a way that the Blonde and Stout are gluten-friendly at less than 20ppm (parts per million). The Pale Ale and IPA have less than 5ppm. The National Celiac Association states less than 20 ppm is safe for most people with celiac, but everyone reacts differently, so use your own judgment.
Athletic Brewing Company
Full disclosure, I’ve only tried one of the flavors, Upside Dawn, because it is gluten-friendly (made with barley but the gluten is removed). It’s very light and refreshing, perfect on a hot, summer day, and I have it on good authority that the other flavors are just as tasty.
If you like wine…
You don’t have to settle for sparkling grape juice, although that’s a perfectly good option. When I checked out the wine sections at my local grocery stores and at Total Wine, I found a number of non-alcoholic—or dealcoholized—wines available. I’ve tried a couple and one was not that great (it was a chardonnay that I will not name. It was way too sweet and dare I say, thick?) and the other, a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc by Giesen 0% (<0.5% ABV) from New Zealand that was not bad at all. It was tart, dry (drier than the chardonnay, that’s how sweet the chard was), and fruity and had a mouthfeel that was very wine-like. I drank it straight and also zhuzhed it up a bit by adding some lime sparkling water and a slice of lime, made myself a spritzer! Did I mention it’s only 16 calories per serving (125mL)? Yeah, folks, all those calories come from the alcohol!
Anyway, I forgot about it in my fridge and used the leftover wine to sauté mushrooms. Now that was yum. There are non-alcoholic red wines available, too, like tempranillo and cabernet sauvignon, and sparkling versions, but I have yet to indulge.
If you like cocktails…
Sure you can always make a virgin version of your favorite cocktail (like the spicy Virgin Mary below), but now there are now alcohol-free products that are substitutes for liquor like gin, whiskey, rum, tequila, and vodka. I haven’t made a deep dive into many of these alternatives but I have tried a few.
Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative
A light, oaky, vanilla flavor that mixes well with ginger ale. I made an n/a whiskey and ginger using Fever-Tree (formulated to “enhance the flavor notes of the finest whiskies, bourbons and rums”) but I think Reeds would offer more of a gingery bite. The Whiskey Alternative would also be a nice complement to a cup of hot apple cider. Add a cinnamon stick for a warm, wintery treat.
Ritual also makes a gin alternative that has a crisp flavor with a hint of juniper and finishes with a touch of heat. It mixed well with tonic water and lime, and although I kind of wish it had a bit more juniper flavor, it made for an excellent mocktail. The website suggests using it to make your favorite vodka drinks so I may have to pick up some cranberry juice and mock a Cosmo.
Spiritless Kentucky 74
A non-alcoholic bourbon that masters the caramel, oakiness of a Kentucky bourbon and is worth the higher sticker price. I used it to make an Old Timey (my non-alcoholic version of an Old Fashioned) and also mixed it with ginger ale and a couple of dashes of bitters (I have very limited mixers at my house, apparently). Kentucky 74 would probably hold up better with a cola mixer, because it has a richer flavor.
All of the alcohol alternatives I tried had a note that they were good for three to four months after opening. Refrigeration isn’t required, but because they don’t have alcohol as a preservative, they do have a limited shelf-span. And don’t freeze them! Because they are alcohol-free, they will freeze.
Aromatic bitters are a staple, both in the world of bartending and in traditional medicine. A touch of bitters, like gentian, before a meal helps to stimulate digestion by signaling the release of salivary and gastric juices. Due to how they are made (herbs and other aromatics infused in an alcohol base), cocktail bitters are not completely alcohol-free. They are a low alcohol option. Such a small amount of bitters is used in a drink recipe (typically mere dashes to a 4 oz glass of club soda). If you’re looking to limit alcohol for health reasons, they’re not a bad alternative, but they might not be a good option for anyone avoiding alcohol due to addiction.
Angostura Aromatic Bitters
A secret recipe of over 40 herbs and spices, Angostura bitters are what most people think of when bitters are mentioned. They are warm and spicy, very cinnamon and clove forward, and can be used in both sweet and savory recipes. Angostura bitters mix nicely with citrus, like orange or grapefruit soda water. Or add a few dashes to plain soda water and a slice of lime, and call it good.
The Bitter Housewife
The Bitter Housewife makes some flavorful bitters and also canned Bitters & Soda, which I like to use as a mixer. I am a big fan of bitters but drinking the original formula by itself is a bit much. Adding some cherry juice (either tart cherry or the juice from a jar of maraschinos) and a spoonful of plum shrub (a non-alcoholic, vinegar-based, fruit concentrate) makes a super tasty mock Old Fashioned (oh, and a couple of ounces of whiskey or bourbon alternatives, if you have some laying around). Garnish with an orange or lemon peel to class it up.
Hella Cocktail Co.
If you’re a fan of bitter drinks like Aperol or Campari (hello, Negroni!), this one is for you. Hella makes a Spritz Aromatic Bitters & Soda in a can that I find to be super delicious just on its own. It’s sweet enough that it doesn’t need anything added to it, although I’ve also used it as a base for my mock Old Fashioned, the Old Timey.
If you’re trying to reduce your alcohol intake for health reasons, these faux firewaters may be worth a try this holiday season.
RECIPES
Plum shrub recipe by My Darling Lemon Thyme
Virgin Mary
This classic brunch mocktail is perfect any time of day. My favorite part is the horseradish, but it can be omitted for those that don’t care for it. Add a couple of ounces of gin alternative it you have it around the bar!
Servings: 1 drink
Ingredients:
Ice
Juice of 1/2 medium lemon
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon celery salt, plus extra for glass
Old Bay seasoning (optional for glass)
2 dashes Tabasco (or favorite hot sauce)
Horseradish to taste
Ground black pepper
Celery stalk, pickled vegetables, and lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions:
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Moisten the rim of a tall glass with lemon juice or water.
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Sprinkle some Old Bay seasoning or celery salt on a small plate. Dip rim of glass into seasoning, then turn upright and add ice.
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Fill a cocktail shaker 2/3 full of ice, add tomato juice/V8, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, hot sauce, and horseradish. Cover the shaker and shake until chilled.
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Strain mixture into prepared glass.
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Garnish with ground black pepper, vegetables and a lemon wedge.
Classic Bitters & Soda (low alcohol)
If you're unable to find prepared, canned aromatic canned bitters & soda near you, or if you prefer less of a bitter flavor, it is easy peasy to mix up your own. Bitters are aromatic herbs and spices infused in an alcohol base, so the following drinks are low-alcohol, not alcohol-free.
Servings: 1 drink
Ingredients:
- Ice
- Soda water (club soda or flavored water)
- Bitters of your choice (such as Angostura, cardamom, orange)
- Lemon, grapefruit, orange, or lime slice
Instructions:
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Add ice to a tall glass (highball).
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Pour soda over ice, then add 4-6 dashes of bitters.
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Serve with citrus slice.
Old Timey
Vinegar in the plum shrub adds a zingy flare of sweet and sharp to the drink. If you're not up for making your own shrub, sub in tart cherry juice or muddle a sugar cube and bitters with a couple of Maraschino cherries. Flavored soda water can be used in place of plain club soda.
Servings: 1 drink
Ingredients:
- Maraschino cherries with syrup
- 2 tsp Plum shrub or tart cherry juice
- Orange or lemon peel
- 2 oz Whiskey or bourbon alternative
- Bitters
- Ice
- 4 oz soda water or prepared, canned bitters & soda
Instructions:
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Combine 1 tsp cherry syrup, 2 tsp shrub or tart cherry juice, and 4 dashes of bitters to a rocks glass. If you don't have shrub, simple syrup works well (or muddle a sugar cube and Maraschino cherries with the bitters).
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Add the citrus peel and whiskey or bourbon alternative.
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Fill the glass with ice and stir.
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Top with soda water or one of the canned aromatic bitters drinks to fill the glass.
The preceding article is not a paid endorsement of any of the products mentioned. There are no affiliate links in this article, and neither the author nor The Cancer Pod will be compensated by clicking on the links. All products mentioned were purchased by the author and her spouse.
