Have you tried the Italian soda, Sanbitter? It tastes remarkably like Campari in my opinion. I like it mixed into a good N/A beer with a big squeeze of lime or lemon. I shared the combo in a recentish post. And Lyre’s N/A Amalfi Spritz is close enough to an Aperol spritz to be very satisfying as a cocktail dupe. I enjoy the One Thing posts — thanks for the thoughts and finds!
As someone who cut out booze just over two years ago, I've got some thoughts on this. When I first cut it out, a few years back, I was all about the alcohol substitutions and had a fridge full of NA beers, ginger beers, and the like and would have welcomed the range of NA cocktails now available. This go around, however, I've taken a different stance on it all and now welcome the chance to be less drink-obsessed. I generally just drink water, flat or sparkling, coffee or tea. If I'm at a restaurant, I'll order a virgin caesar, but I could probably take it or leave it.
I'm especially skeptical of a lot of the new sparkling water takes, usually made by booze companies looking to diversify. No issues with what they're doing, but there is something to be said for just having water and not needing it to be anything more.
I would also add that after cutting out booze, I have come to roll my eyes somewhat at my previous obsession with drinking craft beers or a particular brand of gin or bourbon, as though I was a person of specific taste, who distinguished myself by this or that preference.
There's something freeing about just saying goodbye to all that and just ordering a bottle of sparkling water for the table, without much consideration for the brand.
Thanks for these tips -- I am Tokyo-based but try to get back to my "ancestral homeland" of MD/DC area every year and have been searching for new places to try. I know you're talking about beverages here, but the restaurant/bar recs were very welcome too!
Have you tried the Italian soda, Sanbitter? It tastes remarkably like Campari in my opinion. I like it mixed into a good N/A beer with a big squeeze of lime or lemon. I shared the combo in a recentish post. And Lyre’s N/A Amalfi Spritz is close enough to an Aperol spritz to be very satisfying as a cocktail dupe. I enjoy the One Thing posts — thanks for the thoughts and finds!
As someone who cut out booze just over two years ago, I've got some thoughts on this. When I first cut it out, a few years back, I was all about the alcohol substitutions and had a fridge full of NA beers, ginger beers, and the like and would have welcomed the range of NA cocktails now available. This go around, however, I've taken a different stance on it all and now welcome the chance to be less drink-obsessed. I generally just drink water, flat or sparkling, coffee or tea. If I'm at a restaurant, I'll order a virgin caesar, but I could probably take it or leave it.
I'm especially skeptical of a lot of the new sparkling water takes, usually made by booze companies looking to diversify. No issues with what they're doing, but there is something to be said for just having water and not needing it to be anything more.
I would also add that after cutting out booze, I have come to roll my eyes somewhat at my previous obsession with drinking craft beers or a particular brand of gin or bourbon, as though I was a person of specific taste, who distinguished myself by this or that preference.
There's something freeing about just saying goodbye to all that and just ordering a bottle of sparkling water for the table, without much consideration for the brand.
Thanks for these tips -- I am Tokyo-based but try to get back to my "ancestral homeland" of MD/DC area every year and have been searching for new places to try. I know you're talking about beverages here, but the restaurant/bar recs were very welcome too!