It all hangs in the balance 

The New Year is a time to press the reset button, set goals for the year ahead to create a positive and healthy mindset. Dry January continues to be one of the most popular ways to kick off the year with Alcohol Change UK revealing that one in six UK adults (16%) took a break from alcohol this January. This is estimated at 8.5 million people. Experts boast a wealth of benefits including having increased energy, better quality sleep, lower blood pressure and aiding weight loss. However, one of the biggest benefits can be the change in attitudes to drinking which can establish a longer-term health benefit. The month of abstinence can empower you to find a new balance to drinking alcohol as February arrives and the social calendar starts filling up! 

Taking a mindful approach 

Mindful drinking is fast becoming the new norm. It isn’t about not drinking alcohol or abstaining, it’s about becoming aware of our drinking habits and finding the balance that works best for ourselves; for some that means sobriety and for others moderation, but it always means drinking better and more mindfully with better ingredients less alcohol and more awareness. Research commissioned by Harrogate Spring Water found that 57% of people now choose to drink non-alcoholic drinks as well as alcoholic drinks at social occasions and that 62% of people are now more inclined to drink in moderation. 

Attitudes are changing 

It’s the younger generation leading the way with 60% of Gen-Z ‘s now choosing to drink more mindfully. The days of making excuses for not drinking alcohol are over, it’s a conscious choice with no apology needed. We’ve seen a huge shift in non-alcoholic offerings on the market from a surge in choices of 0% beers to non-alcoholic spirits such as celebrity endorsed Lyres and CleanCo. One such non-alcoholic brand is Wetherby based, Bax Botanics. Chris and Rose Bax developed their range of no-alcoholic spirits through their extensive knowledge of wild ingredients and culinary herbs. They recently teamed up with Harrogate Spring Water to curate some tasty cocktails made with sparkling water. Check out the recipes below and feel inspired to try these mouth-watering mocktails!

Cucumber & Verbena Spritz

Refreshing, citrussy, vibrant, herbal: a delicious spritz perfect to go alongside snacks and light dishes. The flavours and sparkle are bright and zingy complimenting savoury food very well. The result is a cocktail that showcases the herbal gin notes in Bax Botanics Verbena, with lemon and cucumber, topped off with Harrogate Sparkling to give a gentle effervescence. We recommend serving it over large clear ice with a cucumber garnish. 

• 55ml Bax Botanics Verbena

• 1 cm slice of cucumber  - cubed

• 15ml fresh lemon juice (a good squeeze)

• 20ml Sugar syrup

• 90ml Harrogate Sparkling Water

Recipe: Add the Bax Botanics Verbena, cucumber, fresh lemon and sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker. Shake, strain and top with Harrogate Spring sparkling water. Serve in a chilled Highball glass with ice and a straw. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon folded onto a cocktail stick.

The Jubilee Spritz

Created by celebrity bar tender, Merlin Griffiths, this zero-alcohol cocktail was served at the Harrogate Spring Mindful Car at Royal Ascot. Lavender, famously grown in Yorkshire, and Harrogate Sparkling water combine with aromatic 0% botanical spirit, complimented by a touch of fresh lemon and a sprig of mint.

Ingredients

25ml CleanCo 0% Clean Gin
15ml Monin Lavande syrup
20ml Fresh lemon juice
75ml Harrogate Sparkling Water

Recipe

Add the Lillet, Maraschino, Lavender and Lemon to a cocktail shaker and shake briefly
Strain into empty highball and pour in 75ml Harrogate’s Sparkling Water.
Fill glass with cubed ice and garnish with edible flowers and lemon zest

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