Alcohol-free drinks tasting at Majestic - Highbury | 17 January 2025

Whilst the alcohol industry hits its peak in December, its alcohol-free counterpart benefits the following month when Dry January kicks off. Fitting then that teetotal titans Club Soda have teamed up with Majestic Wines to launch some of their best-selling AF tipples in stores this month and are holding a series of tasting session at a time when new year resolutions are mostly intact.

The menu is curated by experts and I went to a session at Highbury Majestic hosted by Three Spirit. I was familiar with many of the drinks on offer but it was fascinating to get insider insight into how these are made, the active ingredients and what to pair them with.

First on offer were the wines Moderato Cuvée Révolutionnaire Colombard and Merlot-Tannat, and Eisberg Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio, all of which were popular choices. Starting with the white, Moderato Cuvée Révolutionnaire Colombard was crisp with orchard fruits, whislt Eisberg Pinot Grigot was smooth and creamy. The Moderato was on offer at £10 a bottle (usually £13.99) but the Eisberg is slightly cheaper at £8.99 standard price (seen for less in supermarkets).

Red wine is the hardest drink to transform into palatable alcohol-free version and doesn't have much to hide behind. The AF alchemy often doesn't work for 0% reds and they feel lacking in substance. Happily, this red is different. Made in the Cognac region, Moderato Cuvée Merlot-Tannat is the best AF red wine I've tried. It had a deep, robust flavour balanced with the right level of tannin, perfect with red meat and cheese. Eisberg Pinot Noir was a lighter drop with the taste of red fruits. Everyone seemed really impressed with the complexity of flavour - one lady remarked it made a change to have something more satisfying than fizzy grape juice - with general consensus being all wines were very close to the 'real thing'.

We moved on to drinks to have with mixers. Omitted were AF substitutes that mimic spirits, which I also see as a bit pointless - you don't really drink vodka or gin for the taste. Everleaf Mountain, best paired with soda water or tonic, has an aroma of sweet strawberry and cherry blossom but an almost bitter finish on the palate. Old faithful Botivo divided the crowd. Some found the generous helping of apple cider vinegar too punchy, but its purpose is to cut through the honey and complement the bitter botanicals. I also found out it takes a year to make, which explains the price tag (I've now seen it for £30 a bottle).

The spotlight was given the Three Spirit elixirs on offer and their active ingredients. My favourite party starter Livener is a functional mood changer with adaptogenic ingredients that help reduce stress hormone cortisol. The sweet and spicy flavour is mélange of exotic fruits - watermelon and pomegranate - with the pep of cayenne. I love this drink and was very excited to learn that not only is it now stocked by Majestic, but it is being sold in Youngs pubs. Not a moment to soon. Livener is obvious choice to be in the bar/ club space and is already available at sober rave House of Happiness. Suggested serve was with grapefruit juice but my choice is TRIP raspberry and orange blossom.

The favourite all round was Nightcap, which happens to be Three Spirits' best seller. An indulgent sip, this is intended an at-home, end-of-day drink. Best enjoyed over ice, it is not intended to be a whiskey alternative but does sits within that realm as a drink to wind down with, and can be used to make an Old Fashioned or sours. An array of ingredients make up Nightcap - pineapple, ginger, mosaic hops, maple syrup, black pepper, tumeric and vanilla - which give an overall warm and comforting experience. Valerian root and ashwagandha are the magic additions which relax you, and were clinically tested in the drink's development.

Mr Sober AF and I took advantage of the discount on offer and bought Moderate Merlot-Tannot (£10), Eisberg Pinot Grigio (£8.99) and the last bottle of Nightcap (£24, usually £27) on the shelf. The Moderato went very well with roast beef. I will be back before the discounts end on 27th January to pick up a cheeky Livener.

There are tasting events at selected Majestic Wines stores until 1st February. For more info, go to Events at Club Soda.