When I first started exploring the world of non-alcoholic cocktails, I was pretty reliant on the recipes provided by the NA spirit brands. That was a great place to start, but I was ready to experiment beyond the brands. I discovered that the non-alcoholic cocktail recipe books were just as diverse as all other reading genres. There were detailed instructions on creating your own zero-proof spirits, complicated recipes requiring special equipment such as a centrifuge, simple recipes based on items in your pantry, and everything in between. So, I thought I’d start my reviews with a guide that has something for everyone. Derek Brown describes this book as “a comprehensive guide to no- and low-alcohol cocktails.”
A bit about Derek Brown: he is a bartender by trade and is fully immersed in alcohol as the owner of the cocktail bar, Columbia Room (now closed), and via his writing on cocktails and spirits. In the book’s introduction, he shares a bit about his pain and suffering and admits to bad decisions related to his drunkenness and hangovers. He got to a point in his life where he was asking himself, “Why do I drink?”. The answer was “for all the wrong reasons.”
At this stage, he took some time off to find his clearheaded self, and eventually, he slowly integrated alcohol back into his life. His choices now are based on moderation, low or no-alcohol options. And in this cocktail book, he shares many of his recipes for mindful drinking.
Derek shares a lot of background relevant to non-alcoholic spirits, starting with answering the question “What is a cocktail?” and describing alcohol’s role and how we can explore flavor without alcohol. Derek includes insights from many of his friends in the wellness and hospitality industries. He includes a chapter on no-alcohol cocktails and one on low-alcohol cocktails. Each recipe in the latter section denotes the alcohol by volume (ABV), and he often includes variations to make that recipe non-alcoholic. Each recipe also includes some history and a photograph of the set-up in its suggested glassware (always helpful!) The final chapter is about putting it all together. Or rather, some basics about bartending and mixing so you can experiment independently.
I tried a couple of recipes in each section, and none of them were complicated. However, you may need to create some syrups to accompany your chosen cocktail. Again, these are not difficult to make. I made my own personal taste notes along the way so I could modify the cocktails to suit my preferences.
I love the balance of story-telling, cocktail history, industry opinions, and recipes throughout this book. It’s a great book to have in your collection if you want a guide for creating mindful cocktails on the low- or no-alcohol spectrum.
The Sobees NA Recipe Cocktail Book Score: 4 out of 5
HAPPY EVERY HOUR: Welcome to the new hub of all things NA, featuring reviews on non-alcoholic craft beers, wines, ciders, spirits, RTDs (ready-to-drink), and recipes. Discover a bit more education or get the NA Cocktail Party started with our curated reviews, how-to’s, and activation bar ideas.
TRIGGER WARNING: People in early sobriety may want to proceed with caution. Always read labels. Please hydrate responsibly … because drunk never looks good.
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