Sober October: Fun, NA & Anti-Inflammatory Drink Options
Every year we have patients stumble bleary-eyed into January 1st and go…that’s it - I’m good on drinking for a while.
Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration (or not)…but we always do seem to have a lot of people who say they feel bloated, inflamed, poorly rested, and maybe even a bit anxious after the holiday highs wear off. The older we get, the more many of us seem to notice that alcohol just might be worth the trade-off (it is a neurotoxin after all).
So this year when we started seeing all the “Sober October” plugs and posts, I was honestly excited to add some mocktail recipes to the blog! I’m determined to show that sober does not equal somber!
Although sometimes that’s the vibe we get from society, this fall can be fun, festive, and full of social engagements without alcohol, if that’s something you’re interested in trying for your health. As a side note, if you’re still happily drinking your way through corn mazes and hayrides, you’re in good company. Check back before Thanksgiving for our blog post about our best recommendations for drinking clean for the holidays.
At the heart of our mission at Navigate Wellness is the emphasis on helping you become educated and empowered with the information you need to make your own best decisions for your health! Whether that includes alcohol or sobriety (either short or long-term), we want to provide the best information for you to make that decision for yourself.
So, without further ado…my [Dr. K’s] top non-alcoholic brands that totally pass the vibe check. Or click the link below to hop straight to the section on exactly what you’re looking for (and you fancy yourself a mixologist, we’ve got a zero-proof cocktail article coming up next week)!
Jump to your favorite swaps in this article:
Top Four Mocktail Recipes for Autumn
Non-Alcoholic Options Out & About
NA Spirit Brands
NA Beer, Seltzer, & Ready to Drink Options - No Mixing Required
Healing Elixirs: Other Delicious Beverages, NA by Nature
BLOG >> Top Mocktail Recipes for Autumn - Zero Proof Doesn’t Have to Mean Zero Fun
Drinking In - Home, Hosting & Halloween Mocktail Recipes
“Witches Brew” - Elderflower Lavender Blackberry Smash
We actually just tested this one with a side of Hocus Pocus (the movie) & Mexican takeout for girls’ night and it was great (part of me wanted to say it “slapped” but I just couldn’t bring myself to type it…older millennial problems). Easy to make, and you can sub simple syrup out for the elderflower syrup or add in mint or basil! Play around with what sounds good for you, that’s half the fun of making drinks at home - you get to doctor them up however you like best!
Autumn Apple Cider “Sangria”
One of my favorites.
Rosemary Pear Cooler
This one is great because it can be batched and it can go either way - serve over ice for a great NA option, or set it out with some spirits and allow those who wish to imbibe play mixologist with their favorite [clean] liquor (we like Hanson’s, but we might be biased since they’re a local distillery).
Enchanted Lemonade (Kid Favorite)
Showcasing the “magic” color-changing concoction that comes from combining Butterfly Pea Flower Powder or Butterfly Pea Tea with acid from lemonade or limeade. The joy of this comes in the preparation, otherwise your guests or little ghouls won’t be able to watch it change color (it still tastes great, but especially if this is for little ones pay attention to the order of adding ingredients)!
This is also one that guests could easily add something like vodka to if you’re
Hocus Pocus Punch
Ingredients
6 cups apple cider
2 cups cranberry juice
2 (12 ounce) cans orange seltzer
¼ cup maraschino cherry juice
2 oranges, sliced
2 apples, sliced
1/3 cup maraschino cherries
1 cup ginger ale or ginger beer
Drinking Out - Happy Hour, Party Hopping, & Packing the Cooler
So, what if you aren’t hosting? Of course, there are usually many options at a bar, and both bars and restaurants (at least in our area) are catching on that there is a serious demand for fun, delicious non-alcoholic options! We even just went to our first wedding where an NA cocktail was featured on the bar cart (this was a doctor’s wedding, but still - change is coming)!
Seedlip: Non-Alcoholic Spirits
If you enjoy the taste of a cocktail, Seedlip is what to look for!
Curious Elixirs
If you’re looking for an elevated mocktail you don’t have to make yourself, this is it. Branded as a “Booze-Free Craft Cocktail” - they’ve refined having NA drinks and cultivated it into an experience.
Curious is one I’ve had on my list to try for a while because they also have a rotating club shipment (and they look so pretty). I love that they come in glass, contain no refined sugar, are made with organic ingredients, and contain adaptogens and herbs for mood support and relaxation. The shipment rotates as well, so this is great for those of us who love to entertain. If you’re sick of feeling slightly hungover but can’t imagine changing your social engagements…this might be what you’ve been looking for!
Bonus points for how beautiful and sharable these are. If you (like me) are in a region, or social circle, where drinking is customary and part of the culture, it can be hard to say “I’m not drinking” or “no, thank you” 100 times at a gathering or party when a well-meaning friend offers you a wine or beverage they’re excited about (and that you might really love). If you’re also like me, that may be instantly followed up with “oh, why not?” or “omg are you pregnant?!” which we all know hits hard for some of us. Curious is a fun brand to bring and share with others, because who knows? Maybe one of your friends is also sick of feeling bloated and like they never sleep well on the weekends, but doesn’t want to be the only person passing on the lush Sonoma Cab at dinner!
Ritual
Another option for emulating the cocktail-like experience.
Ritual also makes cans…
More of a “grab a 6 pack or a bottle of wine” kind of person? Convenience is king.
Athletic Brewing
NA Beer and Seltzer Options
Hopwater
Another option, but it has artificial flavors, which I am not a fan of consuming if given any other options. However, I know this is becoming a very popular can to have in a cooler so I wanted to address it. I don’t find this to be as
Recess
I’m going to be honest, Recess got me with their marketing and branding…hook, line & sinker. They have embraced the NA, Sober Curious, Zero-Proof Cocktail movement with full force, and it looks good on them!
If you enjoy the idea of a cocktail, but need it in a can, this is a great NA option. They have less than 7g of sugar, contain adaptogens and calming herbs, and I resonate with the idea that we all have too many “tabs open” so let’s “take a Recess” - count me in! From Faux Mules & Mojito Mocktails to Zero Proof Margaritas and Palomas, they’ve really tried to make Happy Hour healthy and memorable (meaning, you can actually remember it). I don’t purchase them enough to have any hookups for you guys on this one, but their website is definitely worth checking out if you’ve got a group getting together for a Sober October Halloween!
Another Perspective - Adaptogenic or Gut Healing Drinks Instead
Hot take… What if we just ditched the idea of having to recreate a cocktail at all and drink whatever makes us feel best? (Hot take clap back…most of these also double as great mixers.)
Dram - Botanical Sparkling Waters
This is my (Dr. K’s) favorite non-water drink option, they’re yummy and healing, have no sugar, and I love that they have a workshop in Salida. You guys all know I’m a sucker for shopping small and buying local products as much as we can! When those descriptors pair with healthy, it’s a “get in my cart” moment.
Dram is
delicious - their Holy Basil & Lemon is lovely, but I haven’t had a single flavor I didn’t like (Dr. H’s vote is the black tea & cardamom, and everyone loves the lavender & lemon balm)
organic - their plant extracts are 100% organic (they’re actually natural, no cover ups)
PFAS free - the water that is carbonated and used in their drinks is clean & tested, free of forever chemicals and junk
BPA-NI cans - no fertility-busting, endocrine-disrupting cans from this company
Okay, I think you can see that this is the product I’ve found that I feel is superior in quality all around. From ingredients, manufacturing, even the containers - if you’re looking for a bubbly, healthy drink to have in the cooler…it’s Dram.
They have multiple lines, as the whole company is “Dram Apothecary” - so see which fits your goals and palate. The flavors I listed above are from their “Botanical Sparkling Waters” line, but they also have a CBD Sparkling Line (they’re a CO company after all) as well as CBD drops. If that’s not your thing, the botanicals are CBD-free and fantastic. I wish I had a discount code for you all for this one, but I don’t. Sometimes they go on sale at Whole Foods, so keep an eye out!
Kombucha or Jun Tea
A staple in our home, we drink this many days! A fermented tea that is naturally sweet and tangy; this is a fun one to make with apples this time of year (if you have a Scoby and make your own Kombucha/Jun Tea)! Naturally slightly alcoholic - that’s definitely a consideration to note. If you’re buying in a store, the labels will say the alcohol content by volume (ABV), which is less than 1% by law, unless you’re looking for the higher alcohol options specifically (which are also great, but more fitting for a different blog).
Another thing to consider with Kombucha (made with sugar) or Jun Tea (made with honey) is that the fermentation process does not use up all the sugar, and some brands or flavors can send you on quite the blood sugar roller coaster - so read your labels! Kombucha would not be something we’d suggest packing the cooler with for yourself and drinking multiples of all night, as your sugar intake could be staggering!
LMNT Sparkling
Hydrate while half the party dehydrates! Just kidding, but it is a great option whether you’re drinking or not - replace those lost electrolytes from Trick-or-Treating or being out on the dance floor (and without any sugar)!
We were all surprised by how much we liked the Black Cherry Lime, but it was delicious. To be fair, we enjoyed all the flavors and typically go for a variety pack. LMNT Sparkling does have stevia, as its sweetening agent, and although there isn’t research (yet) to say that stevia should be avoided, it is something that wouldn’t typically be consumed in nature in large amounts and we’re keeping an eye on the research (as always). While we love hydration and LMNT, I don’t personally go for the Sparkling LMNTs as my electrolyte choice every single day (even when working out or hiking daily). Instead, I often opt for one of their packet electrolytes; I like the “Raw” unflavored option as it has no stevia or flavors of any kind. I will say this is one of the lowest-tox options for people who just love having an option that isn’t plain water (I’m not one of those people, but I did marry one) and are seriously missing their LaCroix!
Moment
I’ve seen the “have a Moment” slogan floating around for a while, but we aren’t jumping on the bandwagon. They contain no caffeine or added sugars, but instead claim to include herbs and natural ingredients aimed at soothing the nervous system and supporting adaptability.
My concern on these is that although they claim to have no “artificial flavors” they do still contain “natural flavors” - and if you’ve been around the blog or the office for a while, you’ve probably heard on of the Navigate Wellness team members rail on natural flavors and how that ingredient can (legally) mask a whole host of things we don’t want to consume.
I also don’t like how hard I have to work to get the full ingredients list on the website, this always puts up a yellow flag in my mind when researching products. This would be low on my list of choices, but if you like the flavors it could be another option to have a pretty can in hand on Halloween. Still, don’t forget to flip the cans over and see what you’re actually putting in your body! Truly, if this is style…just go check out Dram - it’s a superior product for health.
…and many others!
Did I miss your favorite NA choice? Fill me in, friend!
Drop me a line info@navigatemywellness.com or drop into our DMs with your favorite NA options!
If you like these ideas and wish someone would just pack your cooler for you this Halloween, make sure you get our Doctor’s note
