As we head into another long weekend, most of us are thinking about how we plan to relax and enjoy the extra free time. You might even have a tradition around how you usually spend the August long weekend, such as escaping the city for cottage country or gathering outside with friends for a backyard barbecue.
Whether it’s toasting drinks on the back patio or watching the sunset over the lake while sipping a cocktail, a lot of our celebratory traditions tend to involve alcohol. But what if you’re reducing your alcohol consumption or cutting it out of your diet completely? Here’s how to have fun and make the most of a beautiful summer weekend without drinking. You might even catch some sunrises!
Gather with friends
Life with less alcohol doesn’t mean you have to give up the social drinking rituals you cherish. Sobrii 0-Gin, Canada’s first distilled non-alcoholic gin, is an alternative for those who want to enjoy a cocktail but don’t want to drink alcohol.
Made with a traditional blend of botanicals, including juniper berries, coriander, allspice, and star anise, Sobrii offers the same flavour experience as traditional gin but with an alcohol content of less than 0.5% ABV.
You can easily substitute Sobrii for traditional gin in your favourite cocktails, giving you the freedom to continue your long weekend drinking traditions with friends but without the next-day hangover.
Try something new
While familiar rituals can bring us joy, the long weekend also offers us the free time to try something new. One of the many reasons people are interested in reducing their alcohol consumption is because it is easy to appreciate the feeling of being fully present in their day-to-day lives, without the mental fogginess associated with drinking.
Reducing or removing alcohol from your long weekend experience means you can use that extra clarity to tap into your creativity. You might want to write, create art, or play music, or maybe it’s as simple as having fun experimenting with new, non-alcoholic cocktail recipes.
Like traditional gin, Sobrii is best enjoyed when it’s mixed into a cocktail. Take the opportunity to channel your inner mixologist and try pairing Sobrii with different flavours. Here are a few summer weekend-ready cocktail recipes to help spark your inspiration:
Make the most of the summer strawberry season with this Strawberry Jalapeno 0-
Mule:
INGREDIENTS
2 oz Sobrii
½ oz simple syrup
2 oz Double Dutch ginger beer
2 strawberries
2 jalapenos
GLASSWARE
Copper mug
METHOD
Muddle strawberries and jalapeno in a copper mug. Add Sobrii and simple syrup, then fill the mug with crushed ice and top with ginger beer.
GARNISH
Strawberry slices
This low-alcohol Lo-Groni is a great go-to when you want to imbibe a little without overdoing it.
INGREDIENTS
1.5 oz Sobrii
¾ oz Campari
1 oz Lustau Red Vermut
Orange zest (for garnish)
GLASSWARE
Double rocks glass
METHOD
Fill a mixing glass with ice and add Sobrii, Campari and Red Vermut. Stir well. Strain over one large ice cube into a double rocks glass. Garnish with orange zest.
GARNISH
Orange zest
For these and more recipes check out our COCKTAIL section. We’re always adding more!
Get outside
In addition to enhancing your mental alertness, cutting back on alcohol can also make you feel healthier and more energized. Whether you’re at home or at the cottage, consider using that boost of energy to move your body: go for a bike ride, a hike, or a leisurely stroll.
When your August long weekend no longer centres around drinking alcohol, you can better appreciate that one of the most rewarding aspects of a summer holiday weekend is simply getting outside and enjoying the warm weather.