Love party season, hate the hangover? We road-tested the tipples promising all the fun with none of the next-day nastiness...
Sobriety and mindful drinking have never been (a) more mainstream or (b) easier to stay on track with, thanks to a plethora of alcohol-free drink launches, new apps, events and sober influencers. But while a 0% beer may taste decent, it still lacks a certain… something. Enter: a new range of tipples hitting the market, promising to give you the same energy levels and dance moves as a glass of fizz (or those drowsy nightcap feels), minus the hangover and morning-after paranoia. Sound tempting? We tested them out.
1. THE TIPPLE ON TRIAL Three Spirit’s Nightcap, £24.99 for a 50cl bottle THE COSMO TESTER Maddy Alford, shopping editor WHAT AND WHEN Sipped two before bed THE RESULT ‘I’m terrible at falling asleep, and I’ve tried various methods with little to no improvement. So, when Three Spirit’s Nightcap promised a natural ‘calm, dreamy feeling,’ I was intrigued. I gave it a whirl one weeknight when my brain was doing its chaotic ping through my to-do list. I poured out the recommended 50ml over ice and curled up on the sofa. The initial whiff of aromatic spices and citrus herbs almost tricked my brain into thinking it was actual booze. The flavour is rich and spiced, like a hot toddy but with a bitter edge. A bit medicinal, but I was into it.
It contains ‘adaptogenic ashwagandha, therapeutic terpenes and valerian root’ – herbal remedies believed to aid relaxation. Natural remedies aren’t my thing, so I was surprised when, 45 minutes later, I felt hazy. When my partner got home, I drank another glass while we chatted. Afterwards, I felt as though I’d taken a sleeping pill so I went to bed. I woke up once in the night but conked straight back out. The next day, I felt like I’d had a deep slumber. Ace for anyone who leans on booze for sleep. And totally buying for Christmas presents.
2. THE TIPPLE ON TRIAL Blurred Vines’ Sharp, £16.99 for a bottle THE COSMO TESTER Jennifer Savin, features editor WHAT AND WHEN Drank a bottle on a night out… THE RESULT These days, after a full-on week, Friday nights are reserved for just chilling. (Saturdays are all about socialising.) But in the spirit of testing Blurred Vines’ Sharp, an alternative to white wine that claims to be ‘bursting with electrolytes, amino acids and vitamin D for an invigorating dose of liquid sunshine’, I decided to rope a pal into hitting our local club on a Friday – despite being so tired
I was practically drooling when I clocked off from work.
After a glass and some tunes, I was getting in the mood. By the end of the bottle (which has a pleasantly sharp, dry taste, unlike a lot of the overly sugary alcoholfree wines I’ve tried), I was unstoppable. When
