Having A Rum Old Time

Wotcha!

When I started this newsletter, I made a conscious decision not to include advice or discussions about our relationships with alcohol. We all have our own personal journeys with it, and there are plenty of resources out there if you need help. For me, it’s always just been about the drinks. The alternatives. The substitutes.

However, every so often I come across a piece that really resonates, and this week I wanted to share a LinkedIn post I read a few days ago. Millie Gooch describes the most significant benefit she has experienced from removing alcohol from her life — written in a way I haven’t seen from anyone else.

It spoke to me, and perhaps it might speak to you, too.

Myles

In this week’s edition:

NAN
New NA Drink News

SPIRITS
Ritual Zero Proof - Rum Alternative

WINE ALTERNATIVE
OSSO - GML and HGC

Read time: 5 minutes 55 seconds

From this week’s sponsor:

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BEER: Canadian golfers have two new beers to lug around the golf course—Caddie introduces Early Bird (Session IPA) and Breakfast Beer (Lager). (Link)

COCKTAIL: There’s a new limited-run Classic Margarita from Little Saints featuring all three of its signature functional ingredients—damiana, reishi mushroom, and lion’s mane mushroom. (Link)

BEER: In the UK, Peroni 0.0% gets into the flavor game with Arancia and Limone. (Link)

SPIRIT

ModSub’s thoughts: Rum is suddenly very much on my radar, and I’m loving it. A couple of months back, I was at my mate Matt’s house and he was serving up the most fabulous Mai Tai. A week later, I found myself standing in front of the Ritual Zero Proof booth at the Mindful Drinking Fest. I tasted all kinds of rum-alternative deliciousness and thought to myself, I’m missing out here — I need to get into rum.

Ritual Zero Proof creates its spirits using natural botanicals and extracts to mimic the flavors and aromas of traditional alcoholic spirits. They offer a variety of non-alcoholic options, including alternatives to gin, whiskey, tequila, and rum, among others — and each recipe took over 500 iterations to perfect.

Their plan was not to reinvent the wheel of what consumers expect from a spirit. There was no need to change the cocktail, just one ingredient — alcohol. Their vision caught the attention of Diageo, a CPG powerhouse, which invested in the company even before they launched their first bottle. Five years later, Ritual has become the largest-selling non-alcoholic spirits brand in the country. Their growth has been so significant that you can pretty much find Ritual spirits anywhere. Good news for non-alcoholic enthusiasts like us: Ritual spirits can also be found in over 1,000 restaurants across the country, with that number increasing daily.

Here are two recipes I suggest you check out:

1. Maple Rum Old Fashioned
For those of you who have been looking for a good NA Old Fashioned, I strongly urge you to try this one. It has a lovely, viscous mouthfeel, just like the regular cocktail. Vanilla, banana, cinnamon and ginger from the rum combine with earthy bitterness and warm spice from the bitters. The depth of flavor is remarkable. It’s super simple to make and sure to impress even the most ardent sceptic.

2. My Mate Matt’s Magic Mai Tai
This is Matt’s take on the classic tiki cocktail, and it will have you dreaming of a sandy white beach and warm weather in no time. The deep rum flavors create the base for the bold cheeky Tiki Spices Tropical Syrup, along with bursts of pineapple and orange. It’s a cocktail that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face and perhaps a little sway in your step, as your transported to a tropical island.

• 1.5 fl oz Ritual Zero Proof Rum Alternative
• 0.5 fl oz BG Reynolds Tiki Spices Tropical Syrup
• 1.5 fl oz pineapple juice
• 1.5 fl oz orange juice

Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a cherry.

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How Ritual Zero Proof describe their Rum Alternative: Experience the familiar flavors of the award-winning Ritual Rum Alternative. A classic dark rum profile. Notes of ripe banana and burnt orange complemented by cloves and star anise. Make Mojitos, Piña Colada, Daiquiris, and other classic rum cocktails – without the alcohol. Simply replace traditional rum with Ritual Rum Alternative 1:1 to make any cocktail non-alcoholic.

This review has been revised from its first publication in March, 2024

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WINE ALTERNATIVE

ModSub’s thoughts: Brooklyn-based Ollie Spring and Sophie Racciatti are the latest in a growing community of New York founders launching non-alcoholic beverage companies. The couple introduced OOSO Sparkling Teas just three months ago, and the wine-inspired drinks are already making waves across the country.

OOSO debuted two SKUs in May: Green Tea • Mint • Lime (GML) and Hibiscus • Ginger • Currant (HGC), packaged in groovy single-serve cans adorned with a nifty Bauhaus-inspired design. Each drink starts with a tea base, to which natural organic ingredients, adaptogens, and vitamins are added to create a delicious wine alternative.

Green Tea • Mint • Lime is the couple’s reinterpretation of a white wine, though its flavor profile leaves any grape-like resemblance firmly in the rearview mirror. Instead, it’s replaced by the herbaceous, woody flavor of fermented green tea, while mint and lime surf around your mouth on a wave of carbonation. This is a fun drink. The tea gives it real depth, and the remaining ingredients provide the perfect complement.

I’m not going to lie — the Hibiscus • Ginger • Currant combination tickles my fancy. On the nose, the ginger is quite prominent, but as you take your first sip, it moves much more into the background. What comes to the forefront is the juiciness of the hibiscus mixed with currant, with the tartness of both softened by organic honey.

The inspiration for this one was, unsurprisingly, red wine. Of the two, this gets a little closer to the real thing — if that’s what you need it to do. However, it stands perfectly well on its own as a magical alternative, especially given the addition of passionflower. It not only helps reduce anxiety but also adds a deep floral note on the finish, vying for attention with the spice and earthiness of the ginger.

Hibiscus • Ginger • Currant for the win — but both deserve a spot on the podium. Yep, got my Olympics reference in there!

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How OOSO describe GML and HGC: The best of both worlds. The delicate and herbal notes of green tea set the foundation for GML, while the zingy mint and zesty lime add the perfect pop of brightness. Our HGC is grounded by a rich, floral hibiscus and highlighted by the warm, lingering kick of ginger and the sweet-tart burst of currant.

This review has been revised from its first publication in August, 2024

EXTRA READS

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• Blog thumbnail photo credit: Assad Photo Maldives