The Superclasico Daydream

MODSUB#91

Wotcha!

Working on an event this summer? Maybe consider doing this.

Enjoy some great drinks this week.

Cheers, Myles

In this week’s edition:

NAN
New NA Drink News

COCKTAIL
Casamara Club - Superclasico

SPARKLING TEAS
Sarilla - Part 2 (Ginger, Chamomile and Hoppy Hibiscus)

Read time: 6 minutes 49 seconds

NAN
New Non-Alcoholic Drink News

NORTH AMERICA

• WINE: There’s no slowing down over at Giesen Wines where they have just released news of two new spritzes: Sauvignon Blanc Spritz and Rosé Spritz. (Link)

• COCKTAILS: Taking full advantage of the summer vibes, Beckett’s have launched a Stone Daisy Margarita Variety Pack that includes four flavors. (Link)

• WINE: Napa Valley’s Castello di Amorosa are introducing three new alcohol-removed wines under the label Libero. (Link)

• BEER: A new limited run Layback Lime & Salt has just come out from Athletic Brewing. (Link)

• COCKTAILS: Talking of limited runs from Athletic Brewing, they’ve also launched a line of cocktail-inspired brews. (Link)

WORLDWIDE

• WINE ALTERNATIVE: News of a new launch coming from NON with No. 9 Oaked Blackberry and Plum available for now only in Australia. (Link)

• FUNCTIONAL SODA: The UK’s hugely popular brand, TRIP, have teamed up once again with Calm, the world’s #1 mental wellness app, to produce Wild Strawberry. (Link)

A ModSub Guide:

If you recently subscribed to the newsletter and you are just beginning to explore the vast world of adult non-alcoholic drinks, here’s a helpful guide to help you get started.

This free 30-page ebook is a beginner-friendly guide to discovering non-alcoholic drinks, offering tips for overcoming common mindset hurdles and making it easy to find great options. It features 50+ beverage companies across beer, wine, spirits, and ready-to-drink cocktails, with links to explore, buy, and enjoy NA drinks both at home and when out. Designed for simplicity and accessibility, the guide sets the stage for future, more in-depth editions.

You can download the guide here.

It is a free resource, but if you would like to support this endeavor, there is a “pay-what-you-can” feature to set the price you'd like to contribute—your support is truly appreciated.

COCKTAIL

The ModSub thoughts: Sometimes I catch myself dreaming of sipping an aperitivo at a bar on the Ligurian coast—the sea breeze cutting through the late afternoon heat, boats returning to their harbors and the smells of a hundred kitchens preparing for the night ahead.

Then I open my eyes and reality kicks in. I’m sitting in my kitchen, staring at a sink full of dishes, a dog that needs walking, and an empty fridge offering no inspiration for dinner. Today though, what hasn’t disappeared, is the rather fabulous aperitivo in front of me—Superclasico by Casamara Club. And perhaps that’s all I really need.

Superclasico is a slight departure from Casamara Club’s line of Italian-inspired sodas, their gorgeous graphics easily picked out of a crowded shelf. Instead, Superclasico leans more toward a grown-up cocktail experience. If the amaro sodas are for a lazy afternoon by the pool, Superclasico is here to kick off your evening.

If reading the ingredient list on the retro-styled can is mouthwatering, the taste is next level. Bitter orange from Chinotto leads the way, giving way to a sweet, warm, earthy undertow of red currants, allspice, and kola nut. As the mid-palate fades, the Chinotto returns, bolstered by the sweet-yet-bitter orris root. Superclasico is beautifully balanced, with a mouthfeel a few notches more viscous than Casamara’s sodas. It’s a drink that captures a mood, with flair, sophistication and no short amount of complexity. 

So crack open a can of Superclasico, open the window, put on a little Gianni Morandi, and you might just escape to the Italian coast for a few minutes. Godere.

How does Casamara Club describe Superclassico: Superclasico is our very first non-alcoholic cocktail, a bittersweet, Italian-style aperitivo, available in a supercharged 8oz can. The flavor journey starts with a big, bittersweet punch from Italian chinotto and brightness from juniper berries. Tannins from red currant, kola nuts, and allspice develop on the midpalate. It ends with a pleasant, lingering bittersweet finish as the chinotto returns with orris root, all softened by Madagascar vanilla.

Previously: Casamara Club - Alta

First time reading The Modern Substitute? Why not subscribe?

SPARKLING TEAS

Last week: Part 1 - How Sara Stender Delaney went from reading about Rwandan genocide survivors to living in the African country for a year, helping women with trauma and falling in love with the country’s tea.

The ModSub thoughts: Part 2 - With the seeds of an idea to bring the flavors and health benefits of Rwandan tea back to the U.S., it was time to figure out how to make it a reality.

For Sara Stender Delaney, there were two possible routes: selling at farmers markets—offering personal connections but demanding long hours—or jumping straight into manufacturing the drinks for a broader audience. She chose the latter. Her kitchen became her brewing school, where she perfected her flavors. She spent months successfully testing the teas in five-gallon kegs at local breweries and eateries around her hometown of Asheville.

However, as so many recent founder stories reveal, the pandemic threw a spanner in the works. With breweries shut to the public, she needed a new way to get her sparkling teas to customers. Fortunately, she had already been experimenting with canning and was able to fully pivot to selling direct-to-consumer while building connections to establish distribution.

Some five years later, Sarilla has gone from strength to strength—earning accolades including a prestigious packaging award from BevNet and securing a nationwide launch in Sprouts Farmers Market—all while continuing to dedicate part of her energy to helping the people of Rwanda.

Tea-based non-alcoholic drinks are a fascinating area of the non-alc industry especially in the area of wine alternatives. It’s very likely we’ll see more and more brands jumping into this category and Sara Stender Delaney has positioned Sarilla to lead the way.

The Drinks

Last week, I covered Lemon, Green Tea and Vanilla Rooibos Infusion. Here’s the remaining sparkling teas from the sampler box.

Ginger Spritzer
I do love a ginger beverage with some bite. I've long searched for a ginger beer replacement that delivers serious spice without the copious amounts of sugar that seem to plague almost every SKU on the market. This Ginger Spritzer brings all the fiery kick you could ask for, infused into a gently carbonated, lightly floral blend of white and silver tea. It’s not for the faint of heart—but boy, does it blow your ginger socks off. A truly great find.

Note: Add a shot of NKD Whiskey to this Ginger Spritzer for a cracking Whiskey Ginger. 

Chamomile Spritzer
Perhaps the one I was least excited about turned out to be my favorite. Alongside the chamomile, there’s lemongrass and Persian lime, a light pump of carbonation, and—perhaps most importantly in terms of flavor direction—Tulsi Holy Basil. The latter brings subtle notes of anise and mint to the usual delicate chamomile profile, along with unmistakable hints of clove.

The combination takes the tea in a more herbal, earthy direction and makes for a versatile sparkling tea. Fill a tumbler with ice and lemon, and you’ve got a beautifully complex thirst-quencher for summer. For those of you experimenting with wine alternatives, this would be a great option to pair with any summer evening meal.

This one was an unexpected treat.

Hoppy Hibiscus Spritzer
If you love hibiscus iced tea, you’ll want to add this to your list. When I arrived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1994 and tasted hibiscus iced tea for the first time, it was love at first sip. Fast forward 30+ years, and Sarilla’s Hoppy Hibiscus Spritzer delivers equal delight. Citra hops, with their bright citrus flavors, combine with the tart, berry-like notes of hibiscus and the tangy zest of orange peel.

If the mention of Citra hops leads you to think this is some kind of iced tea/beer hybrid—think again. While the hops do bring plenty of citrus to the game, they don’t dominate the drink, and there’s virtually no bitterness. A refreshing and welcome addition to the collection of teas.

How does Sarilla describe: 

Ginger: Our founder's favorite. Spicy notes of ginger, balanced with elegant white tea. If you like real ginger root you are sure to love this Sarilla flavor. Tested for 68 types of antioxidants and particularly high in EGCG which helps with focus and burns fat. The combination of our flash heated ginger and white tea helps to reduce inflammation when consumed regularly.

Chamomile: Our favorite evening flavor, for relaxation and calm. Made with organic tulsi holy basil, lemongrass, chamomile and sweet Persian lime.

Hoppy Hibiscus: Full flavor citra hops blended with fruity hibiscus and earthy orange peel. This is not meant to taste like beer and is more flavorful than hop water. Adult flavor profile, perfect for the designated driver, or anyone on a special diet.

Note: If you aren’t sure which of the flavors would work for you, I’d suggest buying the sampler box for just $18.00.

COMMENTS
Share Your Thoughts

Let’s get the conversation going. Hit REPLY to share your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Who’s making the best non-alcoholic aperitivo right now?

2. What do you think of tea-based drinks? Bags of potential or not your thing?

3. What summer drink have you been craving but haven’t found a decent non-alcoholic version?

Have your own questions? Let me know. Hit REPLY.

READS
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