COMICS Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham have made their livings from talking about booze — but now they are raising a glass to alcohol-free alternatives.
The pair, known as the Thinking Drinkers, reckon a revolution is afoot, driven by a health-obsessed generation and major advancements in drink-making technology.
And they insist it’s finally “normal” for someone to head down the pub and not have an alcoholic drink.
Ben, 46, said: “Low-alcohol drinks have come on leaps and bounds with advances in winemaking and brewing technology.
And there’s also a genuine demand, certainly in the younger generation, to adopt a more measured attitude to alcohol.
“We are big advocates for alcohol, it’s one of life’s great pleasures, but there’s a great opportunity to achieve more moderation with these drinks because they taste good — there’s a genuine alternative.”
Award-winning double act Ben and Tom have written extensively about booze.
They host a podcast on the subject and perform at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, selling out their show last year.
But now they have been signed up by beer firm Heineken as the world’s first “no-mmeliers” — an alcohol-free alternative to sommeliers, putting together tasting events across the UK, including in the Scots capital.
They say the last decade has seen a change in attitude towards zero per cent offerings.
- Oddbird Domaine de la Prade Merlot Shiraz, £10 at Waitrose: An organic treat. Aged in the barrel, no artificial colours or flavours. It’s a sweet, fruity, berry-like red, very plummy with jammy notes and good with red meats.
- Torres Natureo De-Alcoholised Muscat, £6 at Sainsbury’s: Known as very grapey, this wine lends itself to alcohol-free. The one here is very smooth and slightly sweet. Notes of satsuma and peach. Goes with red meat and nutty cheese.
- Belle And Co 0% Sparkling Rosé, £3 at Morrisons: The process of de-alcoholising wine can lose flavour from a white or red, but a rosé is more delicate. Grape juice is fermented but not to create alcohol. Green tea is added for tannins.
- Seachange Alcohol-Free Sparkling, £9.99, seachangewine.com: Eco-friendly – made direct from the grape must you get from pressing. From the prosecco region, with notes of elderflower, mint, apple and peach.
- Heineken Zero, £7.50 for 12 pack at Tesco with a Clubcard: This version still has that lovely carbonation, a bit of bitterness and a biscuity malt taste – ideal for quenching your thirst while snacking on peanuts.
- Beavertown Lazer Crush, £6 for 4 pack at Sainsbury’s: IPA style, quite bitter and hoppy. Uses a yeast that focuses on glucose rather than maltose, so creates very little alcohol but releases lots of peach flavour.
- Old Mout, £1.25 for a 500ml bottle at Asda: Goes well with dessert. The bitterness of a chocolate tortre against the sweet cider is delicious. Two great options – berries and cherries, or pineapple and raspberry.
- Warner’s Juniper Double Dry 0%, £15 at Waitrose: Because gin is made with a lot of botanicals, it’s been a popular pioneer for non-alcoholic spirits. This one packs lots of peachy flavour – but no alcohol.
- Feragaia, £26.35 at feragaia.com: Zero sugar, and distilled in Scotland. Drunk neat it’s a bit challenging – quite herbal, like an elixir. Dry, too, with bit of menthol – quite like bitters. Mix with ginger ale, or London Essence grapefruit soda.
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