The best non-alcoholic cocktails London has to offer this Dry January

Taking part in Dry January doesn’t mean you have to miss out on delicious cocktails.

If you’re skipping the alcohol this month, you don’t have to resort to boring, thoughtless mocktails. Bars and restaurants across London are offering exciting, delicious non-alcoholic cocktails that won’t make you feel like you’re missing out by skipping the booze.

Alcohol-free cocktails shouldn’t be an afterthought, a half-hearted attempt compared to ‘the real thing.’ This month, explore the London bars that are putting the inventive, brand new non-alcoholic cocktails in the spotlight. From a #NoMoreMocktails initiative and a health-conscious dry bar, to one off events and non-alcoholic spins on classic cocktails, if you’re taking part in Dry January, you will be spoilt for choice.

Free cocktails anyone?

This January, leave boring mocktails behind with non-alcoholic spirit brand Seedlip and its partnership with Drink Up London. The month-long initiative, #NoMoreMocktails, which runs from 2 until 31 January, offers Londoners a chance to claim a free non-alcoholic cocktail at over 40 bars across the city, from five-star hotels to underground jazz bars.

A Seedily cocktail is the perfect antidote to an indulgent Christmas and New Year’s Eve – cutting out the alcohol doesn’t mean the festivities have to end. Seedlip has worked with expert bartenders to create delicious non-alcoholic concoctions, so you know there won’t be a plain old lime and soda in sight. Just head to Drink Up.London’s website to claim your free drink.

For the health conscious…

For those participating in Dry January for a health boost after indulging over Christmas, head to Redemption. There are three bars across the city in Notting Hill, Covent Garden and Shoreditch.

Redemption is an entirely non-alcoholic bar and restaurant serving vegan, sugar-free and wheat-free food, and proves that eating (and drinking) healthily doesn’t have to be boring.

Try its ‘pure salvation,’ an alcohol-free cocktail made with orange, pineapple, lemon and raspberry purée, or its ‘heart beets’, a concoction of beetroot, orange, lime, ginger and coconut water. Take a look at the menu here.

Calling all food fans

Food fans taking part in Dry January: this is for you. Seedlip is co-hosting an event with renowned chef Mark Hix to demonstrate the versatility of non-alcoholic cocktails and how well they can be paired with food.

Guests will receive a masterclass in Seedlip cocktails and then pair them with Hix’s mini-dishes. The evening will be hosted at Hix’s Kitchen Library above Tramshed on 22 January, and tickets are available on the Hix website.

If you miss out on this night, non-alcoholic cocktails will also be available at Hix’s Marks Bars, Soho and Bankside from January.

The classic cocktail

For fans of the classic Negroni, look no further than the Savoy with its non-alcoholic twist on your favourite. The ‘Nearly Negroni’ is made up of Seedlip 94, non-alcoholic aromatised wine and bitter sweet cordial for that Negroni taste while skipping the alcohol.

At just £12 compared to the Savoy’s £150 option using ingredients from the 1950s, the non-alcoholic version is definitely the one to try. This is the place to go for an iconic cocktail bar in the heart of London, minus the alcohol and that hefty price tag.

Do you dare?

Adventurous foodies who love bold and exciting flavours will love both the food and drinks at Ottolenghi’s Nopi restaurant. With dinner, try their non-alcoholic cocktails such as ‘Rhubarb & Vanilla Punch’ made with rhubarb purée, cucumber, mint, vanilla agave and lychee, or the ‘Pomegranate & Thyme Punch’ made with pomegranate, verjus, cardamon honey, thyme and chia seeds.

These weird and wonderful combinations are far more exciting than your typical alcohol-free cocktails  – you definitely won’t feel like you’re missing out.

Cocktail hour

Dry January is proving to be a busy month for Seedlip, as it has also partnered with The Coral Room – a bar that has been described as a ‘hotel bar done perfectly.’ The bar – set inside The Bloomsbury Hotel – has produced an exclusive Dry January cocktail menu in collaboration with Seedlip, going live on 8 January.

Cocktails will include the ‘Living Coral Cocktail’ which is made up of Seedlip Spice 108, pomelo & pink pepper Tonic, cactus water and seaweed. Who knew mocktails could feel so decadent!