GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — In anticipation of the influx of holiday parties and alcohol consumption that happens in November and December, consumers are increasingly participating in "Sober October."
A lot of ready-to-drink, new, seasonal, clean non-alcoholic options are in store now, including:
- Nozeco (pronounced like prosecco!) is a sparkling drink made from dealcoholized wine, maintaining the true flavor and experience of wine, without any next-day consequences.
- Sayso looks like a tea sachet that you simply "steep" in cold water (or alcohol).
- Mingle RTD cans are naturally infused, low-calorie botanical beverages in your favorite cocktail flavors, with no artificial sweeteners
- Recess Zero Proof cans are low-sugar, low-calorie mocktails infused with 10mg of naturally occurring caffeine from guayusa and balancing adaptogens like L-theanine and lemon balm.
We're celebrating Sober October with a mocktail inspired by pumpkin pie spice and one of fall's best bevvies – fresh pressed, Minnesota Grown apple cider! This is a great drink for sipping at a tailgate, a bonfire or a Halloween porch party.
SPARKLY CIDER-PUMPKIN MOCKTAILS
MAKES 2
- 2 tbsp. superfine sugar
- 1 ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice, divided
- pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 lemon wedge
- ½ cup Kowalski’s Minnesota Grown Apple Cider
- ¼ cup pumpkin purée
- 1 tbsp. Kowalski's Cinnamon or Bourbon Maple Syrup
- 2 tsp. Kowalski's Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
- ½ tsp. Kowalski’s Organic Madagascar Vanilla Extract or Paste
- ice
- non-alcoholic sparkling wine (such as Nozeco) cold, to taste
- fresh Minnesota Grown apple slices, for garnish
- Pour sugar onto a flat-rimmed dish; whisk in 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice and cayenne.
- Moisten the rims of 2 martini or coupe glasses with the lemon wedge; dip the rims in spiced sugar. Set glasses aside.
- Add cider, pumpkin purée, syrup, lemon juice, vanilla and remaining pumpkin pie spice to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice to fill the shaker ⅔ full; shake until the mixture is very cold (about 30 sec.).
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer evenly into the prepared glasses.
- Top each glass evenly with wine; stir gently.
- Garnish mocktails with fresh apple slices.