Even the best of us wake up on New Year’s Day with our head the size of the moon and regretting every single drink we’ve put in our body. So you decide, in an act of further madness, to give up the country's favourite poison for the month. Dry January. Just one month. No drink. How can you possibly do it? Well luckily, you live in London, and in this great city there is an alternative to the tasty allure of a mojito: a mocktail! So take a look at our list of the best mocktails to drink in the best bars in London for Dry January and start having fun again.
No Mai Tai: Trader Vics, Mayfair
The key to convincing someone to let you have a mocktail on what's supposed to be a boozy night out is to get them in a bar that serves amazing cocktails as well. Luckily, Trader Vics has the recipe for the first ever 'Mai Tai', and is kind of a big deal because of it. So, with your friend's drink sorted, the bar comes with an added bonus: they use that recipe to create their signature mocktail, the 'No Mai Tai' (£6.50), which uses the pineapple juice and Mai Tai mix, just without the rum. The same taste explosion without the hangover tomorrow morning - fantastic.
It's got a pedigree reputation that guarantees it tastes great.
The Bradsell: Dandelyan, Waterloo
Dandelyan is all about the botanical concoctions and their list of both cocktails and mocktails is impressive to behold. Seriously, Dandelyan know how to infuse fresh flavours into their creative cocktails, so this is the place to bring your friends whether they are being dry this January or not. Amongst the variety of natural flavours is 'The Bradsell' (£7.50), a rich and exciting concoction made of malt syrup, blended chai spices and Square Mile, which gives it a charred caramel taste. Drinkers can also add a bit of hooch as well, if they’re not as heavenly as you.
The botanical mixologists don't skimp on their non-alcoholic flavours.
Green Means Go: Drake and Morgan, King’s Cross
Presumably you’ve started Dry January as a health kick instead of a deliberate and horrible torture to your social life and sanity, so how about a mocktail that is actually a lot better for you than most drinks. The 'Green Means Go' (£4.95) at Drake and Morgan is made from a healthy infusion of green tea, cucumber, bitter lemon and mint, and reading the ingredients alone is enough to get that liver functioning again. It's not often you can drink cocktails with your buddies and not feel bad about what you've done, so this is perfect for that detox you always promised yourself!
Just a stone's throw from King's Cross station and offering a cleansing mocktail.
Sweet Home Alabama: Shaker&Company, Fitzrovia
Sometimes all you want from a drink is a big kick of delicious, so that’s where the 'Sweet Home Alabama' (£5) comes in at Shaker&Company. Relax in the very cool venue and watch as the master mixologists concoct something special for your Dry January beverage. Made from tea infused peach syrup, lemon and ginger ale, you are guaranteed to feel refreshed and won’t even bother to look green eyed at your friend’s daiquiri. Best yet: it's not even harsh on the wallet, either!
Continue to drink in style even if you aren't consuming alcohol.
Bar Tender’s Choice: Nightjar, Shoreditch
There are just so many cocktails in the world now and it's hard to know which one you actually want without asking the bar tender and potentially embarrassing yourself. Well, there's only one solution for this: it’s time to get a professional mixologist in at the Nightjar, where their expert bar staff will help you construct the mocktail of your dream with 'Bartender's Choice' (£6). Just give them a hint at what kind of taste you are looking for and they’ll select a series of ingredients for the perfect mocktail that suits your taste buds. See, Dry January doesn’t have to be a month of having a Diet Coke.
A bar dedicated to cocktails is still there for your mocktail needs.
