Some of you reading this may have been sober for years. Some of you may have made a conscious decision to restrict your drinking, but not remove it entirely. Some of you may be here as you have taken on Dry January and are looking for inspiration. Well, to be honest, we’ve got something for you all and a nice big welcome to everyone.

When reducing alcohol or removing it completely, whether that be for a month or longer term, one thing is for sure, having good quality, great tasting alternatives is key. Shaking up a cocktail and finishing off with a garnish in your favourite glass or going for a simplistically delicious alcohol-free spirit and tonic - whatever one is to your taste. Either way, your alcohol-free needs and taste buds are important and they need some attention. Gone are the days of being left only with water or sugary pop. Welcome the new wave of non-alcoholic spirits. They are no fad, they are here to stay and my are they good.

If you don’t know where to start, let us help you. January 2022, JOMO Club welcomed Bax Botanics to the Official Dry January Box of dreams. Founders Chris and Rose Bax have spent decades learning about, and experimenting with, botanical flavours with over 30 years of experience teaching and consulting in the food industry.

Bax Botanics have two spirits in their range; Verbena and Sea Buckthorn. Verbena is refreshing and herbal with Lemon Verbena, bright menthol, anise and subtle florals making a perfect aperitif. The Sea Buckthorn is a botanical, alcohol-free distillation which includes the fragrant, tart Sea Buckthorn Berry along with Seville orange, rosemary and other mediterranean herbs.

Chris and Rose create their spirit in copper pot stills. ‘We are very experienced at using a range of methods to extract and capture flavour and actually use skills Chris learned as a chef, some tricks from the perfume industry and some techniques from gin distilling. Our copper pot stills are handmade by craftsmen and they produce great tasting liquids. Our stills, Ebenezar, Edith and Hephzibah are at the heart of what we do. We think they give us the clean, crisp and distinctive flavours we aim for.’

Not only do Chris and Rose create stand out flavours and processes when creating Bax Botanics but they both believe some of the most powerful food and drink experiences are those that evoke a sense of time and place. ‘Whether that is the moment of re-tasting a childhood sweet or the feeling of comfort your favourite food gives you. We felt it was important to give people an alternative to alcohol in different situations. Bax Sea Buckthorn has a mellowness and the slight warmth of spice that acts to relax the body and mind. We have always associated Sea Buckthorn with curling up in an armchair in front of the fire. Perfect for the winter months.’

Bax Botanics is a strong base for many cocktails, providing depth and complexity, however their perfect serve is 50ml of Bax Sea Buckthorn mixed with 200ml of premium tonic over ice and a twist of orange peel. ‘Perfect after a busy day!’

For those who are delving into Dry January this year, Bax Botanics suggest ‘don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Relax into it and enjoy exploring some new flavours and experiences. It is also great to be a bit creative too, so why not see what alcohol free cocktails you can come up with or check out our instagram for some inspiration’.

Bax Botanics have won a number of awards including a star from the Great Taste Awards. If you missed them in the JOMO Club Dry January Box, you can find Verbena and Sea Buckthorn on baxbotanics.com. You can also follow their journey for Dry January inspiration @baxbotanics.