Alcohol-free drinks/ Functional beverages

All Things Being Equal

/ Mocktail MO / Leave a comment

In a world that insists on picking sides on every subject just for the pleasure of opposition,

I propose a toast:

This dawning shift in drink preference from exclusively alcohol to alternatives is not an “Us vs. Them” situation. There are no sides in the extension of defining an adult drink.

To the people who ask, “What’s the point?”:  That someone has alcohol in their cocktail, or an alternative, is not nearly as important as the act of sitting side by side at a table or a bar and talking to each other about their day, their hopes and dreams, disappointments, even the weather. We all have those things in common and don’t talk about them in public enough.  And to anyone who does not understand the point of choosing an adult drink without alcohol over one with alcohol…The point is being a part of the same experience of gathering with other people over “drinks” and not having any physical, emotional, or social consequences. Choosing a non-alc. drink is not the headline.  That we actually live in a time where satisfying non-alc. drinks exist to have that shared experience is.

To establishments: Ordering an NA beer or Mocktail are not fighting words. And to the bars and restaurants that haven’t found a reason to include these on their menus…money is the answer you are looking for.  Money is being left in the pockets of people who order water instead of a soft drink because they don’t drink alcohol. If you are in the hospitality business, embracing this untapped clientele is not a loser move. However, picking only alcohol over expanding your drink service to welcome all your guests is shortsighted. Your customers’ desire to have a drink without alcohol is insignificant compared to their thirst for inclusion.

In response to the immortal words of Rodney King, “Can’t we all get along?”, we can if we just get over ourselves and see how unthreatening non-alc. inclusion is.  Having gotten that off my chest, I lift my glass and say…

Here’s to “Us and Them”.

WYNKing Across Generations

/ Mocktail MO

Disclaimer: I recently had the opportunity to try a new brand of drink that, while fitting within the confines of “alcohol-free”, slides more toward the side of “Cali sober” than a simple mocktail. I’m talking about drinks that contain slight dosages of THC.  If you are comfortable with these types of drinks, please read on.

WYNK, a THC/CBD seltzer brand just coming onto the market, offers a range of flavors and dosages to suit your mood. This brand touts a 1:1 ratio of THC/CBD that gives, “a light bubbly buzz that’s enjoyable any night of the week”, according to the label. The packaging is colorful with a whimsical semicolon wink on the can, making you feel like you’re in on the joke. (Just a “WYNK” of THC and CBD).  You can conveniently choose your level of consumption by the size of the can. The tall slender 12 oz. cans contain 5mg of both THC and CBD and the cute stubby 7.5 oz. cans contain 2.5mg – hence the “wink” of substance. What they don’t contain…calories, sugar, or alcohol. There are four different flavors that can be sipped on their own over ice or used as a mixer in alcohol-free drinks: Lime Twist, Juicy Mango, Tangerine, and Black Cherry Fizz. You can find WYNK legally sold in stores in thirteen states and online to thirty-seven states in the U.S.  Check their website to see if WYNK is sold in your area.

Now, being a Gen X individual, I still have a naughty feeling when it comes to anything with THC. Even though it is perfectly legal now, I have a residual taboo sense of looking over my shoulder from growing up in a world when it wasn’t. It was only because there was a “wink” of THC and CBD that I decided to give it a try…for scientific purposes.

So, let’s get to it, shall we? Starting with taste. Overall, the range is very palatable; crisp and light with just a slight taste of the active ingredients which I found pleasantly inviting.

My two favorite flavors were Black Cherry Fizz and Mango. Black cherry drank the most like a soda without being excessively sweet.  This one I would recommend drinking over ice on its own as well as the Mango flavor.  Mango tastes like a clean, refreshing hops water with a hint of mango. Both were highly enjoyable as standalone drinks. The two citrus flavors seem the most like typical seltzers and lend themselves well as mixers for alcohol-free drinks. For example, a splash of gin alternative with the lime flavor makes a nice easy cocktail for slow sipping. Tangerine is a light and tangy addition to an amaro spritz.

As far as mood altering goes…the sensation it gave was less a euphoric “high” feeling than a downshift in energy.  Just as stated on their website, within about twenty minutes a sense of calm relaxation settled in that, for me, seemed appropriate for a cozy evening at home. I’m not sure how lively I would be in a social setting after drinking these. Though, in the positive column I would say the calming effect benefited my horrible sleep habits. If you have a loudmouth, chatty Cathy kind of monkey brain that keeps you company in the middle of the night like I do; you might like that it threw a wet blanket on the word party that goes on in my mind as I try to sleep. Just as the beat dropped in my dreams, instead of waking up I drifted off into quiet slumber. But that’s just me, and my curiosity was piqued to see if my reaction was due to my age and sensibilities.

 Since this is not a category of drink I usually seek out, I was curious if a gen Z person would relate in a different way.  My son, a generation Z’er, well within drinking age and not unaccustomed to this sort of product, agreed to give WYNK a try.  He and his girlfriend shared a Mango tall can as we watched a movie. I witnessed the same reaction that I had had.  At the beginning of the movie, we were all busy talking about the day, and within about 20 minutes they both geared down and mellowed out. Neither one seemed particularly high, they simply were much calmer and laid-back. They both really enjoyed it, and their reaction to the question if they would buy it again was strongly in the affirmative.

The outcome: From Gen X to Z a common appreciation for WYNK’s drinkability was agreed upon. I guess I was expecting giggles and a desperate need for cake, but WYNK is not that. Nor is it a downer. The buzz WYNK provides is a lovely downshift into a lower vibration. Try it for yourself and see what you think.