New Year, New Sips: Our Guide To Drinking Clean

It’s 2024, and it feels like society has finally warmed to the idea of happy mediums when it comes to wellness: dieting doesn’t have to mean cutting your favorite foods cold turkey, it can mean enjoying everything in moderation; being fit doesn’t have to mean going hard at the gym every day, it can mean incorporating joyful movement into your week whenever you can; and, of course, drinking clean doesn’t have to mean giving up happy hour.

Drinking clean looks a little different for everyone: it could be low to no alcohol drink options, low sugar wines and spirits, making your own mixers at home or reaching for organic bottles. To us, it means using all-natural, whole ingredients to craft flavorful drinks that we adore. If you’re on the same wavelength, keep reading for our top tips and tricks for drinking clean this year.

As we said, there’s no hard and fast rule for mindful drinking, but we think crafting drinks using wholesome ingredients is a great place to start. Sugar, dyes and other not-so-desirable ingredients can sneak their way into your glass if you’re not choosy about what you drink. Opt for adding a bottle to your bar cart like LALO Tequila Blanco, a 100% pure spirit with no flavors or additives and made with just agave, water and yeast. That’s IT.

But drinking clean doesn’t mean you need to just drink spirits on the rocks (unless that’s your thing). If you’re craving a mixed drink, try a LALO Hot Toddy. It has all the flavor you’re looking for with none of the artificial junk.

If drinking clean means being selective with your spirits, be downright scrutinizing with your mixers. This is the trickiest component of your drink if you’re trying to focus on wellness: mixers like soda, juice and premade mixes are notoriously sugary and can contain artificial ingredients.

Fortunately, it’s pretty simple to make your own mixers at home so that you know exactly which ingredients are going in your glass. See a few of our favorite recipes below. Just add your favorite base spirit or a non-alcoholic alternative from brands like NKD Whiskey and Ritual and enjoy!

Simply Sweet Citrus Mixer

• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3-4 lemons, freshly squeezed)

• 2 tablespoons honey or agave syrup (adjust to taste)

• 1 cup water

Combine the fresh lemon juice with honey or agave syrup. Stir well until the sweetener is fully dissolved. Adjust the amount of sweetener based on your preference for sweetness. Add water to the lemon and honey mixture. This helps to balance the tartness of the lemon juice. Refrigerate the mixer for about 30 minutes to an hour, allowing the flavors to blend together and the mixture to cool. Mix into your cocktails.

Citrus & Herb Mixer

• 1 cup fresh orange juice (about 2-3 oranges, freshly squeezed)

• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2-3 lemons, freshly squeezed)

• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes, freshly squeezed)

• 2 tablespoons honey or agave syrup (adjust to taste)

• A handful of fresh mint leaves

• A few sprigs of fresh rosemary or thyme (optional)

• 1/2 cup water

Combine the freshly squeezed orange, lemon and lime juices. Add honey or agave syrup to the citrus mixture. Stir well until the sweetener is completely dissolved. You can adjust the sweetness according to your preference. Add the fresh mint leaves and, if using, rosemary or thyme sprigs to the pitcher. Gently muddle the herbs to release their flavors without breaking them apart. Add water to the mixture. This helps balance the acidity and intensity of the citrus juices. Refrigerate the mixer for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together and the mixture to chill. Use as a mixer in your cocktails.

Fresh Ginger & Lime Mixer

• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2-3 limes, freshly squeezed)

• 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

• 2-3 tablespoons honey or agave syrup (adjust to taste)

Combine the fresh lime juice with the grated ginger. Add honey or agave syrup and stir well until the sweetener is completely dissolved. Refrigerate the mixture for about 30 minutes to enhance the flavors and provide a cooler drink. Use as a mixer in your cocktails with your desired spirit and top with soda water.

PRO TIP: A non-alcoholic spirt like NKD Gin would be simply *chef’s kiss* with this mixer.

For those who skimmed the last tip after thinking, “Yeah no, I’m not The Pioneer Woman. I’m not making anything at home,” we got you. You can still drink clean, wholesome bevvies with entirely store-bought supplies. When in doubt, top it off with some (unflavored) sparkling water and fresh fruit.

Remember that picture you studied in elementary school of a plate as a pie chart with the amounts of fruits, veggies, grains, dairy, etc. you were supposed to consume in a day? Well, they never said the fruit couldn’t go in a glass. Checkmate.

For a super simple thirst-quencher that’s under 100 calories, give a Blue Ice & Soda a try.

If you’re not a winemaker or sommelier, the winemaking process can be pretty mystifying. From the soil to the vines to the aging to the bottling, there’s a lot of science and tinkering that the average consumer just isn’t savvy to.

But, when you buy organic wines, you know for certain that no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, dyes or any other synthetic additives went into the bottle you’re about to uncork. Check out a few of our favorite organic wines below. If you’re looking for a great organic bottle in your favorite varietal, just ask an ABC team member and they’ll point you in the direction of some deliciously clean vino.

If you think canned drinks can’t be all natural, you’re dead wrong. The ready-to-drink cocktail market is booming (read our breakdown of the category here) and there are plenty of delicious options that use only clean, whole ingredients. So, if you don’t feel like dirtying any glasses, spring for one of these refreshers.