My relationship with alcohol has changed a lot in the past couple of years. In a bid to keep my brain and body happy and healthy, I have been more often choosing to trade in alcohol for cleaner, less disruptive options.
With many of our social occasions being centred around drinking alcohol, and summer lingering just round the corner, I have found myself frequently on the look out for alcohol free alternatives that still feel fun-filled and exciting to enjoy alongside my friends in the sun.
I have been known to partake in a no-or-low alcohol craft beer such as Impossibrew, as well as being a big fan of Kombucha as an alcohol free alternative, HipHop kombucha is particularly delicious and they are currently offering 50% off their 6 bottle taster kit.
However, I cant help but feel as though alcohol-free options for adults are limited, so when I saw advertisements for these Three Spirit herbal elixirs, my interest was certainly peaked and I had to see if it was as effective as it declared itself to be.
Claiming to be the first of its kind, the range of drinks promises to help drinkers to feel better and more energised, with each drink having specially selected botanical ingredients to give customers a specific experience. The livener is designed to energise, the social elixir is designed to lift your mood and enhance social interactions, and the night cap is designed to help you unwind and feel more relaxed.
The head alchemist over at three spirit, Dash, said: "This is botanical alchemy. This is not an imitation of an alcoholic drink. It is something that stands out on it's own, enhances cocktails and creates a new option. A third way between drinking and not drinking"
Each of these botanical beverages is vegan and gluten free, made with no artificial sweeteners, colours or flavours and is ethically sourced and sustainably packaged. So if, like me, you are interested in having alcohol free alternatives to enjoy throughout summer, read on to find out my thoughts on the drinks when I tested them.
The Livener
On their website, Three Spirit describes the Livener as juicy, fiery and fun. Powered by guayusa, schisandra and other plants which have historically been used to energise and heal the body such as green tea and guava leaf.
I opened the bottle and lifted it to my nose. It smelled incredibly earthy, it half reminded me of a lovely, fresh and healthy summer salad whilst simultaneously bringing the image of pond water to my minds forefront. After experiencing its unusual juxtaposed scent I was a little nervous to taste it, but I mixed 50ml with tonic water as advised, and sat down to enjoy the morning.
It tasted fresh and fun whilst reminding me of its body-healing properties with its earthy tones. The schisandra berries gave it a juicy flavour and it left a dry after-sensation as a gin and tonic would. It's not a drink you would want to down quickly, its a sipper, a long drink easily enjoyed along side friends no matter what drink they might have.
Due to its high natural caffeine content I tried this drink early in the morning, and it worked far better than my usual morning coffee. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting to feel anything from it, but it certainly delivered a clean buzz which would be the perfect pick me up on a night out with friends.
A bottle of the Three Spirit Livener will set you back £24.99, which is a similar price to a lot of popular spirits.
The Social Elixir
I was most excited to try the Social Elixir. I'm someone who only drinks alcohol in the company of others, so this bottle seemed to be the most suited to me out of the three.
The Three Spirits website describes the drink as dark, bittersweet and curious, and in my opinion it certainly smelled curiously medicinal. Having said that, it was also fragrant and lent itself well to a mature, flavourful, non-alcoholic option. I paired it with ginger kombucha for my taste test as suggested by the brand, and I was met with a delicious, very summery drink.
Made from lions mane mushroom which has been used for centuries for its nootropic properties, yerba mate which gives energy and daminia which is known for helping users access their subconscious, this mood-boosting concoction is by far my favourite of the three.
As quite a social person, I don't often find myself short of words, or an ear to spill them into, so its been difficult to measure whether or not the drink is effective in enhancing social interactions. What I can say, however, is that I found the drink to have a calming effect, working with my brain to unjumble my thoughts and let me feel more in control of my mind. I can see how this would help customers with confidence in a social setting.
A bottle of the Three Spirit Social Elixir will also set you back £24.99.
The Nightcap
As mentioned earlier, I am not someone who drinks alone, nor am I someone who often partakes in a nightcap. My version of a nightcap these days is sitting down with a monstrous mug of chamomile tea.
Regardless, I was intrigued to discover whether or not this night cap drink would actually enhance my sleep, or make me feel as though I was winding down more easily, in place of my tea.
Three Spirit describes the Night Cap as woody, mellow and smooth, which I would have to agree with at first sniff. They advise that customers enjoy the drink styled as an old fashioned or straight over ice, and I opted for the latter.
The non-diluted elixir glided like syrup on my lips, it was earthy and sweet at the same time and it left a spicy aftertaste. Unlike anything I have tried before, It took a few sips to adjust to before I started to find it moreish.
Garnering its properties from tree saps, aromatic plants and ancient remedies used to relax and unwind, the Night Cap did fit in perfectly with an evening drink, and I did find myself to be relaxed.
Whether my calm state was the result of the lemon balm and valerian, or the fact that I was very much in the present and focusing on the taste and the experience I was having - I'm not sure - but I can tell you that I felt ready to rest after drinking it.
A bottle of the Three Spirit Night Cap will also set you back £24.99.
To conclude
My experience with each of the drinks was that they tasted enjoyable, they served their purpose, you could dress them up and down to your own desire, and miraculously I found that their claim to alter your mood wasn't unfounded.
Having said this, the only downside to the range is the price. Marked at nearly £25 for just 50cl, there is no denying that there are plenty of cheaper alcohol free options out there for summer.
Understandably, it's likely that its the botanical magic that customers are paying a premium for, so if like me, you're the kind of tree-hugger that buys into herbal mood-enhancers, then this is definitely something for you to try.
Three spirit offer 10% off your first order when you subscribe to their mailing list, and they have also just released an alcohol free wine line titled ' blurred vines ' marked at £17.99 a bottle and £33 for two.
Each elixir, as well as a taster pack featuring all three drinks is available to buy on amazon prime, with free next day delivery, as well as the Three Spirit Website.
