You may be feeling sanctimonious two weeks into Dry January, but perhaps temptation is starting to bite and that New Year’s resolution is wobbling just a little. So, if you’re seeking something to look forward to – and yet still be virtuous – then we have something for you.
For all the good intentions in the world, the usual non-alcoholic alternatives too often veer towards the cloyingly sweet or the downright dull. It was precisely this gap that persuaded wine writer Matthew Jukes to create a range of adult, alcohol-free drinks after discovering a 17th-century recipe for Haymaker’s Punch, originally made by farmers from leftover fruits and vegetables and preserved with vinegar. Inspired, Jukes spent a year blending dozens of vegetables, fruits, herbs, spices and flowers, using apple cider vinegar as a natural preservative, and emerged with a collection of sophisticated, food-friendly drinks.
Now served in over twenty Michelin-starred restaurants – and available from independent wine merchants, Fortnum & Mason and Waitrose – the range splits into sparkling ready-to-drink cans and concentrated still “cordials” to dilute at home.
The sparkling collection comprises Jukes 1, 6 and 8. Jukes 1, the sparkling “white”, pours a pale golden hue and looks the part in a wine glass. It’s billed as citrusy and herbal, and the gentle tang of apple cider vinegar brings a pleasantly dry backbone that makes it surprisingly wine-like and very drinkable – an easy pairing with white meats or lighter dishes. Jukes 8, the sparkling rosé, is a convincingly pretty pink with a more delicate, floral-herbal profile and just a whisper of sweetness; it makes a charming aperitif and happily accompanies desserts. Jukes 6, the sparkling red, sounds improbable but works remarkably well: a deeper, fruitier blend with notes of spice and a touch of earthiness, robust enough to stand up to richer fare.
The still range mirrors these flavour profiles but comes in small bottles designed to be diluted to taste. Each miniature makes two glasses when mixed with around 100ml of still or sparkling water – though a splash more or less lets you fine-tune the intensity. They also make excellent aperitifs when topped with tonic. The White (1) leans citrusy and herbal with a clean, dry finish; the Rosé (8) brings pomegranate and melon notes with a long, refreshing dryness; and the Red (6) offers blackberry and blackcurrant depth without heaviness. Across the board, the blends feel grown-up, gastronomic and refreshingly restrained – and, with only around 16–17 calories per glass, they’re far lighter than wine.
So, if you’re beginning to eye the wine rack with renewed curiosity, Jukes offers a way to keep your halo polished while still having something genuinely enjoyable in the glass. Staying virtuous, as it turns out, doesn’t have to mean missing out.
Jukes Cordialities is made in London and is 100% plant-based, vegan, organic and 0.0% alcohol. Jukes are currently running a 20% promotion for the new year. For more information, including details of their tasting box and other bundles, and to order, please visit www.jukescordialities.com.
Photos by Johnny Stephens