We all know that feeling – you agreed to be the driver for the night.
You get to the event/meal/venue and all you can think of is how much you’re hankering for a refreshing G&T. Water or ribena is just not the same as drinking out of a fancy garnished goblet, is it?
Dry January showed how much of an interest there is out there to reduce or even stop drinking all together. I was amazed at how many of my friends were doing it. The main struggle they found however, was when they were out and about in social situations – they were missing the drink in hand.
Great news – there’s some great alternatives around right now.
One of the best I’ve come across is Silk Tree, a non-alcoholic gin.
Welcome to Ginfluenced, a weekly series dedicated to the spirit of life!
This week we’re going alcohol-free but this wonderful drink still has all of the wonderful elements and the pull-factor that gin does.
Silk Tree was created by power-couple Treacy and Andrew who saw a gap in the market and found their love affair with gin had run its course.
They wanted to create a product that would appeal to like-minded people looking to take a break from the booze and lead more active and healthy lifestyle.
It’s a non-alcoholic, sugar-free and zero-fat drink with the satisfaction of normal gin.
The Bottle:
You know by now that I’m a big fan of an elegant, plain and simple bottle and this is exactly that.
It gets straight to the point on the label advertising the name, unique selling point and botanicals. The botanicals are pictured, which is different from any other bottle I’ve seen but it fits well with the branding.
On the top of the label you’ll see their logo, a butterfly. This symbolises the social butterfly – you don’t need the drink to mingle!
It definitely intrigued me at a first glance and I was excited to taste what was inside.
View this post on InstagramBackground:
Silk Tree is distilled in the same way as gin, in a copper still, but without the alcohol of course.
It’s distilled with spices and botanicals to produce a full-bodied flavour. They tried various different formulas and different herbs and berries before finding their perfect flavour.
When Treacy and Andrew decided to lead their active lifestyle and bin the booze, they struggled to find an alternative that satisfied them the way gin did. They wanted to be able to drink something that would fit into the same routines alcohol did – social outings, events, cooking, business, this was their biggest struggle.
View this post on InstagramBotanicals:
- Ceylon Cinnamon
- Coriander Seeds
- Orange Peel
- Juniper Berries
- Lemon Verbena
View this post on InstagramOn the nose:
On the nose there’s sharp sweet notes of cinnamon and orange followed by the distinctive bitter aroma of juniper berries.
Straight:
What I found most interesting about Silk Tree was it’s flavour. It had all of my favourite elements and flavour that gin has if not, even more so.
I could really get the flavour of sweet cinnamon and star anise at first followed by a fresh and bitter flavour of juniper and orange peel.
With Tonic:
With tonic, it’s flavour is enhanced and it’s super refreshing.
It’s got a citrusy flavour that carries a sweet kick as you sip away. It tastes really similar to gin, you’d barely notice the difference.
View this post on InstagramSignature Serve:
- Silk Tree
- Slice of grapefruit
- Poachers Tonic Water
Where To Find It:
A bottle of Silk Tree will cost you €35.95.
You’ll find it in Martin’s Off-Licence, The Celtic Whiskey Shop, Baggot Street Wines, Redmonds Of Ranelagh, Supervalu, Carry Out, Scollan’s Gala Superstore and premium restaurants and bars across the country.
Sip, sip!
READ MORE: GINFLUENCED: Sling Shot Gin Uses Irish Peat From The Irish Midlands For A Unique Flavour
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