It's officially 2023, and nothing ushers in the new year like a good resolution. People everywhere are reading more books, cooking more meals at home, and even kicking their expensive daily Starbucks habit. No resolution, however, is more ubiquitous than Dry January.
Doing Dry January is simply not drinking alcohol for the entire month. Some people want to reset after drinking too many holiday cocktails; others use Dry January as a starting point for more long-term sobriety.
For those of us who enjoy imbibing for the flavor and not just the buzz, it's hard to replicate the cocktail experience with plain water. And sugary sodas, which may momentarily fill the void, aren't exactly new year's resolution-approved.
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Thankfully, there's a solution that you can find at even the most bare-bones of bars. Bitters and soda is the simple combination of soda water and cocktail bitters that mimics the flavor of an alcoholic beverage. Add a lime wedge so it's more passable for a real cocktail.
"But don't bitters contain alcohol?" you may ask. The answer is yes, but the ABV of this drink is negligible. Most bitters brands hover at around 30-50 percent alcohol, but you only need a few dashes in your seltzer so it's not like you'll get a buzz from it.
If you do the math, a glass of bitters and soda roughly contains about .03 percent alcohol. For reference, the average store-bought kombucha contains around 15 times that amount. So you'll stay more sober sipping on this drink than you would eating a plate of shrimp scampi.
Adding bitters to your soda water provides depth to an otherwise bland beverage, and there's no sugar. The best part is that most bartenders will give one for free. Not only can you stick to your resolution of staying sober this January, but you'll save some money.
Most versions of bitters and soda that you get at a bar use Angostura bitters, which gives the drink notes of cinnamon and clove. But with the wide variety of bitters on the market, you can customize your non-alcoholic drink with your favorite flavors.
Orange and Peychaud's bitters are lighter and fruitier than Angostura. You can even find brands that are flavored with celery, rhubarb, and even chocolate. Another way to experiment is with types of soda. You can complement the flavor of your bitters with different varieties of La Croix (pro tip: Pamplemousse + Peychaud's makes a convincing dupe for a Paloma).
Don't want to buy a bottle of bitters to just use for a month? We don't blame you. In recent years, brands have popped up selling their own canned versions of bitters and soda. It's like a White Claw but without the booze (or the regret).
Team Delish can personally vouch for Hella Cocktail Co.'s lineup of canned Bitters & Soda. The Grapefruit and Ginger Turmeric flavors provide a booze-free bitterness without tasting boring.
Are you planning to do Dry January? If you're looking for more non-alcoholic drinks to kickstart the new year, check out Delish's official ranking of our favorite brands.
Gabby Romero is Delish’s editorial assistant, where she writes stories about the latest TikTok trends, develops recipes, and answers any and all of your cooking-related questions. She loves eating spicy food, collecting cookbooks, and adding a mountain of Parmesan to any dish she can.
