A few months ago, I tasted a sip of an Old Fashioned (my former favourite cocktail) and nearly fell off my chair because it tasted SO strong. But here's the thing - the drink hadn't changed, my taste buds had!

In this episode, I get into the science behind why this happens (don't worry, no lab coat required) and how it actually numbs our taste buds, and when we drink less, those receptors wake right up. I map out the timeline from the first subtle changes to the full "taste bud makeover".

And I take a look at finding low and no alternatives that might better suit your newly sensitive palate. 

This is one of those rarely discussed benefits of mindful drinking that deserves way more attention!

This week, we cover:
0:00 Why we’re talking about taste
2:40 The science of tastebuds
4:46 What happens when we start drinking less
5:26 The role of smell
7:54 Timeline of taste change
11:25 The freedom to explore
13:42 What to drink when your tastes change
18:12 A better taste for life 
 

Best episode to listen to next:
#68 No.1 mistake made by new low/no drinkers
#40 What low/no drinkers are really saying

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💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE - https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine*

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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

I chatted with Simon Rolfe, Director at Sea Change Wines - a brand combining award-winning wines with ocean conservation. Sea Change began in 2018 when Simon's team wanted to create a product that would create a legacy their children could be proud of. Inspired by David Attenborough’s Blue Planet series, they proceeded to build a brand, removing unnecessary packaging, using sustainable materials, and donating to marine charities with every sale.

Their alcohol-free Sea Change Free has exceeded expectations, with sales jumping from 2.2% to 5% of their total business in just one year. Simon shares insights on the challenges of creating quality alcohol-free wine and reveals plans for upcoming still and sparkling additions to their Free range.

WE CHAT ABOUT
0:00 Simon's Sea Change story
5:08 Inspiration from David Attenborough's Blue Planet
6:58 Creating an eco-conscious wine brand
10:06 Charity partners
17:12 How COVID brought them into alcohol-free wine
21:10 Customer demand
23:00 Finding a wine that was good enough
27:16 Doubling sales in two years
32:14 Student drinkers
34:51 The challenges of finding their next wines
38:44 Why wine is taking longer to get right
42:06 Ethical consumerism & mindful drinking
45:33 Finding Sea Change
47:11 The BBQ-Q

TRY SEA CHANGE FREE //  @SEACHANGEWINE   //  SEACHANGEWINE.COM

WE ALSO TALK ABOUT:
Heineken 0.0*
Guinness 0.0*

BEST EPISODE TO CHECK OUT NEXT
#53 Creating a household legacy: NoughtyAF wines & Amanda Thomson

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📰 SUBSCRIBE TO LOW NO DRINKER MAGAZINE online or in print anywhere in the world at https://www.lownodrinkermagazine.com

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE - https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine*

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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

In this episode, I’m tackling the common concern around 0.5% ABV drinks by taking a look at the surprising array of everyday foods in your kitchen that contain similar or higher levels of alcohol. 

If you've been hesitant to try 0.5% drinks on your mindful drinking journey, this episode will help put things into perspective and potentially open up a whole new world of drinking experiences for you.

0:00 Why we're talking about food...

2:18 Foods that contain alcohol

8:18 How does alcohol get into these foods?

9:41 Can you get drunk on 0.5% beer?

10:53 Bad labelling

12:47 When 0.5% might not be right for you

14:15 AUD - Alcohol use disorder

15:07 The goal of mindful drinking

Best episode to listen to next:
#56 FAQ: What does ABV mean? (and how does it affect low/no drinks?)
#75 Beyond wine: creating category-less drinks with Muri

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🥃 Download your free guide: WHY YOU CAN'T DRINK LIKE YOU USED TO + YOUR NEW 5pm FIX - mindfuldrinkingreset.com

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📰 SUBSCRIBE TO LOW NO DRINKER MAGAZINE online or in print anywhere in the world at https://www.lownodrinkermagazine.com

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💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE - https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine*

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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

This week I'm joined by Murray Patterson, founder of Muri - a unique range of fermented non-alcoholic drinks designed for wine occasions. Murray shares his fascinating journey from a soul-crushing corporate job at JP Morgan to discovering his passion for fermentation in the cider industry before relocating to Copenhagen - a global hub for fermentation expertise.

At Muri, they're breaking free from simply mirroring alcoholic drinks, instead using chef-led techniques and complex fermentation processes to create genuinely original flavour profiles. Murray explains their painstaking methods, from carbonically macerating strawberries to lacto-fermenting beetroot and creating tomato wine. We discuss the challenges of naming this new category, the thriving low-no scene in Copenhagen, and Murray's mission to bring craft and premiumisation to non-alcoholic drinks.

WE CHAT ABOUT
0:00 Doing things differently at Muri
2:35 Murray's story
6:24 Breaking away from banking
8:07 The low/no inspiration behind Muri
10:22 Who is Muri for?
13:52 Not a wine alternative
15:41 Naming a category
18:38 12 Michelin stars
20:40 How it's made
24:01 Blending funky flavours
27:46 Fermentation & other techniques
29:53 Muri & food
32:25 The low/no scene in Copenhagen
35:51 Challenges of London/international distribution
37:25 Was premiumisation the goal?
41:25 Finding Muri
42:51 The BBQ-Q

WE ALSO TALK ABOUT:
To Öl
Botivo*
Rapscallion Soda
Ish*
Copenhagen Sparkling Tea*
Sylva
Ama Brewery

MURI-DRINKS.COM  //  @MURIDRINKS

BEST EPISODE TO CHECK OUT NEXT
#14 Unfiltered Journeys in Fermentation with Ama Brewery

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===
📰 SUBSCRIBE TO LOW NO DRINKER MAGAZINE online or in print anywhere in the world at https://www.lownodrinkermagazine.com

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE - https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine*

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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

The mid-strength Collective. How these 12 brands are coming together to help spread the word of this exciting new category with great potential but little exposure.

ON THE SHOW
0:00 Intro
2:28 Why is mid-strength important?
3:18 Why we are choosing to moderate
4:55 Across the ages
6:20 How we're moderating
7:09 Coasting
8:06 Going for two is the new going for one
8:53 Why and when we're choosing mid-strength
11:03 Work drinks
12:52 The mid-strength challenge
14:31 Do drinkers actually want mid-strength drinks?
17:07 Mid-strength on pubs & bars
19:25 What drinkers want from mid-strenghth
21:57 Mid-strength ABVs
25:10 The mid-strength collective brands
  

EPISODES MENTIONED
#63 FAQ: What exactly are zebra striping and bookending (& do they work)?
#56 What does ABV mean? (and how does it affect low/no drinks?)
#21 Decem: From MasterChef finalist to 10% Spirit Distiller
#46 Double Dutch mixers: supporting low/no drinkers & women in hospitality
#34 Making a 6% red wine with founder Russell Lamb
#16 Exploring light-spirits with Quarter Proof 12% spirits
#41 Session Gin: A 25% gin for the modern drinker

THE COLLECTIVE
Brisk*
DECEM
Double Dutch*
Hayman’s*
6Percent
Maison Sassy*
Quarter Proof*
Session Spirit
Shandy Shack*
McGuigan Wines*
The Gentle Wine
Small Beer*

GET THE REPORT 

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📰 SUBSCRIBE TO LOW NO DRINKER MAGAZINE online or in print anywhere in the world at https://www.lownodrinkermagazine.com

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE - https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine*

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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

Victoria Watters is the co-founder of Dry Atlas, a media platform dedicated to alcohol alternatives. She is also one-half of the driving force behind Spirited Away – America's first non-alcoholic bottle shop. Victoria and her husband, Douglas, launched their bottle shop in November 2020 and have never looked back!

This week, we’re chatting about Victoria's insights on the evolution of non-alcoholic drinks – from the improving technology in de-alcoholised wines to the emergence of THC-infused beverages in the US, how the industry is moving from sober curiosity to ‘flex drinking’, and where celebrity brands are getting it right, and wrong, in the low/no space.

WE CHAT ABOUT
0:00 Victoria's story
3:37 America's 1st non-alcoholic bottle shop
14:02 Dry Atlas
15:55 Meeting Ben Branson
18:28 Dealcoholised wine improvements
20:49 THC-infused drinks
23:37 Flex drinking
26:46 Supply & demand in low/no beverage
31:39 Tom Holland, Lewis Hamilton & other celebrity low/no brands
35:59 Do founders have to be sober?
39:46 Dry Atlas media channels
41:51 Wine polls
44:00 Are functional drinks on the way out?
48:17 Synthesised alcohol
51:17 Finding Victoria
52:41 The BBQ-Q

DRYATLAS.COM  //  SPIRITEDAWAY.CO

WE ALSO TALK ABOUT:
Untitled Art
Zeronimo
Ocean Zero
Bolle*
Kin Euphorics
Athletic Brewing*
Guinness0.0*
Fable THC
Sentia*

BEST EPISODE TO CHECK OUT NEXT

#71 The Award-Winning Sober Bartender's Guide to Non-Alc Spirits
#69 The Fungi Consultant: Do functional mushrooms work in low/no drinks?

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🥃 Download your free guide: WHY YOU CAN'T DRINK LIKE YOU USED TO + YOUR NEW 5pm FIX - mindfuldrinkingreset.com

===
📰 SUBSCRIBE TO LOW NO DRINKER MAGAZINE online or in print anywhere in the world at https://www.lownodrinkermagazine.com

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE - https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine*

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

In this episode, I explore why alcohol-free bottles are labelled as ‘botanical spirit’ or ‘dark spiced’ instead of gin or rum. These naming conventions aren't just creative marketing—they're legal requirements which force alcohol-free producers to use alternative terminology that hints at what their products are meant to replace. 

But does it cause more confusion? What do brands need to do to support low, no, light drinkers in finding, understanding and enjoying their drinks?

THIS WEEK, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT:
0:00 Talking alcohol-free spirits
1:29 Legally protected
2:37 Minimum requirements
4:23 Producer creativity
5:49 Is it confusing?
8:01 Is it bad for brands?
9:55 Is it easier for non-replica brands?
11:24 Naming & comparing
12:01 Will the law change?
13:17 What brands can do to help consumers.
13:39 What would you prefer?

BEST EPISODE TO LISTEN TO NEXT:
#56 FAQ: What does ABV mean? (and how does it affect low/no drinks?)

ALSO MENTIONED:
CleanCo*
Lyre’s*
Rebels 0.0*

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🥃 Download your free guide: WHY YOU CAN'T DRINK LIKE YOU USED TO + YOUR NEW 5pm FIX - mindfuldrinkingreset.com

===
📰 SUBSCRIBE TO LOW NO DRINKER MAGAZINE online or in print anywhere in the world at https://www.lownodrinkermagazine.com

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE - https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine*

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

Chris Cardone is a beverage consultant, chief mixologist and career bartender who, despite being sober for nearly 10 years, has continued to work in the hospitality drinks industry and help make the bar scene more inclusive for those seeking alternative ways to drink.

He is the winner of Bartender of the Year, a four-time national flair bartending finalist, and has even taught celebrities like Tom Holland how to flair bartend. 

From Chris’s terrifying brain chemistry causing terrifying hallucinogenic reactions to even small amounts of alcohol to the naysayers claiming a sober bartender couldn't succeed, this story is incredible.

And, of course, he also shares invaluable insights into what makes quality alcohol-free spirits, the education gap in the industry, why non-alcoholic options deserve their place (and price point) alongside traditional cocktails, and how to make the most of non-alc spirits at home. 

WE CHAT ABOUT
0:00 Meeting Chris Cardone
1:54 The importance of hospitality
3:37 Chris' story
5:33 Hallucinogenic episodes
8:08 A life changing question
9:10 Staying in hospitality sober
12:05 A chemical reaction?
14:14 Being a sober career bartender
17:38 People thought I was sick
19:27 They told me to shut the fuck up
23:38 Watching the birth of a culture
27:30 What Chris thinks of Seedlip & Co
29:02 This isn't a trend
30:09 The good, the bad & the ugly of non-alc spirits
33:22 The alcohol-free cocktail experience
35:22 Where brands go wrong
36:47 Excited by Sylva & Ben Branson
38:46 The lack of education around non-alc spirits
42:22 The power of the bartender
43:32 Understanding the value of non-alc
48:31 A call to brands: Teach us!
52:13 Making alcohol-free cocktails at home
53:51 Tip 2: Start with a classic
54:43 Tip 3: Tinker & test
57:41 The Continuous Bev Consultancy
58:49 Creating a balanced cocktail menu
59:37 The cost of NOT having a non-alc offer
1:02:06 Corporate event consulting
1:03:55 Finding Chris
1:04:46 The BBQ-Q

CHRIS ON LINKEDIN  //  CONTINUOUSBEV.COM

WE ALSO TALK ABOUT:
Bero
Seedlip*
The Pathfinder
Aplos
Seasn
All the Bitter
Lyres
Ritual
Athletic
Peroni 00
Guinness 00
Prima Pave
Tost*

===
🥃 Download your free guide: WHY YOU CAN'T DRINK LIKE YOU USED TO + YOUR NEW 5pm FIX - mindfuldrinkingreset.com

===
📰 SUBSCRIBE TO LOW NO DRINKER MAGAZINE online or in print anywhere in the world at https://www.lownodrinkermagazine.com

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE - https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine*

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

Why is the word 'Mocktail' so contentious in the low/no space?

IN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE, WE COVER:

0:59 [A very] Brief history of mocktails

2:55 A mockery

3:40 Second-class drinkers

4:46 Not for the kids menu

7:40 What else can we call them?

8:24 Other terrible terms

9:21 AF mixologists to watch

10:49 But... some people still like it

12:04 A good problem to have

BEST EPISODE TO LISTEN TO NEXT: 

#29 The rise and rise of Mocktails with Pooja Sharma-Jones

ALSO MENTIONED:

Derek Brown – The Mindful Drinking Podcast

Chris Cardone

Camille Vidal – La Maison Wellness

Dr Cocktail

The Midnight Muddler

Millie Gooch

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🥃 Download your free guide: WHY YOU CAN'T DRINK LIKE YOU USED TO + YOUR NEW 5pm FIX - mindfuldrinkingreset.com

===
📰 SUBSCRIBE TO LOW NO DRINKER MAGAZINE online or in print anywhere in the world at https://www.lownodrinkermagazine.com

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE - https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine*

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

Oli Genn-Bash is one of the most interesting guests I’ve had the privilege to interview. He’s a fungi fanatic and a mycology maestro; aka he loves mushrooms!

In this deep dive episode into the true role of functional mushrooms in our drinks, Oli doesn’t hold back. He tells us what these fascinating fungi actually do in our bodies, how to identify quality suppliers and the truth about whether they’re actually having any impact when used inside low/no drinks.

This is definitely one of those episodes where I’m inviting you to strap on your listening ears and come along and learn with me.

===============

WE CHAT ABOUT

0:00 Coming up...

2:45 Oli's story

5:20 Historical & cultural use

7:01 Introducing the "Big 5"

7:28 Over-popularisation of Lion's Mane

9:57 Reishi: The mushroom of immortality

11:08 Motivation & energy from cordyceps

14:33 Olympic doping

15:35 Medicinal uses of cordyceps

17:31 How to consume functional mushrooms

20:38 Are there any side effects?

23:00 Are they effective in low/no drinks?

25:35 Zero regulations

26:27 How mushroom powder is made

28:14 Extract ratios

31:29 Will the laws change?

34:06 Turkey Tail: pharmaceutical grade cancer treatment

35:06 Chaga: not a true mushroom

37:04 Magic mushrooms for the psychotropic curious

41:41 Micro-dosing: What is it?

47:31 Why I invited Oli on the pod

48:31 The Fungi Consultancy

50:48 Find Oli

51:30 The BBQ-Q

53:39 Keep mycology alive

FIND OLI

THE FUNGI CONSULTANT.COM //  @THE_FUNGI_CONSULTANT  //  LINKEDIN.COM/IN/OLI-GENN-BASH

WE ALSO TALK ABOUT:

The Bristol Fungarium

jAGA*

BEST EPISODE TO CHECK OUT NEXT

#47 Psychotropic-curious with High & Dry

===
🥃 Download your free guide: WHY YOU CAN'T DRINK LIKE YOU USED TO + YOUR NEW 5pm FIX - mindfuldrinkingreset.com

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📰 SUBSCRIBE TO LOW NO DRINKER MAGAZINE online or in print anywhere in the world at https://www.lownodrinkermagazine.com

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE - https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine*

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.