Photo from Three Spirit official Website
Sober January ( also known as Dry January ) is a wonderful aspiration for every new year that, for me, seldom comes to fruition. Regardless, all the discoveries I obtain from every trial is a wonderful introduction to new and very wonderful things.
One of these said discoveries is the non-alcoholic, but very very tasty, Livener from plant-based alcohol-alternative brand, Three Spirit.
Three Spirit is the alchemic romance formed by bartenders, scientists and passionate like-minded folk. The beverage company is B-Corp certified, vegan and cruelty-free, uses recyclable materials and is 99% plastic free.
The resulting liquid child of this adaptogenically charged effort is a herbaceous cocktail that is experienced like an alcoholic beverage, such as energy or relaxation, but without the negative aspects of ingesting toxins ( just in case you have not yet realized that alcohol is indeed enjoyable poison for the body ).
Photo courtesy of Three Spirit
Three Spirit – The Livener
While deep down I have a whiskey heart, for now I need assistance with detoxing ( 2023 was rough). Looking for alcohol alternatives that actually give you some effect seems impossible. But I have to say, Three Spirit’s Livener does a very intriguing job of pricking my palette.
Each bottle is Three Spirit’s approach to a particular mood. The Livener is Three Spirit’s energizing solution. It was also my personal pick as God knows I could use a lift these days.
How It Looks
I had never tried a Three Spirit beverage before, so I was not quite sure what to expect. What I got was a murky deep brownish-red concoction. It was reminiscent of homemade wine with its earthy berry appearance and very much looked like juice obtained from Mother Earth.
I know it was more of a natural result versus intentional. But the mysterious, murky color did make me think I was about to ingest an old, ancient recipe or perhaps something magically delicious.
How It Smells
The Livener smelled warm, deep and inviting. I am a fan of anything that feels it could be offered to me by a cloaked figure in a tavern. ( Don’t take drinks from strangers kids. ) The Livener was right up my alley. There were also notes of juicy red fruit and a sort of sweet vegetation similar to carrots. Overall it smelled kind of like a tomato-y berry.
Photo from Three Spirit official website
How It Tastes
Ah, the most important part. How does it taste like?
This liquid definitely gave me a wicked slap in the face. The spice in it is STRONG. I love ginseng, garlic, ginger and all that good stuff. Boy did the Livener have it.
The Livener contains the berry notes of watermelon concentrate, pomegranate molasses and botanical extracts of hibiscus. It is also grassy with guayusa leaf and green tea. Lastly, that spice I mentioned? It comes from ginseng, ginger and cayenne pepper.
Yup, you taste all of that.
The most complex part of it comes from the schisandra berry, also known as the Wu Wei Zi in Chinese, meaning “five flavour berry”. Those five flavours are sweet, salty, sour, bitter and pungent.
Everything mixed together explains why I found myself smacking my lips after that cayenne-powered slap.
The Livener was like a juicy, fiery kombucha. Three Spirit should change the text on the back of the bottle from “The Pick-Me-Up” to “The Smack-Me-Present”.
Photo courtesy of Three Spirit
The Livener from Three Spirit was an amazing find during my Sober January attempt this year. It is actually energizing and tastes amazing with its complex cocktail of herbaceous and fruity components. For those looking for an alcohol-alternative to tequila shots, try the Livener at 12am instead. It’ll give you that sharp boost awake without reminding you of mistakes made in college ( speaking from experience ).
Keep dry my sober and sober-curious friends.
