As a whiskey critic, I never considered doing Dry January. Yes, giving up alcohol for an entire month was an intriguing personal challenge. But if I couldn’t drink, how would I do my job? 

That all changed when I became pregnant. Abstaining from drinking was no longer a choice. So into the land of the dry I went!

Since my period of sobriety extended far beyond the normal one-month term for those who partake in Dry January, I’ve had time to crystalize my thoughts about putting alcohol (temporarily) aside into some tips and insights for first timers. 

I’ve been surprised at how many of these points apply even after the calendar page turns. The biggest takeaway: giving up alcohol doesn’t have to be a sacrifice. In fact, you may be surprised at how much a month of abstinence can positively impact your enjoyment of wine and whiskey.

One thing that makes Dry January easy is the proliferation of interesting, high-quality alcohol-free beverages, a category that now extends far beyond ye olde O’Doul’s. These days, the growing consumer interest in low- and no-alcohol imbibing has brought forth a wealth of products for every palate, from rum replacements to single-serve spritzes. Gone, mercifully, are the days of limiting yourself to a Coke or an orange juice while everyone else orders from the wine list.

I’m back to drinking alcohol again, now that my child is on the outside. But I’m also still enjoying quite a few high-quality non-alcoholic (NA) drinks, too. So, if you’re giving Dry January a go, keep an open mind: you, too, may end up mixing alcohol-free beverages into your regular repertoire. And even if you don’t, you may find that doing Dry January the right way enhances your experience with alcohol once you return to the fold. 

Here’s how to do it.

Think About How You Drink

Do you typically imbibe around mealtimes? Do you like a happy hour cocktail? What about a cold beer after doing chores or a brunch Bloody? Consider what alcoholic drinks you’ll be replacing and seek out products that fit into those occasions. No sense stocking up on spiritless gins if you hate tonic.

Changing Your Routine Makes It Easier

When you eliminate a habit like happy hour, it often changes your whole routine. I fully anticipated replacing my evening alcoholic cocktail with something zero-proof, but ended up mostly not having a drink at the 6 o’clock hour at all. My habit had been to mix up something simple, a recipe I know by heart, like a Manhattan or Martini, but when I went alcohol-free, my zeal for trying out new recipes petered out after a couple of weeks. Instead I started cooking dinner earlier—often with a zesty NA canned cocktail, like Ghia—or taking the dog for a walk. And that’s a habit I plan to keep going forward, since he loves it so much.

Don’t Be Afraid To Hate Non-Alcoholic Drinks

There are loads of alcohol-free beverages these days, many boasting totally unique flavor profiles that fall well outside the norm for regular wine, beer, or spirits. Unfortunately, not all of them are winners. Remember that this is an emerging category  with a vast range of products. So sample widely—while you inevitably won’t like everything, you’re bound to find something to enjoy. And if you don’t, that’s okay! You don’t have to love the elderberry-infused mocktail the bartender presses into your hands. Old fashioned club soda, tonic with lime, or, hell, water, may be your best ticket.

Temper Your Expectations

While some alcohol-free products tout themselves as analogs for beer, wine or spirits, most don’t actually taste like the thing they’re replacing. Generalizing broadly: NA beer usually nails it; NA gin and amaro tend to come very close; NA whiskey and tequila are mostly bad; and NA wine works best if it’s bubbly. 

This can be disappointing if you were expecting a tidy swap for your usual robust Cab, but it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy something different! Just bear in mind that it’s not going to be a one-to-one substitute. And sometimes, giving up on a close substitute and switching to something else altogether may be easier than repeatedly finding yourself unsatisfied with NA stand-ins.

Tasting Isn’t Drinking

Doing Dry January means no drinking alcohol—but it doesn’t mean you can’t taste it. Since I still had to review whiskies during my sober spell, I simply spat out everything instead of allowing myself the occasional swallow, which was my pre-pregnancy norm. If you get the opportunity to try an enticing bottle, go ahead and do so: just make sure the spittoon is handy. (Bear in mind, even without swallowing, the tissues of your mouth can still absorb a small amount of alcohol—the longer you hold it, the more you’ll absorb—so spit quickly.) 

Expand Your Horizons

Some of the best nonalcoholic (NA) products don’t fall into standard alcohol categories at all, like For Bitter For Worse Smoky No. 56, a hard-to-pin-down beverage that can be shaken into cocktails, warmed up into a Toddy, or simply sipped on its own. Don’t be shy about experimenting! Start simple with a mixer like soda or tonic, trying out different proportions, and perhaps adding bitters or a garnish. Then go wild with the gussying up: try different NA products in classic combos, like the Golden Ratio (2 parts spirit, 1 part sweet, 1 part sour). Top them with NA sparkling wine. Add a splash to your coffee. You may stumble upon a novel recipe and, in the process, create your own original cocktail!

Get Outside Opinions

There are a growing number of resources to help you navigate the many alcohol-free drinks that are hitting the market. Check out sites likeDry Atlas,Zero Proof Nation, andMy Dry Bar to get a feel for what’s out there (or read my own results from a massive tasting of spirits substitutes I did last year to determine the best products on the market and how to use them). Talk to the staff at retail stores; if they’re stocking NA products, they’ve likely vetted them personally and can answer your questions.

Read The Label

Unlike real booze, alcohol-free drinks are required to list their nutrition info. If you’re eliminating alcohol for health reasons, be sure to read the label carefully, as added sugars, herbs, or other ingredients could have an impact on your goals.

You Can Still Get A Buzz

There exists a subcategory of today’s NA beverages includes ingredients like adaptogens, CBD, or hemp-derived additives give drinkers a different kind of buzz. (There are also THC-laced drinks in markets where recreational marijuana is legal.) These ingredients will always be listed on the label; however, they’re currently governed by limited regulations, so if you’re unsure how much you can or should consume, proceed with caution. But if you’re looking for a chemically-induced head change, there are now plenty of options beyond alcohol.

You May Find You Don’t Even Miss The Alcohol

Beyond the requirements of my job, I drink for pleasure, and I figured that even the best NA beverages wouldn’t be able to replace the enjoyment of a 21-year-old scotch. I was right—there’s no substitute for that. But as my habits changed and I oriented my body and mind toward new goals, I was surprised to find that I didn’t regret leaving that bottle of single malt on the shelf. And that’s the great thing about being a whiskey drinker, especially: nine months later, it was still there, good as ever.