Getting to the end of the day or reaching the weekend often feels like something that requires a celebration.
For many Australians, the first thing that comes to mind is reaching for a beer or a glass of wine.
It’s a trap that Kate Forrester fell into for many years but her glass of wine turned into a bottle and then another until she recognised she’d become addicted to alcohol.
Catch the best deals and products hand-picked by our team at Best Picks >>
Rehab set her on a path to complete alcohol abstinence for the next four years but there was still one problem; and it’s one many of us face.
“I found myself looking forward to something nice [to drink] on a Saturday but I could never find anything I liked,” she says.
But instead of just sucking it up and sticking to sugary drinks or water Kate, who is now a mum of two, decided she’d found a gap in the market which was perfect for her to fill.
She started working with award-winning bar tender Nick Royds on a formula and six months later they’d cracked it.
Called Etota, the non-alcoholic drink is all natural, has, what Kate calls “a great mouth feel,” mixes well and looks good in the glass.
The burgundy-coloured aperitivo is made with natural grape juice instead of sugar and contains an organic mushroom that means it keeps for longer.
Other ingredients include dried schisandra berry, fresh strawberry, rhubarb and beetroot. You can find a full list of ingredients on the website.
“Freaking amazing!” said one review of the delicious drink.
“Finally — a non alcoholic beverage that tastes amazing. This wee pocket rocket has so many levels to it when it’s simply mixed with ice and sparkling water.”
“Perfectly balanced. Just absolutely beautiful in every aspect,” said another.
In fact, the reviews were so positive and sales so good that Kate has now launched a second product; a non-alcoholic Bittersweet Spritz perfectly timed for summer and the holiday season.
In the spritz, Etota’s bittersweet aperitivo is mixed with sparkling carbonated spring water in a 330mL classic can.
“I created Etota’s non-alcoholic bittersweet aperitivo, to help more people like me reduce the booze,” says Kate.
“My alcohol journey was extreme, yours doesn’t have to be.”
“More and more Australians are choosing to drink mindfully. Many of us are planning a booze free Christmas. We still want something delicious to enjoy, sip and socialise with.”
For more information or to buy Etota’s alcohol-free beverages visit the website here.