Due to ever-increasing consumer demand, the availability and number of alcohol-free drinks has been expanding rapidly. However, as with most things, not all are created equally. One of the shining lights leading the alcohol-free revolution is SENTIA Spirits, which, in conjunction with GABA Labs and Prof. David Nutt, has used scientific knowledge to set new standards in this rapidly expanding sector.
Human use of alcoholic beverages goes back to at least 10,000 BCE, proven by the discovery of giant stone fermentation troughs at the neolithic site of Göbekli Tepe in Turkey. This site is one of the earliest known places where different human cultures came together to bond, share knowledge, and socialise. However, the human relationship with alcohol likely goes back even further.
Since our ancestors first learned to communicate, we’ve known that we are safer in numbers, which is why we make friends; it is something engrained in all of us, and letting down one’s guard makes it easier. Alcohol has been very beneficial in this regard, as it has an uncanny ability to reduce one’s inhibitions and boost confidence.
Although the use of alcohol when socialising has proven advantageous throughout much of human history, medical advancements show the harm it can do to the mind and body from drinking too much of it. It’s one of the primary reasons the numbers seeking alternatives have snowballed.
In an ideal world, we’d have a drink that could replicate some of alcohol’s more positive aspects without impacting our health, and “Voilà” thanks to Prof. David Nutt of GABA Labs and SENTIA Spirits, it’s here.
Below, we explain why and how their creations are helping to revolutionise the non-alcoholic drinks sector.
Abstaining from alcohol to boost health is, in my view, one of the best things we can all do, and I am not alone in this thinking. However, simply choosing a non-alcoholic version of your favourite tipple requires thought, as looks can be deceiving.
When I think of non-alcoholic drinks, I am reminded of SodaStream’s heyday in the 1970s, when people thought that using tap water to make their carbonated drinks made them much healthier. The same can be said of those who gave their children products such as sugar-laden cereals adorned with healthy, smiling faces and words such as wheat, vitamins, grains, rice, etc.
Admittedly, the food/health connection wasn’t at the forefront of minds in those days, but like today, just because products such as breakfast cereals contain some natural ingredients doesn’t make them healthy. A modern-day example is some non-alcoholic drinks with high sugar content and less-salubrious ingredients disguised by alluring, healthy-looking naturally grown garnishes, pureed fruit, or a slice.
Although non-alcoholic drinks such as mocktails have become common parlance and part of today’s culture, drinkers should not be under the illusion that these types of beverages are, by default, the healthy choice.
Introducing GABA Labs and SENTIA Spirits
Using science and in-depth botanical skills and experience, the GABA Labs team* and SENTIA Spirits have produced a drink that contains a unique blend of powerful plant-based ingredients scientifically proven to activate ‘GABA’ in the brain.
GABA, or Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that lessens a nerve cell’s ability to receive, create, or send chemical messages to other nerve cells. It is a natural tranquiliser that calms the brain and central nervous system, allowing us to feel more at ease in social environments. In addition to increasing relaxation, it can also produce feelings of lightness and conviviality.
To provide more context to how naturally effective it is, when one drinks a typical glass of wine, the body’s GABA is enhanced, which results in a relaxed feeling; the SENTIA Spirits do something similar minus alcohol. According to tests, once consumed, its effects can start within 5-10 minutes and can last for up to an hour. The GABA Labs team states that the spirits will produce something similar to the ‘two-drink sweet spot’.
The Taste
My wife and I are two of the many millions in the UK who have made a conscious decision not to consume alcohol, which does make it challenging when we are asked to write pieces on beverages. Fortunately, we get around this by asking those with experienced palates to perform the tasting in our presence and give us their thoughts.
On this occasion, as there was no alcohol involved, we decided to do the testing ourselves, and we did this with no preconceived ideas. Our first sips, which were drunk neat, were admittedly somewhat challenging. However, we found a satisfying compromise after experimenting with some ginger beer and fruit slices.
When we were thinking of the words to describe the taste, ‘Nice’ and ‘Pleasant’ kept coming up, which seemed wholly unfitting. Therefore, we’ve taken a shortcut and used SENTIA’s description: “Distinctively” heady floral aromatics and sumptuous, bittersweet spiced berries. An all-together complex and refined adult drinking experience.”
SENTIA can be drunk neat, on ice, in a cocktail, or with a premium mixer. Alongside bottles of the Black and Red, The SENTIA team kindly sent us some FEVER-TREE Ginger Beer and some dried citrus slices from the ZEST Co., which we used in our taste test.
SENTIA Spirits Information
The SENTIA Spirits are Fair Trade, Low Carb, Alcohol-free, Vegan, and Gluten-free. They contain no refined sugar and are a low-calorie drink at 9Kcals per 25ml. Currently, there are two spirits available: SENTIA GABA Black, which is designed to help people engage in conversations and is a party starter, and SENTIA GABA Red, which is ideally suited for relaxation and intimate moments.
A 50cl bottle of SENTIA contains 20 servings, and a 20cl bottle of SENTIA provides eight servings.
SENTIA is classed as a ‘food supplement’ and should not be consumed by those on medication, pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, you should not exceed 100ml in 24 hours and ensure it is out of children’s reach. From a scientific perspective, there is nothing in SENTIA that would cause a risk to recovering alcoholics, and none of its GRAS ingredients is addictive.
*GABA Labs is a scientific research company that licenses its technology and innovations through a subsidiary to drinks companies, the first of which is SENTIA Spirits.
For more information on SENTIA and its current range of drinks, visit https://sentiaspirits.com.
The images in this feature are ©SENTIA Spirits.