Go Clean this International G&T Day
by David Klemt
Today we raise a glass to a centuries-old spirit and a classic cocktail that historians can trace back to at least the mid-1800s.
In other words, happy International Gin & Tonic Day!
Now, I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that you and your bar team probably have your G&T builds down. It’s one of—if not the—most well-known highballs in existence.
So, no, I’m not going to write an article about how to make a G&T. It’s elegant, it’s simple, and bar professionals shouldn’t be behind the stick if they can’t make at least a decent one.
Instead, I want to introduce you to a non-alcohol spirits brand you should know: CleanCo. As an alcohol-free brand, CleanCo is ideal for Sober October and beyond.
If you already know CleanCo, cheers! But if this is you’re first time getting to know the brand, here’s what you need to know.
About CleanCo
Spencer Matthews founded CleanCo in 2018. At just a few years old, this isn’t a brand-new company.
However, anyone who knows the beverage industry knows it takes time for young brands to fight through the noise and be heard. Suffice to say, CleanCo is making themselves known in 2022.
Before starting the alcohol alternative brand, Matthews “lived in a cycle of drinking excessively for most” of his twenties. In fact, under the About section on the CleanCo website, Matthews states he sought out jobs that encouraged his hard-drinking lifestyle. That changed before the arrival of his first child. Matthews decided to “go clean” and says it changed his life.
However, Matthews doesn’t expect others to abstain from alcohol consumption completely. That is, of course, a personal choice. Rather, Matthews seeks to provide an alternative that people will actually want to drink.
Whether a guest is choosing to not consume alcohol for a round, an evening, a week, a month, or for the foreseeable future, CleanCo’s mission is to help deliver a seamless drinking experience without the alcohol.
Along with Clean G, CleanCo’s gin alternative, the brand offers rum, vodka, and tequila expressions that are 0.5-percent ABV or lower.
Clean G&T
Just like the original classic this non-alcohol-cocktail mimics, the Clean G&T is simple to make.
In fact, the ratio of Clean G gin alternative to tonic is same as its full-alcohol counterpart.
- 2 oz. Clean G
- 4 oz. Tonic
- Two lime slices or wheels to garnish
To build, add Clean G and tonic to a tall glass. Next, add ice along with one lime slice or wheel to layer the garnish throughout the length of the drink. Finally, place the other lime slice or wheel on top, and serve.
Image: CleanCo