Dry January Cocktail Ideas: Mini Cocktails & Modern Drinking

January no longer belongs solely to abstinence. Instead, it’s becoming the season of moderation, intention and better choices — drinking less, but drinking well.

Whether you’re embracing Dry January, Damp January, or simply taking a more mindful approach to alcohol, this is the perfect moment to rethink how we enjoy cocktails.

At Rythmik, we believe January doesn’t mean missing out — it just means drinking differently.

The Mini Cocktail: The Trend We’re Fully Backing

One of the most exciting cocktail trends right now is the rise of the mini cocktail.

Rather than committing to a full 100ml serve, bartenders and home hosts alike are opting for smaller pours (40–60ml) — all the flavour, just less alcohol.

Why mini cocktails work:

• Lower alcohol without sacrificing experience

• Encourages slower, more intentional drinking

• Lets you try more than one serve in an evening

This approach fits perfectly with January’s shift towards balance — and it turns cocktails into a ritual, not a routine.

👉 Try this: Serving mini cocktails in a stylish Nick & Nora or small rocks glass so they still look and feel like 'a proper' cocktail.
Read more about the mini cocktail trend 

Stretch the Serve: Add a Mixer, Keep the Character

Another easy way to moderate is by lengthening your serve with a mixer.

Our It’s a London Thing gimlet cocktail works beautifully topped with chilled soda water and plenty of ice. The botanicals still shine, but the drink becomes lighter, fresher and ideal for moderated sipping.

✨ Think long drinks, not weaker drinks.

👉 Recipe idea:

• 50ml It’s a London Thing

• Plenty of ice

• Top with soda

• Garnish with lemon peel

🔗 It's A London Thing product page

A Purist’s Confession: Maple Old Fashioned Meets Apple Juice

We’ll be honest — as cocktail purists, we were sceptical.

But Maple Old Fashioned topped with cloudy apple juice is genuinely delicious. The apple adds brightness and acidity, lifting the warmth of maple and bitters into something softer, fresher and incredibly drinkable.

👉 How to serve it:

• 50ml Maple Old Fashioned

• Ice

• Top with cloudy apple juice

• Garnish with orange peel or cinnamon stick

Sometimes moderation leads to the best surprises.

🔗 Maple Old Fashioned product page

Elevated No-Alcohol Cocktails (No Compromises)

If you’re going alcohol-free — or just alternating — these grown-up no-alcohol cocktails deliver complexity, balance and proper cocktail vibes. No specialist equipment required.

🍐 Pear, Thyme & Tonic Spritz

Elegant, herbal and winter-ready.

You’ll need:

• Pear juice (or pressed pear if you can find it)

• Tonic water

• Fresh thyme

• Ice

Method:
Fill a glass with ice, add pear juice, top with tonic. Clap the thyme between your hands and drop it in.

👉 Perfect if you like botanical, savoury flavours.

Light & Stormy

Fiery ginger pairs well with the candied rum qualities of Three Spirit Social Elixir to offer a familiar flavour without the booze. 

You’ll need:

• 50ml Three Spirit Social Elixir

• 200ml Ginger Ale or 200ml Ginger Beer 

• 2 wedges of lime

• Ice

Method:
Fill a long tumbler glass with ice, add Three Spirits Social Elixir and top with the ginger ale. Stir and squeeze in two lime wedges.

👉 Perfect if you like the warming kick of ginger.

However You’re Drinking This January, We’ve Got the Soundtrack  🎶

Whether you’re abstaining, moderating, or not changing a thing — January can feel long, dark and quiet. That’s why we’ve curated playlists to lift you up through those seemingly endless winter evenings,.

🎧 Listen to our playlists here — your perfect soundtrack for sipping, mixing, or simply unwinding.

Final Pour

January doesn’t have to mean deprivation. It can be a month of experimentation, intention and great taste — just approached differently.

Mini cocktails. Longer serves. Alcohol-free moments.
Drink how you want — and cheers to balance.