By Bob Sacks
There are a growing number of people who prefer to cut back on – or even avoid – alcohol in their daily lives, but who still want to enjoy a glass of something interesting at social gatherings.
Until now, the vast majority of substitutes have been dealcoholized wines, created by vacuum distillation, spinning cone columns or reverse osmosis. The remaining liquid is then sweetened with sugar or grape juice. Many of these no- or low-alcohol wines taste too sweet or too sour, or simply taste like plain grape juice.
Stephanie Bricken, a Red Bank resident, decided that not only did these nonalcoholic wines not taste good, but they were inherently unhealthy. So she used the knowledge she gained while obtaining her master’s in holistic health to create a healthy, nonalcoholic drink that would be ideal for folks who wanted to abstain but still enjoy a “drink.”
The result is Seraphim Social Beverage.
Bricken had been in the fashion industry for many years and, at a certain point, changed course. “I always wondered how spirituality and science worked together,” she said.
She worked with researchers at Rutgers University to perfect two flavors of botanical and plant-based beverages enhanced with herbs, spices and minerals that not only taste good but are even good for you.
Seraphim Social Beverage currently offers two options: Cassia, a blend of sour cherry juice, red grape juice, wild blueberry juice, apple cider and a number of organic herbs and extracts; and Cacao, a blend of organic cocoa, sour cherry and red grape juices, plus reishi mushrooms, and lots more organic herbs to create the taste.
As the ingredients are blended in a large vat, meditation music is played; Bricken feels the peaceful music adds a calming effect to the final drink. Additionally, while the beverages are being “brewed,” the mixtures are infused with amethyst crystals, which are then removed. Amethyst is thought to help relieve stress and tension.
Both red drinks come in environmentally friendly “wine bottles.”
Bricken would like to offer an additional red with more earthy tones, and perhaps a sparkling version, in the near future. There are no plans for a white version yet.
Presently, both Cassia and Cacao are available at Bottles by Sickles in Red Bank and the Spring Lake Bottle Shop. The Murray family, which owns Spring Lake Bottle Shop, was instrumental in guiding and advising Bricken as she formulated the drinks.
Although the company is still in the embryonic stage, Bricken said she is approaching health food stores to potentially carry the drinks. She said she is trying to get into Soulberry’s Natural Markets and “Whole Foods is looking at it.”
She would also like to see her unique beverages offered in restaurants as an alternative quaff. Many eateries already feature mocktails and alcohol-free beer, so this would be a logical addition to the drinks menu. Bricken said she’s “not trying to exactly match the taste of red wine” but rather leaning heavily on the flavors of the plants used in the drinks.
The term “sober-curious culture” is getting a lot of buzz now, and a number of beverages are looking to fill the nonalcoholic niche. She feels that the younger population is “into these things, so this is an ideal drink for them.”
Bricken said she “makes every effort to source ingredients locally, when possible.” For instance, the reishi mushrooms used in both flavors come from Two River Mushrooms, located in Millstone, which was founded by Two River native K.C. Sullivan.
I tasted both drinks and shared them at a family dinner to experience what Bricken was aiming for. The labels on both bottles, which exhibit lovely artwork, tout the contents as vegan and gluten-free, containing “pure organic ingredients plucked from nature.”
Cassia, a “healthy and happy drink,” has a rich berry flavor enhanced with discernable notes of cinnamon. “In the summer, I made a nonalcoholic sangria with the Cassia that all my guests really enjoyed,” Bricken said.
At dinner, some of us tried the Cassia, first straight from the bottle and then with a splash of seltzer. That combination was quite enjoyable and got high marks from our 11-year-old granddaughter. “Seraphim Social Beverages can be enjoyed by people of all ages,” Bricken said.
Next, we opened a bottle of Seraphim Cacao, which is said to enhance a “calm and clear mood.” It had a different flavor profile than the Cassia, emphasizing notes of vanilla and a hint of cacao (chocolatey) flavor. It was smooth and made for a lush-tasting, comforting drink.
As a longtime wine drinker, I approached these bottlings with a high level of curiosity. Although I am not ready to forego wine, I would enjoy drinking these very pleasant beverages on those occasions when I would prefer not to imbibe alcohol. If you have friends or family members who are into a healthy lifestyle or want to try something new that avoids alcohol but still be part of the festivities, Seraphim Social Beverages are an ideal choice.
Bob Sacks, longtime food and wine buff, writes about food, wine and restaurants. Follow him on Instagram @dinnerwithbob.
The article originally appeared in the February 29 –March 6, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
