With the August Bank Holiday just around the corner, SENTIA is putting a new spin on summer hosting with four easy cocktails designed to bring the ritual and sociability of a drink to the table – without the alcohol.
Billed as the world’s first GABA-enhancing alcohol-free spirit, SENTIA has been developed around the science of how alcohol affects the brain. Created by neuropsychopharmacologist Professor David Nutt, the brand explores the role of GABA – gamma-aminobutyric acid – a neurotransmitter involved in the brain’s relaxation pathways.
Rather than simply replicating the taste of a traditional spirit, SENTIA says its botanical blends are designed to support the brain’s natural GABA system, helping create a sense of calm and sociability without ethanol.
You can find out more about the brand and its approach to GABA on the official SENTIA website.
What is SENTIA?
The science behind SENTIA centres on GABA, which plays an important role in regulating activity in the brain. Alcohol is known to interact with the GABA system, contributing to some of the relaxed and less inhibited feelings associated with having a drink.
SENTIA takes a different approach, using selected botanical ingredients designed to modulate the effectiveness of naturally occurring GABA in the brain.
According to the brand, its drinks are 0% ABV and are designed to offer a social drinking experience without intoxication or an alcohol-induced hangover. SENTIA also states that its products are vegan, caffeine-free and gluten-free.
Its range includes GABA Gold, GABA Red and GABA Black, each designed around a different drinking occasion and flavour profile. Explore the SENTIA range.
Four SENTIA Cocktails to Try This Bank Holiday
Whether you’re hosting a BBQ, heading into the garden or planning a long Bank Holiday lunch, these four serves offer an easy way to make alcohol-free drinks feel like part of the occasion.
Golden Mango Spritz
Tropical, sparkling and simple to prepare, the Golden Mango Spritz combines SENTIA GABA Gold with juicy mango and soda water.
Ingredients:
- 50ml SENTIA GABA Gold
- 12.5ml mango syrup
- Soda water, to top
- Fresh mango slices
- Fresh mint
Method:
Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the SENTIA GABA Gold and mango syrup, then top with soda water. Stir gently and garnish with fresh mango slices and mint.
Fruit Punch
Planning a Bank Holiday gathering? The Fruit Punch is made for sharing. SENTIA GABA Red is combined with mango, pineapple, tropical and orange juices before being topped with Sprite and loaded with fresh fruit.
Ingredients:
- 250ml SENTIA GABA Red
- 250ml mango juice
- 150ml pineapple juice
- 200ml tropical juice
- 150ml orange juice
- 90ml fresh lemon juice
- 75ml grenadine
- Sprite, to top
- Assorted fresh fruit
Method:
Slice an assortment of fresh fruit and add it to a large pitcher. Pour in the SENTIA GABA Red, juices and grenadine, then stir well. Top with Sprite just before serving and add plenty of fresh fruit.
SENTIA Paloma
For something sharper and more refreshing, the SENTIA Paloma combines grapefruit, fresh lime and agave with GABA Gold.
Ingredients:
- 60ml SENTIA GABA Gold
- 60ml fresh grapefruit juice
- 15ml fresh lime juice
- 10ml agave nectar
- Sparkling water, to top
- Grapefruit wheel
Method:
Fill a glass with ice and add the SENTIA GABA Gold, grapefruit juice, lime juice and agave nectar. Stir well, top with sparkling water and garnish with a grapefruit wheel.
SENTIA Mojito
A summer classic gets an alcohol-free makeover with SENTIA GABA Gold, fresh mint, lime and crushed ice.
Ingredients:
- 50ml SENTIA GABA Gold
- 15ml fresh lime juice
- 10ml simple syrup
- 6–8 fresh mint leaves
- 4–5 lime wedges
- Soda water, to top
- Crushed ice
- Lime wheel and mint sprig
Method:
Gently muddle the mint leaves and lime wedges in a highball glass. Add crushed ice, SENTIA GABA Gold, lime juice and simple syrup, then stir. Add more crushed ice and top with soda water before garnishing with a lime wheel and mint sprig.
A Different Kind of Bank Holiday Buzz
From pitchers on the BBQ table to refreshing spritzes in the garden, SENTIA is positioning its drinks as an alternative for those who want to take part in the social ritual of drinking without reaching for alcohol.
With the August Bank Holiday offering plenty of opportunities for long afternoons and late evenings, these serves could make a useful addition to any alcohol-free drinks menu – particularly for hosts looking for something more distinctive than traditional soft drinks.
For more information about SENTIA and the science behind its GABA-enhancing drinks, visit the SENTIA website or explore its GABA science and sociability guide.
