Lent has always favored simplicity. Fewer words. Fewer distractions. Evenings that pass quietly, without the sense that they need to be filled.
In the world of Even the Faithful, this kind of restraint would have felt familiar. In the late 1940s and early ’50s, people did not speak in the language of “mindfulness” or “intentional living,” but they understood seasons that called for less. Less indulgence. Less display. More attention to the shape of ordinary days.
For modern readers choosing to give up alcohol for Lent, the challenge is not deprivation so much as habit. What do you pour in the evening when the ritual remains, but the contents change?
These alcohol-free drinks are designed for that moment. They are not meant to replace cocktails or imitate them. They rely on classic flavors, simple preparation, and a sense of quiet completeness—appropriate for a season of restraint.
Bitters & Citrus Water
Bitters and soda once occupied a space between medicine and refreshment. Taken slowly, it feels deliberate rather than indulgent.
Ingredients:
Sparkling water or club soda
Fresh orange or grapefruit juice
2–3 dashes nonalcoholic bitters
Instructions:
Fill a glass with ice, add a splash of citrus juice, and top with sparkling water. Finish with bitters and stir gently.
Best for: early evenings, or moments when you want something bracing but understated.
Warm Apple and Spice
A drink that feels at home in late winter. Familiar, modest, and quietly comforting.
Ingredients:
Apple cider or Simply Apple
Cinnamon stick or pinch of ground cinnamon
Optional: clove or nutmeg
Instructions:
Warm cider gently on the stove with spices. Strain if needed and serve hot.
Variation: add a thin slice of fresh ginger for a sharper edge.
Lemon Water with Honey
Not every drink needs to be dressed up. This one is as old as habit itself.
Ingredients:
Hot or cold water
Fresh lemon juice
Honey, to taste
Instructions:
Stir lemon juice and honey into water until dissolved. Drink slowly.
Best for: nights when simplicity feels like the point.
Black Tea with Citrus Peel
Tea has always belonged to seasons of restraint. Served plainly, it asks for attention rather than indulgence.
Ingredients:
Strong black tea
Strip of lemon or orange peel
Instructions:
Brew tea as usual. Add citrus peel and let steep for an additional minute before removing.
Optional: a small spoon of sugar, though it’s not required.
Lent does not demand joylessness. It asks instead for intention, for small choices made thoughtfully, and for habits examined rather than abandoned outright.
An alcohol-free glass in the evening can still mark the end of the day. It can still be warm in the hands. It can still invite pause.
Sometimes, that is enough.
Photo by Angello Pro on Unsplash