Drinking is experiencing, especially with alcohol-free

Its goal is to make better non-alcoholic drinks more readily available and its mission is to let everyone enjoy the best non-alcoholic alternatives. Mariëlle Timmermans has a passion for non-alcoholic drinks and made it her job. With Amavine she shows that taste and experience make for an unforgettable evening, not the alcohol.

'Amavine is a boutique where browsing, experiencing, finding gems and personal attention are central'

She herself was never a big drinker, but there was a drink every now and then. “On holiday I could enjoy a beautifully made glass. Still, I often thought: what if this delicious gin and tonic were alcohol-free?”, says Mariëlle. After she had a serious sports accident and regularly had to sit with her leg up, Mariëlle immersed herself in the world that is called alcohol-free. Mariëlle: “I have always been fascinated by the relationship we have with alcohol. It's part of the good times and the bad times. Instagram and Facebook are full of them. And if you don't participate, you are often 'unsociable'. When I was in the rag basket, I started ordering, tasting, contacting suppliers, asking questions and in the meantime I increased my knowledge and developed my own taste.”

An online boutique

Amavine was born. Not a webshop, but a boutique. “A webshop sounds so distant. And it doesn't fit the feeling I want to give people. My passion goes beyond selecting the best flavours. I like to help people on their way in their search for the perfect non-alcoholic alternative. That's why I think 'boutique' fits better with Amavine. You browse around in a boutique, shopping is an experience, you hope to find a gem and someone is there for you with advice. If you're looking around on Amavine and you don't know exactly what you're looking for, you can use the drop-down menu. Here you indicate, for example, with what kind of dishes you want to drink your non-alcoholic alternative. Whether it is halal, organic or vegan. And whether the number of calories plays a role. Still unsure? You can always call, WhatsApp or email me. I am happy to help you on your way.”

Non-alcoholic is hip

The time when only pregnant women and total abstainers do not drink alcohol is behind us. The group of conscious (non-)drinkers has grown considerably over the past ten years. People want to have a nice evening without having to pay the price for it the next day. “Going through life alcohol-free, or going through life partly alcohol-free, is becoming increasingly popular. And the non-alcoholic products are also getting better and better,” says Mariëlle. “For example, de-alcoholization techniques have improved considerably, there are now special vintages for non-alcoholic wines, and more non-alcoholic drink categories are being added.”

As for the latter; in addition to non-alcoholic wine and beer, the development of non-alcoholic spirits (spirits) is also taking off. Mariëlle: “There are very good non-alcoholic gins as well as rums and whiskies. In addition, we are introduced to alternatives that have no alcoholic equivalent. Like sparkling tea. Since there is no such thing as tea with alcohol, you cannot compare. Something many people still do when they taste the non-alcoholic alternative to wine, beer or a spirit. In this way, you may give up after a first test attempt 'because it doesn't taste exactly the same as your trusted wine or beer.' And that's a shame. Because during your search for an alternative, you have to give your taste the chance to recalibrate. And instead of thinking, "Is this somewhat like wine or beer?", ask yourself, "Could I also enjoy this drink tomorrow?" Give yourself some time and who knows, you might find the alternative that you will enjoy for a lifetime.”