January is a time for fresh starts, new beginnings and setting goals for the year ahead. Every year, up to 3 million people in the UK set New Year’s Resolutions. These promises that people make to themselves are often centred around self improvement. Making a change in habits, or starting a new behaviour in the new year to improve the quality of their lives or make positive change.
Often, however, these changes involve giving something up, cutting back, doing something you feel you should do, rather than something you want to.
What is Dry January?
In recent years, Dry January has become a go to New Year challenge for people up and down the UK. First launched in 2013, Dry January is a campaign from Alcohol Change UK, that challenges people to go without alcohol for the entire month of January. Dry January has enjoyed incredible growth since its establishment, with an estimated 15.5 million people attempting to ditch the booze in January 2025.
While it can be an empowering challenge for some, we know that Dry January isn't for everyone. That’s why, in 2025, we at O’Donnell Moonshine are embracing Try January instead.
What is Try January?
Try January (often stylized as #TryJanuary) was first established back in 2015. Its aim, in part, to support the hospitality industry, independent brewers and small drinks companies that often take a hit during January due to tightened purse strings, inclement weather and New Year’s Resolutions, including, of course, Dry January.
Try January is all about embracing the new in the New Year. Trying new flavours, new restaurants or bars, seeking out new experiences, and supporting smaller or independent businesses that offer something a little different from the norm.
It is a common misconception that Try January encourages drinking, or is about drinking more than usual. The focus of Try January is not about quantity but more on quality. It is about mindful enjoyment and consciously trying new things. Try January is all about discovery, exploring the unexpected and bringing a taste of joy to the start of the year!
Try January is neither about abstinence or excess. It is about bringing people together to try new things. Open to drinkers and non drinkers alike, it is a way to make a positive change in the new year that supports personal growth, trying new things, getting out and supporting small bars and businesses. And that is something we’re more than happy to raise a glass to.
What #TryJanuary means to us.
It probably won’t surprise anyone to read that Dry January isn’t really our thing at O’Donnell Moonshine. But, it may surprise you to know that our motivation for seeking out an alternative is far from simply being a booze company.
Our main reason for taking a Try January approach to 2025 is the endless world of opportunity it opens up. Rather than a glass half empty (or indeed an empty glass as Dry January may seem to encourage) is a glass overflowing approach to the New Year that encourages you to approach all aspects of your life with an open mind, curiosity and a ‘why not?’ attitude. And the best part, it is impossible to do ‘wrong’, meaning that anyone can get involved however, or to whatever extent they want.
It is an approach that champions moderation and mindful enjoyment over an extreme approach, which we think is a more positive and sustainable way to start the new year.
#TryJanuary with O’Donnell Moonshine in 2025
Here at O’Donnell, we think some of the best decisions in life happen when we embrace our curiosity and step outside of our usual box.
With a range of almost 20 spirits and liqueurs in flavours ranging from sweet and warm to sharp and fruity, we feel we are uniquely well placed to cater to people looking to explore new flavours this #TryJanuary.
5 Things to Try this Try January
Loved Wild Berry? Try Pomegranate!
Multi award-winning Wild Berry has been a mainstay on the O’Donnell bestseller list for years now. Rich and fruity, with bright notes of sharpness, this flavour works perfectly in spritzers, cocktails and simple lemonade or tonic mixes alike, making it arguably one of the most versatile flavours in the O’Donnell range.
But, if you’re looking for something new to try, why not give Pomegranate a whirl? Joining the O’Donnell range in November 2024, our second Community Edition flavour, Pomegranate offers a delicate fruity flavour with a bright, zesty twist, perfect paired with prosecco or tonic, for a refreshing 2025 tipple.
Loved Tough Nut Cream? Try Vanilla Cream!
An instant hit, when it launched as part of the 2023 O’Donnell Moonshine Advent Calendar, Tough Nut Cream was the first cream liqueur to enter the O’Donnell Moonshine range. A delicate balance of hazelnut, vanilla cream, and caramel, this decadent tipple is perfect for fans of indulgence and cosy nights in.
And, if you liked Tough Nut Cream, you’re sure to love Vanilla Cream! Smooth and sweet, with fine vanilla notes this flavour is simply indulgence squared, a classic flavour as you’ve never experienced it before!
Loved Tough Nut? Try Macadamia!
Our all time best-selling flavour, Tough Nut has been described as ‘drinking Ferraro Rocher’ or like ‘Toblerone in a jar’. With a sweet and warm flavour, blending hazelnut with fine notes of caramel and chocolate, it’s easy to see why this flavour has converted so many fans over the years!
Macadamia may well be the unsung hero of the O’Donnell range. With a warm, creamy flavour and subtle sweetness with fine vanilla notes, this one is like Tough Nut all grown up, perfect for fans of a boozy coffee or hot chocolate to warm up the long winter nights.
Loved Passion Fruit? Try Peach!
Exotic, sweet and with just the right amount of tang, Passion Fruit was THE flavour of the summer, when it launched back in 2023. Perfect for Pornstar Martinis and Passion Fruit spritzers, from boozy brunches to nights on the town, this flavour can do it all.
And if summer vibes are what you’re looking for, look no further than Peach! With its sweet and sunny flavour and bright colour this flavour could bring a taste of sunshine to any time of year.
Love Very Cherry? Try Roasted Apple!
With a deep fruity flavour and shocking red colour, Very Cherry has been one of our most popular flavours of the last couple of years. This flavour pairs perfectly with cola to create a classic cherry cola with a grown up Moonshine twist!
But, Very Cherry isn’t the only flavour in the O’Donnell repertoire that is reminiscent of childhood favourite flavours. With toasted almond notes and a gentle apple tang, our Roasted Apple flavour is often compared to a Bakewell flavour, with its warm, homely flavour reminding people of the classic treat!
