Along comes January in sensible trousers, professing abstinence and a desire for a new gym routine, healthier eating and the chance for a ‘new you’.

Yet let’s face it, January kind of sucks – the joie de vivre of Christmas is done with and whilst the evenings are getting lighter, the weather is getting colder, wetter, slippery and for once it’s even snowing! Rather than adding to this scenario by cutting out booze altogether why not use the first month (or two) in a different way – it’s time to try new things whether that be a grape, a region, a spirit or a new dish. That’s why Try Jan is much better than Dry Jan!

A great start is to focus on more but less – spend a little more to experience something unusual and original but have a little less of it; we all know in life you don’t always get what you pay for, so the focus should be value for money and jumping to a single bottle for £15-20 rather than two cheaper bottles can be incredibly rewarding. The higher price (big brands potentially aside) often means more interesting grape varieties, more sustainable vineyard practices and more attentive winemaking, leading to greater complexity, balance and character.

From 1st February, the price of a bottle of wine or spirit will have risen by almost £1 a bottle in the past year, taking in to account duty, VAT and waste packaging tax (EPR) increases. The great image below shows how the more you spend directly impacts how much money the winemaker has to put towards the actual production over taxes, packaging and transport costs. So, you really do get better juice for your money with just a slight increase in spend.

With this in mind if you’re celebrating this January, or are just partial to a glass of fizz at the weekend get some Tuffeau Blanc de Blancs open instead of the regular prosecco. Tuffeau is 100% Chardonnay (the Blanc de Blancs tag) with delicate bubbles and loads of zesty green apple and citrus flavours. £17.50 .

Continuing the theme of trying new things this time of year is perfect for cooking up something new - we’re talking long, slow cooking to really pull out depths of flavour, such as a long braised lamb leg with Moroccan spices and a raisin & nut laden couscous – warming, unctuous and crying out for a luxurious red. Mathilde Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge is perfect for this – almost Chateauneuf-du-Pape in style, this organic grenache/syrah blend has jammy fruits, hints of smoke and a long, velvety finish. £17.99 

If less is your focus and you’re after a fun yet rewarding lower alcohol option, look no further than Hermann Ludes Riesling from Germany. Focused on producing drier, elegant wines in the Mosel, Ludes have created a delightful Riesling that is herbal with bold lemon curd notes and a zesty palate but still in an off-dry style at a lower 11.5% ABV. £13.99 .

If spirits are your thing, today is the day to try the World’s Best Single Malt – The English Sherry Cask. English Whisky aged in casks that were previously used to age Pedro Ximenez sherry in Norfolk (then used in their PX liqueur), this has a symphony of dark fruits, almonds, vanilla, and honey on the palate. Plus, it’s even out of stock at The English Distillery – we’ve got some for £65!

We’ve been fans of Rebels for years – an innovative alcohol-free spirit alternatives from Switzerland, double-distilled with natural botanicals. The range is extensive, but particular highlights are the Malt Blend whisky alternative, the Sweet Amaretti for a guilt free amaretto & coke, and the newly released Rosso, a brilliant bitter aperitif. £27.50 .

So, there it is – drink less but better sounds like much more fun than a January of abstinence and cold winter nights.