Jessica Booth
Whether you’re cutting back on your alcoholic beverages or simply living a sober lifestyle, investing in some great quality non-alcoholic “spirits” isn’t a bad idea.
Non-alcoholic spirits offer a cocktail experience without any of the side effects of alcohol. These drinks are made from botanicals and other distilled ingredients, and while they don’t include any alcohol, they do taste remarkably similar to, say, whiskey, tequila, or gin. They’re a great option for anyone who wants to drink less but genuinely enjoys alcohol, or someone who can’t drink.
Interestingly enough, they’ve also never been more popular. Trends have shown that millennials are more interested in non-alcoholic spirits than ever before, mostly due to an increased interest in overall wellness. And with plenty of brands that create great-tasting, sober alternatives, it’s easier than ever to nix the booze. Here are a few of the best that are worth trying:
Wilderton Earthen
Wilderton uses plants from around the world to create flavor combinations that mimic those of traditional spirits. The Earthen drink is a mix of white peppercorn, pine-smoked tea, and cardamom, and has a spicy, woodsy, and smoky flavor that is both warm and robust.
It’s described as “Reminiscent of a calming hike through dense Oregon rainforests mixed with memories from spice markets of the East,” which, really, could not sound more appealing. It’s gluten-free, calorie-free, and allergen-free, and is a great healthier option if you’re looking for an interesting drink.
Lyre’s Italian Orange
Lyre’s offers an expansive range of flavor options that look, taste, and smell just like the alcohol they’re based on—expect there’s no alcohol to be found, of course.
Their gold medal best seller is the Italian Orange, which is crafted to mimic a bitter orange aperitif, like a Campari (but maybe even better). You’ll taste a mix of blood orange and red citrus, with maraschino for sweetness. It has a pithy dryness to it and pairs well with any kind of citrus, soda, or tonic water as a spritz.
Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative
Ritual Zero Proof offers the taste of gin, tequila, or whiskey without, you know, the alcohol. These plant-based botanical drinks were created by three friends who are also foodies, and who were passionate about putting together something that tasted like the real thing, but better.
Their best seller is the Ritual Tequila Alternative, which is the highest ranking non-alcoholic beverage in the world. It was made with margarita making in mind, and is a mix of blue agave, tropical guava, spicy black peppercorn, charred oak and mesquite smoke, and Mexican lime. It has a clean, spicy finish, and makes an excellent virgin margarita.
Lagunita’s IPNA
Lagunita’s jumped on the non-alcoholic beer trend with their IPNA, a non-alcoholic IPA. It was inspired by their love of hops and is brewed with the same ingredients found in their popular traditional IPAs (hops, malt, yeast, and water).
It’s made with high quality malts and dry hop from the Yakima Valley hops for a unique full body and big hoppy aroma. It has just 80 calories, so it’s a healthier option as well, which is great for anyone who’s trying to eat better but loves a good IPA.
You can use their retailer finder to find out where to buy this near you.
Seedlip
You really can’t talk about non-alcoholic spirits without mentioning Seedlip, one of the first brands out there to introduce these types of popular botanical beverages. Seedlip uses high quality ingredients to create delicious plant-based options, and they are also known for their expertly crafted cocktails—not to mention the gorgeous packaging.
Seedlip Spice 94 is a warm blend of allspice and cardamom with fresh citrus notes that is vegan, sugar free, and calorie free. It’s perfect for chilly winter weather and works well in a variety of their cocktail ideas.
Kin Euphorics Kin Spritz
Kin Euphorics makes beverages that are a blend of adaptogens, nootropics, and botanics. They’re described as being “rich in healthful restorative pleasures that help you rise to every occasion.” Not only do they taste good, but they also aim to keep you feeling relaxed and at ease.
Kin Spritz is their most popular blend and is a sparkling euphoric made with fresh citrus, warm spice, hibiscus, and ginger.
TÖST
Looking for the taste of sparkling wine without the alcohol? Try TÖST, a sparkling beverage that is dry and not too sweet. It looks and tastes like sparkling wine and champagne, but it definitely won’t give you a hangover.
TÖST is a blend of all-natural ingredients like white tea, white cranberry, and ginger for a meaningful and enjoyable experience. They triple filter their water and use only a small amount of agave for taste and sweetness.
Curious Elixirs
While most of the non-alcoholic beverages on this list are meant to be mixed with other beverages to create cocktails, Curious Elixirs are already crafted into delicious cocktails (or, I guess, mocktails) you can drink straight from the bottle.
Curious Elixirs No. 3 is described as in the most magical way: “This booze-free beauty is like if Chartreusian monks and Ayurvedic masters got together for apres-ski cocktails in the Alps.” Does anything sound more peaceful? It’s inspired by cocktails like Cucumber Collins and the French 75, and is boosted with ashwagandha, which is meant to boost relaxation.
Borrago
Borrago is a natural and non-alcoholic alternative named after the borage, a beautiful blue-purple edible flower. It was designed to be mixed with other drinks and is dry with sweet floral notes. It acts as an excellent non-alcoholic base for most cocktails and, on top of that, comes in a really aesthetically pleasing bottle.
Monday
This extremely attractive bottle of Monday is a non-alcoholic version of gin. It’s a full-flavored, dry London-style gin with no alcohol, and can be paired with tonic and a slice of lime for a “gin and tonic” that is totally sober-friendly.
This one has no sugar, no carbs, and no calories, and it is gluten-free, vegan, paleo and keto approved, and was handcrafted in small batches in a family-owned Southern California distillery. The taste is on point, and you definitely won’t mind showing off the bottle.
SipClean
For those who prefer wine to alcohol, there’s SipClean, a non-alcoholic rosé wine that tastes just like the real thing. It’s made from high-quality grapes from vineyards in California. It’s created using the traditional wine process to create flavor and balance, then a state-of-the-art spinning cone technology removes the alcohol while preserving the aromas and flavors of the original wine.
Conveniently, SipClean comes in individually packaged cans that make them easy to tote around anywhere.
