6 non-alcoholic spirits that don’t suck

It’s time to re-think how we think about non-alcoholic cocktails. Until recently, most non-alcoholic cocktails, or “mocktails”, were mostly based on juice, syrups, and sodas. Anyone who stopped drinking in recent years has probably seen a “virgin mojito” on a menu which consists of mint, lime, sugar, and club soda - not bad, but not exactly exciting either. And while I genuinely enjoy the odd Shirley Temple (a classic mocktail made from ginger beer and grenadine syrup), I get bored of sweet fizzy drinks pretty quickly. Some bars started getting more creative with ingredients such as teas, vinegar, and shrubs, which added another dimension to non-alcoholic drinks - but compared to alcoholic drinks, the options were still limited.

Enter: Non-alcoholic spirits. Now, the definition of “non-alcoholic spirit” is somewhat vague since anything could be called a “non-alcoholic gin/tequila/rum” etc if it' mirrors the taste of its alcoholic counterpart. Personally, I like the more specific definition of a “distilled drink that does not contain alcohol” - emphasis here on "distilled”. Just like alcoholic spirits, non-alcoholic spirits are usually made from plant matter (e.g. agave, grains, hemp, wood char…) that’s mashed up and distilled, i.e. heated to the point where the liquid evaporates and is caught as a concentrated version.

If you’re wondering whether there’s any alcohol involved in the process, the answer is: It depends. Some brands don’t ferment the product at all, some stop the fermentation process before it produces alcohol, some remove the alcohol produced by fermentation, and others actually use alcohol to extract flavors from the plant matter, which is then also removed at a later stage (see a comprehensive write-up of techniques here).

Many products that attempt to mirror alcoholic spirits also add capsaicin, a chili pepper spice, that adds a spiciness to the liquid that emulates the burn of alcohol.

And finally, most non-alcoholic spirits also add natural flavoring, preservatives, and occasionally thickeners such as glyerin or xanthan gum. I know, I know - we’re not fans of these additives either, but when it comes to getting close to the taste and mouthfeel of alcohol, as well as shelf stability, you just gotta do what you gotta do. And let’s not forget that alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen (in the same group as asbestos, tobacco, and radiation), so I’d say that liquor isn’t exactly a health-conscious choice either.

Now that I’ve given you a little bit of a background on how non-alcoholic spirits are made, let me get straight to the point: Many non-alcoholic spirits suck. There, I said it. At this point I’ve tasted dozens of non-alcoholic gins, tequilas, whiskeys, and other wannabe liquor, and most of them just taste like slightly flavored water. Or, in the case of products that add capsaicin, spicy water. While that’s not necessarily terrible, I also just find them not interesting enough to actually use them as a base for a cocktail. If you add slightly citrus flavored water to juice, all you get is very expensive juice.

But there are some exceptions: First of all, most products that emulate any kind of bitter spirit (usually red aperitifs such Aperol or Campari, as well as amaros, i.e. dark bitter liqueurs) usually hit their goal extremely well. My hypothesis here is that the main flavor for these drinks is bitter rather than boozy, so that the lack of alcohol isn’t as prominent as with more alcohol-heavy spirits. Plus, most of these bitters are high in sugar (just like their alcoholic counterparts, don’t come at me!) which creates a thicker mouthfeel.

And then there’s a very small and select group of actual straight up liquor replacements that actually work pretty well in a mixed drink. Don’t get me wrong, I still haven’t found a non-alcoholic (non-bitter) liquor substitute that I’d enjoy neat, but several spirits fare great when mixed with something as simple as tonic water or ginger beer.

Okay, enough of the theory - let me introduce you to my six favorite non-alcoholic spirits that don’t suck (according to my own personal unscientific opinion).

The Pathfinder

This bittersweet herbal non-alcoholic amaro is an all-time favorite, and a fantastic all-rounder. Enjoy it neat, as a spritz with club soda, or in any cocktail that needs some depth. If there’s only one bottle of NA spirits you want to get, make it this one.

Vera Aperitivo Classico

I genuinely like most non-alcoholic aperitifs - they’re hard to get wrong. Vera is a wonderful option, nice and bitter with some orange notes, which makes it great as a spritz in club soda or sparkling white wine, or as a Campari or a Aperol replacement in a cocktail.

Ritual Zero Proof Rum Alternative

Okay we're doing it - here’s our first straight up liquor replacement. The Ritual rum is one of the few non-alcoholic spirits that actually tastes boozy to me. It’s great as a simple Dark & Stormy with ginger beer, and I love it in espresso martinis, tiki drinks, and in hot drinks such as mulled wine and hot toddies.

BARE Zero Proof Reposado Style Tequila

The BARE tequila shines in, well, classic tequila drinks such as a margarita or a paloma that can handle a little bit of spice - it contains capsaicin and has quite a kick to it. I used it in a spicy prickly pear margarita at my Modern Love cocktail pop-up in October 2023 and people loved it!

Halftone NoHow N/A Gin

This is probably my most controversial pick: Some say this gin substitute tastes like “a swimming pool”, others find it bland. For me, this gin is heavy on juniper and piney flavors, and I really like that it does not have capsaicin, which means I can mix it in classic drinks such as a gin basil smash without any unwanted spiciness.

Aplos Calme

Okay, the Aplos is a little bit of a wildcard. It doesn’t really mirror an existing alcoholic spirit, nor do I know whether it’s actually distilled. Either way, it’s an excellent citrus-y herbal grassy hemp-based beverage with enough bitterness from dandelion and gentian root to make it real damn interesting. This is also great with just club soda and maybe some sweetener, or to provide some fresh herbal bitterness to a mixed drink.

You can purchase most of these products at Minus Moonshine, a non-alcoholic bottle shop in Brooklyn that also delivers nationwide. Check out their online store here!

And finally: Join our Dry January events in New York City! Whether you’re sober curious or just taking a night off from drinking, we welcome everyone who wants to socialize without alcohol. See our event listings for details!