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There are plenty of reasons to quit drinking alcohol: from preserving your youthful glow (alcohol dehydrates the skin) to getting better sleep, going alcohol-free has a myriad of health benefits. Even if you’re not quite ready to give up your evening wine routine or kiss your weekend cocktails goodbye, you can still switch it up from time to time with non-alcoholic drink alternatives — which also, by the way, can make a great addition to your New Year’s celebration.
Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks You Can Buy Online, at a Glance
Best Non-Alcoholic Liquor:Ritual Zero Proof Tequila
Best Non-Alcoholic Aperitif:Ghia
Best Non-Alcoholic Wine:FREE AF Sparkling Rosé
Best Non-Alcoholic Apple Cider:Martinelli’s Gold Medal Sparkling Cider
Best Non-Alcoholic Flavored Seltzer:Recess
Best Non-Alcoholic Cocktail:Mocktail Club Havana Twist
Best Non-Alcoholic Brunch Cocktail:V8 Grillo’s Pickles Dill Pickle Bloody Mary Mix
Best Non-Alcoholic Beer:Dos Equis Lime & Salt Zero
Non-alcoholic spirits and mocktails have been having a moment for the last couple of years, and we’re here for the hangover-free mornings. The new year can be a great time for a healthy reset, too. And since there’s a seemingly never-ending list of high-quality, zero-booze picks on the market right now — from faux wines to not-quite tequilas — you can have your guiltless nightcap (and drink it too).
And while these sober-friendly drinks are coming in handy for Dry January, we’re stocking up our bar carts with these actually great-tasting non-alcoholic spirits, apértifs, wines, and beers year-round. From tequilas to gins, more brands are serving up virgin liquors that are hard to differentiate from the real thing. As an added bonus, many of these conscious concoctions are made with natural ingredients (like hemp) to help your mind and body relax without the buzz. So, you can even consider drinking some of these as part of your wellness routine.
We’re manifesting good thoughts and good vibes going into 2024, starting with what’s in our cups. Check out these bartender-approved booze-free drink alternatives that just might give your go-to espresso martini a run for its money — and best of all, you can get these beverages delivered straight to your door. Cheers!
What Makes for a Good Non-Alcoholic Drink?
We know there are wine connoisseurs, beer aficionados and whiskey buffs, but how does one determine the quality of a non-alcoholic drink? We asked Pauline Idogho, CEO of the Mocktail Club. “If you’re moderating your alcohol intake but still want to enjoy a cocktail, you’re going to want a similar experience and flavor that you look for in an alcoholic cocktail,” says Idogho. “It’s about the balance of depth, piquancy (or bite) and complexity in flavors.”
Mixologists will typically agree that balance is key. Depth in terms of a cocktail typically refers to its various elements, while piquancy, or bite, refers more to its spiciness, acidity and strength. But there’s another all-important collection of attributes that contribute to the drink’s greatness, too: the ones that comprise its taste.
When formulating drinks for the Mocktail Club brand, Idogho says she and her team focused on “creating beverages with a balance of sweet, sour, bitter and sometimes spicy burn that feels like an elevated adult beverage but without the alcohol.” Idogho also drew inspiration from her world travels when putting all the flavors together, “so they have a lot of complexity based on combining ingredients in a unique way that pays homage to a particular destination.”
Of course, weeding through the non-alcoholic options — of which there are actually quite a few on the market — requires training your palate, and that means knowing what makes for a not-so-good non-alcoholic drink, too. Idogho admits it all boils down to personal preference, but in general, she avoids one-dimensional flavor profiles and artificial ingredients and sweeteners.
Let’s take a look at some top-shelf non-alcoholic drink options.
Ritual Zero Proof Tequila
There are some clever companies out there making actual liquor-free ‘liquors’ that provide such an identical flavor profile to the real thing that you could almost have a placebo buzz! Ritual Zero Proof is one of the leading brands, and their non-alcoholic Tequila is a fan favorite. It has the same grassy, smoky taste but with zero gluten or calories, very little sugar and all-natural flavors.
Ghia Non-Alcoholic Aperitif
Ghia Non-Alcoholic Apéritif is a Mediterranean-inspired sipper with notes of citrus, rosemary, and herbs. Use it to make spritzers, sip a glass before your meal, or use it anywhere you would normally add Campari or Aperol.
FREE AF Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé, Ready to Drink Mocktail with Afterglow, Low Calories, Crisp & Light, 8.4 fl oz Cans (12 pack)
Free AF has a wide selection of non-alcoholic mocktails but the sparkling rosé is our favorite. It even contains a special 100% natural botanical heat extract that mimics the pleasant warmth of drinking alcohol – without the alcohol.
Mocktail Club Havana Twist – 4-pack
You’ve heard of cocktails in a can — here’s mocktails in a can! This non-alcoholic cocktail by the Mocktail Club uses a mix of lime, cucumber, mint and cardamom; think of a mojito-inspired drink without the rum.
Recess Sparkling Water Sampler 6-pack
Recess was one of the first brands to get in on the hemp-infused drink craze. Just as its cheeky name suggests, sipping on one of these calming beverages feels like you’re taking an adult recess (without feeling tired or wired). The fancy flavors include Coconut Lime, Peach Ginger, and Blackberry Chai. They’re made with mind-balancing ingredients including L-theanine, lemon balm, American Ginseng, and of course, hemp.
Martinelli’s Gold Medal Sparkling Cider
This one is a classic and for good reason — it’s absolutely delicious.
V8 Grillo’s Pickles Dill Pickle Bloody Mary Mix, 8 fl oz Can (24 Pack)
In case you haven’t heard, pickle beverages are all the rage right now and are predicted to continue to grow in popularity. We love the salty, briny drink trend and these non-alcoholic Bloody Mary mixes are one of our favorite ways to take part in the trend.
Dos Equis Lime & Salt Zero
Beer is the O.G. non-alcoholic drink and Dos Equis is the O.G. leader in high-quality beer. It’s no surprise the brand finally debuted a booze-free brew. Lime & Salt Zero is a tasty beer even for people who don’t love beer — and just the thing to bust out this summer at your inaugural cookout.
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