But as more people become sober-curious, fully sober, or simply want a more fun night off, many of us are looking for a tasty alternative. You can now find artisan sparkling waters in beer bottles; gin and tequila mimics that create your favorite mixed drink with no ABV; and countless mixers that provide a herbaceous element to a sober cocktail. You can absolutely fix a fancy nonalcoholic cocktail for yourself (or a loved one) without nonalcoholic spirits. The gin alternatives, booze-free rums, alcohol-free wines, and other bottles listed in this guide aren’t a necessity, especially if you pay attention to the fundamentals of nonalcoholic cocktails we’ve shared here. But a bottle or two from this list can make it easier to make great tasting zero-proof drinks (or mocktails, or whatever you care to call them). You can think of each option below as a shortcut to flavors that might take an array of ingredients to put together yourself.
But the red wine mimic, Jukes 6, has a deep, slightly fruity, mostly spicy taste with a subtle earthiness that gives it that true wine feel. Jukes Cordiality was created by British award-winning wine writer and wine taster, Matthew Jukes, to mirror the depth, taste, and ability to enhance the flavor of food as wine, but without the alcohol. Whether you’re looking to reduce your alcohol intake or you’re abstaining completely, countless products are now available to help you craft a sophisticated (or basic) zero-proof cocktail. Some companies are starting to roll out alcohol-free bitters, which are a good alternative if you’re looking to avoid alcohol completely. According to the Food and Drug Administration, a beverage that is labeled “alcohol-free” should not contain any traceable amounts of alcohol, whereas a nonalcoholic product is one that contains less than 0.5% ABV (1). Overall, because alcohol affects nearly every system in your body, not drinking can be a meaningful step toward whole-body health.
The Wasabi Company offer a number of flavored drinking kinds of vinegar which they suggest mixing with sparkling water and fruit. When poured into a glass with garnish and ice you won’t feel like you’re missing out. To find the best nonalcoholic drinks we sampled over 140 products, from pre-made spritzes to nonalcoholic wines, alcohol-free beers and spirits to ready-to-sip libations that made convincing stunt doubles for cocktails. Also from Pentire, this vibrant vermillion Coastal Spritz mix has blood orange and oakwood flavors and is the newest addition to their zero-proof line of spirits. The brand’s mission is to create a “grown-up drinking experience without the side effects,” and it has truly delivered with this beachy blend that would pair perfectly with summer sunshine. Mix with soda water or tonic for a refreshing at-home treat or grab a pack of cans to enjoy wherever your adventures lead.
Our emotional and physical health needs change day to day and over longer periods of time. Vacations, weekends, and small breaks throughout the day all bring benefits and are important for health and well-being. “There’s something very, very joyful about putting on your favorite music and dancing around the room by yourself,” says Fong.
Remember that some healthy foods, including oils and dairy, can still have a lot of calories. Some fruits can have a lot of natural sugar, especially when they are dried. Added sugars do not occur naturally in foods but instead are used to alternatives to alcohol sweeten foods and drinks. They include brown sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, raw sugar, and sucrose. With fun Gen-Z branding and an aesthetic Instagram presence, Kin has been everywhere lately.
“Taste is paramount, and our cocktails are highly crafted, complex and layered with flavors that open up over ice just like traditional cocktails,” Bryne says. Carbonation opens up the nose, bringing out subtle floral notes and sweetness. A squeeze of citrus elevates it to a refreshing, tart, woodsy drink that we love to sip.
Created by Katy Perry and Morgan McLachlan, De Soi makes wellness-focused, adaptogen-infused nonalcoholic aperitifs. “I’ve got a young daughter, and when Katy and I met the first time, we both agreed that your kid gets up at the same time if you have a hangover or not, and De Soi makes that a thing of the past,” Bodkins says. De Soi makes three flavors — Champignon Dreams, Golden Hour and, Bodkins’ favorite, Purple Lune — all available in canned or bottled varieties. Founded by a former hydroponic farmer, Little Saints believes in the power of plant-based food innovations.