If you are still reeling from your holiday indulgences, you may be considering participating in Dry January. This period of abstinence is traditionally used as a time to recover from the excesses of the season, to make healthier choices and to give your system a break from alcohol.
For those who love the idea of waking up clear-eyed for an entire month while still enjoying a delicious frosty beverage, nonalcoholic spirits are here. These are no longer the pale imitations of their tipsy doppelgangers. Nonalcoholic spirits have come a long way and are now popular year-round.
In this article: Abstinence Spirits Cape Citrus, Ritual Zero Proof Rum Alternative and Free Spirits The Spirit of Gin.
Alcohol-free spirits (also referred to as NA, or nonalcoholic spirits interchangeably) are not made in quite the same way as their boozy counterparts.
One popular method uses maceration and extraction. Maceration simply refers to soaking different botanicals and other fruits in a liquid to extract the essence before diluting it with water or other flavorings and additives.
Some nonalcoholic spirits use a type of reverse distillation, aiming to get rid of alcohol instead of extracting it. Once alcohol is distilled, the liquid is passed through a membrane that removes it.
Nonalcoholic spirits are often held to the same standard as your favorite alcohols. They should have a complex flavor that is balanced either on its own or with the judicious use of proper cocktail mixers.
Taste is highly subjective, so what one person finds delicious, another might find odd. But most experts agree that in order to be truly special, a nonalcoholic spirit needs to have something that resembles alcohol’s signature burn. This can be recreated with botanicals and spices that create heat, bitterness or sour notes.
One of the best parts about nonalcoholic spirits, though, is that you can sample as many and as much as you like without the brutal morning after. And just because your January is dry doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Host a tasting party and have everyone bring a bottle of their favorite NA spirit to try.
It's important to note which non-alcoholic spirits are best in a mocktail versus those that can be sipped neat or over fancy molded ice. How do you know which is which? Most manufacturers want you to have the best experience with their product. Check the label to see the recommended preparation.
Abstinence Spirits Cape Citrus
Abstinence Spirits is an Amazon brand that specializes in alcohol-free products to replace your usual cocktail mixings. The Cape Citrus flavor is a fan favorite for all kinds of mocktails. It's also calorie- and sugar-free.
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Seedlip is a clear botanical beverage that picks up hints of rosemary and thyme. It's the perfect option for mixing with ginger ale and mint for a refreshing mocktail, plus it has zero calories and no sugar. Six botanicals and spices provide a complex flavor that is not meant to be consumed on its own.
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Ritual Zero Proof Rum Alternative
If you are a lover of tiki drinks and dark and stormys, Ritual’s rum alternative is for you. This is specifically designed to replace rum in a one-to-one ratio for your favorite cocktails. It has notes of vanilla and warming spice. It also earned the highest rating yet for an alcohol free rum, garnering 88 out of 100 points from the Beverage Testing Institute.
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Free Spirits The Spirit of Gin
Not only does this alcohol-free spirit have traditional gin notes of juniper and citrus, but it also contains vitamins B3 and B6 and amino acids to give you a gentle boost of energy. Coriander and cardamom round out the robust bouquet of this beverage, adding complexity to your favorite gin-based cocktails.
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Lyre's Non Alcoholic Spirits Mixed
If you don't want to worry about what non-alcoholic spirit goes with what mixer, this is the beverage for you. Sample three cocktails, including G&T To Taste, Classico To Taste, and Amalfi To Taste. Each has delicious, complex flavors that mimic your favorite refreshing drinks. G&T features notes of tonic, citrus and juniper; Classico leans on ripe green apple and pear; and Amalfi sends you to the coast with the intense bitter and sour notes of orange, rhubarb and elderflower. This is one case of four cocktails each.
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TÖST All-Natural Alcohol Free Sparkling Beverage
Celebrate the everyday with this three-pack of nonalcoholic sparkling wine. With a taste of cranberry, ginger and white tea, this sparkling spirit can be enjoyed on its own or in classic cocktails like mimosas and French 75s. It’s also available in rose. This spirit is gluten-free, but does contain 11 grams of sugar per serving.
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Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative
One of the hardest spirits to make without alcohol is whiskey, and Ritual makes one of the best. It has the complex flavor of smoke, caramel and oak. Use this spirit for everything from Old-Fashioneds to whiskey sours, or add a splash of seltzer and enjoy it over ice.
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How about a non-alcoholic nightcap with the rich flavors of oak, clove and cinnamon? Add melatonin, L-theanine and reishi mushroom for a relaxing, deep sleep without the morning-after feeling. Mix this complex spirit with oat milk, almond milk or ginger beer. It can be warmed for an even more comforting experience. It is vegan and has no dairy, gluten, nuts or sugar.
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Lovers of tequila and mezcal, here’s one for you. It tastes of citrus and apple, with finishing notes of smoky agave. This complex spirit is made for mixing, so grab your grapefruit for a paloma, or squeeze some fresh limes into the best margarita without the hangover.
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Dhos Orange Nonalcoholic Liquor
This NA spirit has the sweet and silky mouthfeel of your favorite liquor, with tasting notes of orange, tangerine and clementine. It finishes with a complex mix of menthol and spice, plus vanilla and milky orange sherbet. It is sugar free and has just five calories per serving.
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Damrak Virgin Zero Proof Cocktail Kit
Not sure where to start? This mocktail kit includes a clear, alcohol-free spirit plus three mixers: sparkling grapefruit, elderflower tonic and tonic. Craft citrus-forward cocktails with a spirit that combines 10 botanical essences that include lavender, ginger, cinnamon and juniper berry.
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Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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