One of the major selling points of a good bourbon is its age statement. It tells the story of the liquid in the bottle and gives you a better idea of what you’re getting before you crack open the seal. While Bare Zero-Proof Bourbon Whiskey isn’t actually an aged spirit, it is created in a way that replicates a bourbon that’s been aged for four years.
How to Quit Drinking Alcohol
The founders of hiyo wanted to make an alternative to alcohol that was as delicious as it was healthy. The seltzers come in 12-ounce cans and are full of organic adaptogens to counteract the effects of stress on the body and nootropics to support healthy brain functions, along with real fruit juice. They have a smooth, fruity taste that’s surprisingly sweet (but not too sweet) for a drink that only has three grams of drug addiction substance use disorder symptoms and causes added sugar. I loved their strawberry guava flavor, a juicy, fruity, summery treat that’s perfect for the beach, but you can also pick up a variety pack that includes other flavors like peach mango and blackberry lemon. And the drinks are more than just tasty — all their seltzers are designed to give you “the float,” a mood-boosting sensation owing to their L-theanine, lion’s mane, ashwagandha, and other botanicals.
Rasasvada Rose Bergamot Nonalcoholic Spirit
Caleño Light & Zesty was underwhelming but inoffensive, tasting of banana, bay leaf, and lychee. Amass Riverine ($35 for a 750 mL bottle at the time of publication) is peppery, astringent, and overwhelmingly piney. You may like this drink if you go for forest-floor flavors, and we should note that several experts recommended it to us. Casamara Club’s Italian Amaro Leisure Sodas might be more accurately called botanical seltzers, as they don’t taste all that similar to an amaro and aren’t nearly as concentrated in flavor as a soda. But we liked their refreshing subtlety, and we could see ourselves drinking a few over the course of a day at the beach or pool. One of the more complex, balanced aperitifs we tasted, Ghia boasts grapefruit-like bitterness, herbal notes, and a gingery kick.
Spiritless Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Whiskey
We loved the heat of Livener, but some tasters found the drink a bit too sweet to drink straight. Poured over ice, the flavors blend and the sweetness mellows, creating a more dynamic and subtle drinking experience. Our tasters found Livener uncomplicatedly delicious, but those who preferred more challenging, herbaceous drinks found it underwhelming. Athletic Brewing is pretty much the gold standard when it comes to non-alcoholic beer, making brews that deliver on flavor and are targeted towards active people who love beer as much as they love fitness. Their most popular brew, their Run Wild IPA, has an approachable bitterness and a malty body typical of a West Coast IPA, and it’s racked up an impressive 20+ awards, like the best non-alcoholic beer in the US at the World Beer Awards.
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Taurine offers a unique alternative to alcohol, providing mood regulation (great for social nervousness), cognitive support, and maintaining energy and mental clarity. This increased bioavailability of Picamilon exerts some remarkable effects on the brain. What I’ve noticed from personal use is a pleasant euphoric buzz that parallels the sensation one might experience after consuming alcohol—without any of the negative side effects like impaired cognition or coordination issues.
CleanCo is a British-based non-alcoholic spirit company that makes gin, tequila, rum, and vodka alternatives. Its Clean T, a no-ABV tequila replacement, is a very decent mimic of the Mexican spirit. “People shouldn’t avoid drinking alcohol as a means of relaxing but they should try to stay within limits and not use it to deal with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression or PTSD,” Professor Nutt stated. Newsweek spoke to experts to learn about how to avoid liquor as a means of relaxation and the benefits of alcohol alternatives. Three Spirit Nightcap ($40 for a 500 mL bottle at the time of publication) was funky, earthy, and herby, with prominent mushroom flavors, but it lacked any sweetness to balance all of that out. Caleño Dark & Spicy ($35 for a 500 mL bottle at the time of publication) lacked complexity and was overly sweet, tasting of butterscotch candy and artificial coconut.
Seedlip Garden 108 and Pentire Adrift are somewhat similar—both are clear, bright, vegetal spirits—but Garden 108 is sweeter, less tart, and more subtle. Some nonalcoholic drinks are faux versions of alcoholic spirits, like, say, alcohol-free tequilas. For this guide, we mostly tasted and picked beverages that, rather than mimicking liquors, are crafted to hold their own in complexity, maturity, and uniqueness. Seedlip was born after founder Ben Branson was given a “sickly sweet pink mocktail” at a restaurant one night.
If you have rose water and sugar (or a pound or two of fresh rose petals casually lying around), you can find recipes to make your own rose syrup. It’s a pretty minuscule amount, but if you need to avoid all alcohol for health reasons, talk to your healthcare provider before trying them. Just because you’ve volunteered to be DD or would rather not have to crawl home from the bar doesn’t mean you need to sip https://sober-home.org/how-does-alcohol-use-interact-with-anger/ on soda for the night. Studies show that kombucha can contain anywhere from less than 0.5% ABV to more than 3% ABV, depending on when the manufacturer stops the fermentation process (27, 28). In fact, adaptogens seem to function differently in different people. Additionally, many adaptogens can interact with prescription medications, and some, such as ashwagandha, are likely unsafe during pregnancy (26).
We also asked a few bartenders and industry experts from across the country to weigh in on their current favorite nonalcoholic picks. Forget the usual “and soda” booze alternatives that you crack vs coke get stuck with at parties! Seedlip distilled nonalcoholic spirits take fizzy drinks to another level. Generally speaking, nonalcoholic spirits are not designed to be consumed straight up.
- I also love that the large bottle has the presence of wine or champagne so it makes for a great gift or dinner party addition (though it’s worth noting, TÖST also makes 12 oz singles if you want to enjoy one on your own).
- Kin Euphoric’s vibey packaging is enough to set a laid-back mood all on its own, but that’s what the drink inside is designed to do, too.
- However, our list notes all the exciting alcohol substitutes for those who still fancy a beverage or need something to drink with friends, without any nasty effects the following day.
- Curious Elixirs offers eight booze-free cocktails with daring, unusual flavor combinations.
A non-alcoholic cocktail may taste great and be part of the celebration, but may not be relaxing. Certain alternative drinks like Kava can relieve anxiety, but have their own minor side effects. Supplements like L-Theanine and Rhodiola Rosea are proven to help with stress, but are pills, not drinks. Mindfulness practices are life-changing for many people but require a certain amount of dedication. Overall however, all of these can be considered healthy alternatives to alcohol. Reducing alcohol intake by choosing alcohol alternatives has numerous health benefits.
“Since our first cocktail tasting with our beverage director, Derek Brown, I was enthralled by The Pathfinder,” says Stacey Mann, co-owner of STAY., a zero-proof cocktail lounge in Los Angeles. “Its fresh, bitter notes with a citrus spin, coupled with how strangely interesting the flavor is, danced on my tongue in a way I had not ever experienced.” The Dream Light is a bit steep, especially as it has a one-dimensional use. But if you live for a bedtime routine, this is the best nonalcoholic drink to serve as a companion to nightly journaling or any unwinding process. This is certainly a bummer for oenophiles trying to cut back on their alcohol intake, but a real boon for anyone actually sober who’s looking for a cultured refreshment to enjoy alongside a meal. These features, along with the sophisticated bottle shape and beautiful label, all make the Ludlow Red ideal to sit on the table of any dinner party.
We’re talking elevated, grown-up drinks that aim beyond Shirley Temples and sparkling apple cider. If you’re going dry, even just for a night, we’ve got something to whet your whistle for every occasion. The color and texture of the drink is a rich red, thanks to dates and plum extract — but don’t worry, it’s not sweet or syrupy.
The initial taste is mild with a hint of sweetness, nothing overpowering. You swish the liquid around in your mouth for about 30 seconds before swallowing. You’ll start to notice that the familiar background noise of stress starts to recede; your thoughts aren’t bouncing around as much anymore. Adding to the calming effects is L-theanine, an amino acid that induces relaxation and enhances mood. Found primarily in green tea leaves, L-theanine smooths out brain wave patterns (inducing alpha brain waves) much like meditation does. While you cannot directly compare the effects to alcohol, supplementing oxytocin does accomplish some of the same pro-social benefits.