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.
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BEST NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS YOU CAN BUY ONLINE, AT A GLANCE
Best Non-Alcoholic Liquor: Ritual Zero Proof Tequila
Best Non-Alcoholic Spirits DIY Set: Lyre’s Espresso Martini Non-Alcoholic Set
Best Non-Alcoholic Aperitif: Ghia
Best Non-Alcoholic Wine: Proxies
Best Non-Alcoholic Apple Cider: Yes! Apples
Best Non-Alcoholic Flavored Seltzer: Recess
Best Non-Alcoholic Cocktail: Mocktail Club Havana Twist
Best Non-Alcoholic Brunch Cocktail: Virgin Mary in a Can
Best Non-Alcoholic Beer: Dos Equis Lime & Salt ZeroRELATED STORYI’m a Pregnant Shopping Editor, & These Are the Maternity Leggings I Can’t Live Without
Non-alcoholic spirits and mocktails have been having a moment the last couple 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 absolutely have your guiltless nightcap (and drink it too).
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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.Report ad
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.”RELATED STORYI’m a Pregnant Shopping Editor, & These Are the Maternity Leggings I Can’t Live Without
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 well as artificial ingredients and sweeteners.Report ad
Let’s take a look at some top-shelf non-acoholic drink options.
Ritual Zero Proof Tequila
$29.99$32.959% Off
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.Report ad
Lyre’s Espresso Martini Non-Alcoholic Set
$53.25$7125% Off
Enjoy the drink of the moment, the espresso martini, without the alcohol, thanks to Lyre’s non-alcoholic spirits set. It comes with the coffee liqueur-style Coffee Originale, and the white rum-style White Cane Spirit. Use them together to make a booze-free espresso martini, or apart to make alcohol-free versions of drinks like White Russians and Mojitos.
Proxies Non-Alcoholic Wine Starter Set
If you couldn’t possibly imagine giving up your vino, but you wish you could at least cut down on your alcohol intake, give Proxies Non-Alcoholic Wines a whirl. The best-selling starter set includes a splash of everything: red, white and bubbly — plus a whole symphony of fruit flavors.
$94$984% Off
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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.Report ad
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.
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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.
Avec x Yes! Apples Fuji Apple & Cardamom 12-pack
Using tart Fuji apples harvested from upstate New York-based farms and an enticing blend of cardamom, lemon verbena, tarragon, vanilla and orange blossom, Avec formulated this brand new and buzzed-about cider they dubbed Yes! Apples, packaged in the cutest cans and that come in a 12-pack.Report ad
Longbottom Virgin Mary 4-pack
Cheers to long, lazy brunches but without the actual day drinking. Blood Mary fans with love this Virgin Mary mocktail by Longbottom, a guaranteed New Year’s day hit!
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.
