8 Best Non-Alcoholic Spirits for Sobers
Author: Thomas Roth
Last Updated: 6/08/2022
Non-alcoholic spirits are based on alcoholic beverages in taste but don’t contain alcohol. While some non-alcoholic drinks like beers may have trace amounts of alcohol, alcoholic spirits typically don’t have any. Furthermore, non-alcoholic spirits are a great alternative to consuming alcohol for people who are recovering from alcoholism. Some non-alcoholic spirits are better than others, so we’re going to take you through the 8 best options.
Be advised, that non-alcoholic beverages are not an alternative to therapy or other alcoholism treatment options. They should only be used as a companion to treatment or to maintain sobriety.
1. Monday Zero Alcohol Gin
Monday is a well-rounded company that focuses on whiskey and gin. Specifically, the company produces non-alcoholic alternatives to whiskey and gin that maintain a similar flavor profile. While some companies spread themselves too thin by focusing on dozens of non-alcoholic alternatives, an advantage of Monday is that the company only focuses on whiskey and gin. This helps Monday create flavors that are spot-on when compared to competitors. The disadvantage here is that the company has a limited selection because of focusing on just whiskey and gin.
When looking at Monday, the best choice is the zero alcohol gin. The gin maintains a similar flavor to gin and can be used to make mixed drinks. In fact, people who taste the gin before it’s mixed with other flavors love how close it is to the real thing. Plus, it can be mixed with oranges, lavender, and fennel shrub to create many non-alcoholic versions of popular gin-based cocktails. Depending on where you look, Monday Zero Alcohol Gin can cost between $40 and $50.
2. Ritual Tequila Alternative
Ritual Zero Proof produces a handful of non-alcoholic spirits. The company focuses on producing people’s favorite liquors without alcohol but with the taste intact. Some examples include Ritual Zero Proof’s gin, tequila, and whiskey alternatives. Ritual Zero Proof’s spirits can be used to make many types of drinks, which is why it’s become one of the most popular non-alcoholic spirits around.
Ritual Tequila Alternative has many advantages when compared to other types of non-alcoholic spirits. These advantages include multiple types of spirits and the ability to choose between tequila, gin, and whiskey. Having these spirit types makes it easy for people to make their favorite alcoholic mixed drinks without changing the taste. Ritual Zero Proof’s tequila alternative is a favorite for many. It has several flavors like blue agave, green bell pepper, charred oak, and even some notes of mesquite smoke. Ritual Zero Proof’s tequila alternatives vary in price between $27 and $43.
3. Abstinence
Abstinence is an award-winning brand of non-alcoholic spirits. The company has won the UK Spirits Business Low and No Masters (2021): Gold, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2021): Double Gold, and many more. Abstinence focuses on a vast flavor profile that can be mixed with many flavors and beverages. The wide variety of flavors is an advantage because it can be used for almost any non-alcoholic beverage. That said, a disadvantage of the brand is that some of the flavors are more potent than others.
Abstinence is most well-known for its flavors. There are flavors like orange, buchu, lemon, ginger, fennel, and even pepper. Some versions of Abstinence also have chocolate-based flavors for dessert drinks like the chocolate martini. Abstinence also ensures that 1% of the company’s profits go to protecting the environment, which is a noble cause. On average, Abstinence costs about $34.99.
4. Kin Euphorics
Kin Euphorics are unique because they’re designed to bring people together without alcohol. While they mirror the same flavors as many alcoholic drinks, Kin Euphorics is more focused on good vibes, positive energy, and helping people build connections without being intoxicated. Some of the common flavors include calming spices, lavender-vanilla, and even Reishi mushroom. Compared to other brands, Kin Euphorics has one of the most diverse flavor profiles.
Still, what separates Kin Euphorics from other brands in the company’s inclusion of natural ingredients and vitamins. For example, the Kin Euphorics Dream Light beverage contains melatonin. Melatonin is a sleep aid, so it can help people fall asleep at night. This is perfect for people who are quitting drinking but are struggling to sleep because of insomnia. The Kin Euphorics Dream Light can be purchased in a two-pack for $69.
5. MeMento
MeMento produces natural non-alcoholic beverages for people to include in mixed drinks. What makes MeMento special is the fact that the company uses ancient traditions to distill and produce its flavors. In fact, some of the ingredients are vegan-friendly and gluten-free. For people who live these lifestyles, there is no better alternative. MeMento also has more than one flavor. The company has dozens of flavor choices, each with zero alcohol.
MeMento was founded with a mission to transform “Ancient remedies into natural indulgences.” A lot of the knowledge comes from the late 1400s and the process for creating the spirits is unique compared to other brands. The only notable disadvantage is that some of the flavors are more bitter than other non-alcoholic spirits. This is due to the lack of sugar, artificial sweeteners, and gluten. MeMento costs about €30, which is about $32.43 in United States dollars.
6. Seedlip Spice 94
Seedlip has become one of the most popular non-alcoholic spirits. Created by Ben Branson, Seedlip Spice 94 is a distilled non-alcoholic spirit that launched in 2015. It’s made with natural ingredients like botanicals and varieties of citrus. There are also many types of Seedlip non-alcoholic spirits. Some blends rely on ginger, while others like Seedlip Spice 94 focus on allspice berries cardamom.
Seedlip Spice 94 is one of the most popular flavors of Seedlip non-alcoholic spirits because it doesn’t contain calories, which is great for cutting back on alcohol and sugar at the same time. Some advantages of Seedlip Spice 94 over other non-alcoholic spirits is its sweet taste without calories and sugar. Furthermore, many people have found that it works nicely for cooking. Seedlip Spice 94 costs $35 per bottle. That said, there are packs where you can get all three Seedlip flavors (including Garden 108 and Grove 42) for $100.
7. Stirrings Blood Orange Bitters
Stirrings is a company that produces various types of mixers for non-alcoholic drinks. The Blood Orange Bitters are made with natural ingredients and potent flavors that help people enjoy their favorite drinks without alcohol. One of the advantages of Blood Orange Bitters is that the flavor is powerful enough to make people forget that it doesn’t contain alcohol. The drawback is that the substance needs to be mixed with other drinks and it’s not ready to consume straight from the bottle. Another advantage is its low cost, which is only $5 from its website.
Stirrings Bitters Blood Orange is most well-known for its taste. Unlike other non-alcoholic spirits, this is a mixer. This means that the company was able to exclusively focus on how good it tastes when mixed with other ingredients. Evidence of this is found in its flavor profile, which includes exotic ingredients. Some flavors resemble blood oranges and mellower.
8. Curious Elixirs No. 1
Curious Elixirs No. 1 is a unique type of non-alcoholic spirit. With Curious Elixirs, it’s more about health and wellness than maintaining an alcoholic-like flavor. For this reason, Curious Elixirs taste great and include natural ingredients that are good for the brain and body. All-in-all, there are five types of Curious Elixirs and they’re labeled 1-5. No. 1 is the most recent beverage created by the company and contains natural ingredients and a taste similar to many alcoholic cocktails.
Curious Elixirs have many advantages and disadvantages. First and foremost, the elixirs all taste great. It’s hard to beat the fruity flavor profile from Curious Elixir No. 1. That said, these elixirs use natural flavors, so they’re not that sweet. For some, the taste can be a bit harsh. Curious Elixirs are also Whole340 compliant and affordable. The cost of Curious Elixirs varies from $29 to $115.
How do Non-Alcoholic Spirits Help You Quit Drinking?
Non-alcoholic spirits are controversial in many alcoholism recovery communities because they can be a gateway to consuming alcohol. While this can be true, it depends on the person. For some individuals, non-alcoholic spirits can help someone maintain sobriety because they taste like their favorite alcoholic beverages without containing alcohol. Because of the lack of alcohol and similar taste, non-alcoholic spirits work great for people who want to enjoy their favorite drinks while remaining sober.
Non-alcoholic spirits shouldn’t be used as a treatment for alcoholism. Instead, they work best as a tool to resist temptation and maintain sobriety.
Can You Get the Same Pleasure From Non-Alcoholic Spirits?
Many people get the same pleasure from non-alcoholic spirits because they taste the same as alcoholic spirits. In fact, many non-alcoholic spirits taste better than alcoholic spirits because alcohol has a bitter taste. Therefore, people who drink spirits for the taste can have the same pleasure when consuming non-alcoholic spirits. On the other hand, people who consume spirits to get drunk won’t derive the same pleasure from non-alcoholic spirits. This is because non-alcoholic spirits don’t have the same intoxicating effects as their alcoholic counterparts.
Do Non-Alcoholic Spirits Have any Harms?
Non-alcoholic spirits don’t harm the body when consumed in moderation. When compared to their alcoholic counterparts, non-alcoholic spirits contain fewer calories and don’t lead to hangovers or addiction. That said, non-alcoholic spirits can have some harmful effects. These effects are based on the type of drink and how much sugar the drink contains. Drinks high in sugar can lead to diabetes and other health conditions when abused.
What is the Healthiest Alcoholic Spirit?
The healthiest alcoholic spirits are clear liquors. Clear liquors include vodka, gin, and some types of tequila. These spirits are the healthiest because they’re the easiest types of liquor for the body to metabolize. While these spirits are healthier than other types of alcohol, that doesn’t mean they’re healthy. Alcohol should only be consumed in moderation because alcohol abuse can lead to alcoholism, which is harmful to the mind and body.