The Best Non-Alcoholic Spirits for Mocktils (2023)

by Brian Donnelly

January 16, 2023

Why should I care about Non-Alcoholic Spirits and Mocktails?

Consumers are more mindful of when they drink, how much they drink, and why they drink. Like any beverage trend, the option for mocktails or low-proof (low-ABV) drinks has always been available in bigger cities and on the East and West coasts, but now that trend is drifting inland to the smaller towns and middle part of the United States. There are plenty of sober people, designated drivers, pregnant women, or perhaps those who are more health conscience cannot or are choosing not to drink for the moment. These customers still might want a beverage option that’s more interesting than sparkling mineral water. Every year more people voluntarily choose to participate in Dry January and feel that they need a detox period after the overindulgence of the holiday. 

Offering elevated mocktails is an intelligent business decision by the restaurant or bar because they can still capture sales for the group member who isn’t drinking but still wants to go out to dinner or has a Happy Hour with friends or coworkers. I can even see the influence of mocktails and non-alcoholic options in my home city of Tulsa.

Non-alcoholic options create an inviting environment for all customers and give their guests a wide variety of options. If you have never worked in the service industry as a server, bartender, or cook, many of those workers have chosen to become sober. These employees are still working and surrounded by alcohol, but now have more options regarding the social drinking aspect that naturally comes along with service industry people. 

What are mocktails?

Mocktails, or cocktails without alcohol, can be made a million different ways. Like with their alcohol equivalent, they combine complementary ingredients to produce more remarkable results than the sum of their parts. Mocktails force bartenders to be more creative because they work within defined constraints. Real spirits are flavorful and provide an easy base for most cocktails. If you still want to create a delicious and exciting drink, you will have to get creative and find products and flavors that work together without the easy default of adding your favorite Bourbon, Tequila, or Gin. It is my option that one of the easiest ways to create a great mocktail is with a non-alcoholic or alcohol-free spirit. These products are designed to replicate the flavor or experience of your favorite spirit and can provide a similar taste to your mocktail that traditional spirits bring to your cocktail. 

There are broadly three types of non-alcoholic spirits. The first is a product produced with alcohol, and then the alcohol is removed. Alcohol is an incredible extractor and holder of flavor, so some producers would want to incorporate alcohol into their production process to create more flavor, even if they remove it later. An example of this style of product is the brand Spiritless, which makes a product designed for Bourbon, Tequila, and Gin cocktails. Next are alcohol-free spirits, which never used alcohol in any part of their production process. These products use different ingredients, e.g., cold-pressed fruit juice, distilled essential oils, or other botanicals, to build an overall flavor profile that will mimic a convenient spirit.

The final style is non-alcohol spirits that are not trying to replicate a traditional spirit category or brand but instead are creating a targeted flavor profile. A perfect example of this would be the Dhos brand, which I discuss in detail below. This brand makes an alcohol-free product that attempts to replicate products such as Cointreau, Aperol, and Bombay Sapphire. This gives consumers and bartenders are a lot of flexibility because this style of product can either the base of a mocktail, mixed with soda or another carbonated mixer, or even the base for additional infusions. An example of this would be a brand like MeMento from Opici Wines. These are distilled aromatic waters that have specific flavor profiles. I enjoy this product style and usually combine multiple non-alcoholic spirits with building a full-flavored drink. 

The last thing to consider is the idea of low-proof or reduced ABV (alcohol by volume) cocktails. The strategy behind this idea is to make your favorite cocktail with a 1:1 ratio of non-alcohol spirit to traditional spirit. For example, if you love Old Fashioned cocktails and usually make them with 2 oz (60 ml) of Bourbon, then you could use 1 oz (30 ml) of Bourbon and 1 oz (30 ml) of something like Spiritless Kentucky 74. You can replicate this with any cocktail, where you can find a non-alcohol spirit equivalent. The half-and-half method, which the Spiritless brand coined Halfies,™ has various benefits. If you’re drinking at a bar, you can have two cocktails instead of your usual one and safely drive home. From the bar perspective, they can sell more drinks and capture more business without potentially over-serving. 

There are several drawbacks to non-alcohol spirits, and they’re certainly not meant to replace regular spirits. Non-alcohol spirits will not have the same flavor, complexity, body, or mouth-free level as real spirits. A non-alcohol whiskey will never taste as good as your favorite barrel-proof Bourbon. If you accept this, you can use these products as tools in your toolkit for specific moments or customers. More and more products are arriving on the market, and I have not sampled them all yet. The growth of the category should drive competition for improvement and consumer awareness. 

The world of non-alcohol products is not limited to just spirits. There are a lot of options for non-alcohol beer and wine. My beer favorite is Athletic Brewing or BrewDog, and my wine is Fre. There are also several options, such as Hop Water or Hop Tea, which scratch the beer itch without the alcohol or calories. You might read or hear that many of these products contain 0.5% alcohol or less. This range is still within the alcohol-free designation, and the popular brands and products I have highlighted below may have less alcohol than the fruit on your kitchen counter. I hope you find something you like or something new. Happy Dry January! Good luck! 

Dhos

Dhos is a non-alcoholic cocktail spirit produced at Ransom Wine Company & Distillery in Sheridan, Oregon. The brand's goal is to provide a lineup of great-tasting non-alcoholic spirits delivering the aromas, flavors, and mixability of your favorite classic craft spirits without the alcohol. Their in-house distillery team produces the brand by mixing ingredients rather than the method of removing alcohol. Each recipe is low-calorie (between 0-5), uses all-natural ingredients like citrus and spices, and is produced in small batches to ensure quality and consistency. All products are unfiltered to ensure that the maximum flavor and aroma come through in the finished product and are sweetened with monk fruit, a zero-calorie natural sweetener. If stored between 55-85 °F, the products will be good for six months after opening. Finally, Dhos has been formulated without harmful contaminants and toxins and is Certified Clean and Pesticide Free by the Clean Label Project. This third-party not-for-profit organization defines the consumer standard for food and consumer product quality and safety.

Lyre’s

Lyre's has the most comprehensive and specific range of non-alcoholic spirits available. The name is inspired by the Australian Lyrebird, the world’s most incredible mimic, and the brand's mascot, Horatio, can be found wearing a top hat on the neck of the bottle. The Lyrebird's ability to mimic other birdsong or sounds is the perfect analogy for this product's ability to allow customers to recreate any of their favorite time-tested cocktails that make up the traditional alcohol category and convert them into a mocktail or low-proof version. An option like Lyre's can perhaps also help remove the stigma of not drinking that occurs with the apparent switch to a traditional non-alcohol beverage solution, especially in confronting social situations. By simply taking a drink and making it a Lyre’s, we can help by offering a degree of social camouflage, in that you can enjoy the same drink, served the same way with the same tastes. It just is a non-alcohol version, empowering you to drink freely. Lyre’s was founded by two Australians in Britain in 2019. The headquarters are based in London, UK. The brand is made in Leicestershire, United Kingdom, Melbourne, Australia, and Montreal, Canada, but has plans to expand production to a range of markets in critical regions across the globe. Like most non-alcoholic spirits, Lyre's is designed for mixed, shaken, or stirred drinks and is not to be sipped straight. Lyre’s has significantly fewer calories than the equivalent traditional alcohol spirit equivalent. Depending on the variant, Lyre’s is up to 70 - 90 % fewer calories than the equivalent drink containing alcohol. Once open, best refrigerated for optimum freshness, and it is recommended to be consumed within 12 weeks of opening.

MeMento

MeMento, Latin for "remember," is an Italian distilled aromatic water and non-alcoholic cocktail spirit. The brand is produced through aromatic distillation, so alcohol is never involved in the production. This differs from "alcohol-free" products made through dealcoholization, which can have up to 0.5 % ABV left after the process. In addition to being Alcohol-Free, MeMento is Zero Calories, Gluten Free, Sugar-Free, and Vegan. The production process looks like this. Heat boils water in a distillation chamber, creating steam that passes through the botanic ingredient. The steam and vaporized oil are condensed in a cold water chamber, and the water and essential oil are collected. The oil collects on the water's surface, so it is easily drained off and collected, leaving only the fragrant water behind. MeMento's founder, an Italian engineer named Eugenio Muraro, created the brand in 2017 due to his Master's Project at the Politecnico University of Milan. He studied and took inspiration from the techniques and botanicals used in the Florentine Book of Prescriptions (Ricettario Fiorentino), first published in 1498. The logo and packaging have five vertical lines that represent the human five senses. 

MeMento White (Original)

This expression combines four aromatic distillates: Rose, Rosemary, Lemon Verbena, and Curry Leaf. Each ingredient is distilled separately, allowing every component to shine individually and preserve its more precious quality.

• Rose = Delicacy & Preciousness

• Rosemary = Energy & Vigor

• Lemon Verbena = Equilibrium & Depth

• Curry Leaf = Exuberance & Joy

MeMento Green

This expression has a strong herbaceous aroma and floral palate. Green Myrtle was used to giving balsamic notes, Lemon Balm is said to add fresh, citrus flavors, and Bay Laurel contributes a "strong and vigorous" character. At the same time, Orange Blossom brings a bittersweet and balanced flavor.

• Green Myrtle = Purification & Freshness

• Lemon Balm = Citrus & Spiciness

• Bay Laurel = Pungency & Boldness

• Bitter Orange Flower = Bitterness & Sweetness

Ritual Zero Proof

Ritual Zero Proof is a spirit alternative that mimics traditional spirits' taste, flavor, and sensation without alcohol. Unlike many products in the non-alcohol spirit category, Ritual is not an alcohol-removed spirit and never was a full proof spirit at any stage of production. The solution was a complex blend of all-natural botanicals to trick your taste buds that you are experiencing the burn of alcohol. This is achieved by distilling individual botanicals to lock in their purest flavor, then carefully blending to create a sophisticated profile from Siberian pine to Mexican blue agave to American oak. The batches are microfiltered, and every bottle is date stamped for freshness. To recreate the burn of alcohol, the brand went through more than 500 recipes. Some bring the heat while others rein it in, creating a satisfying glow that serves as the spine of a proper cocktail. Once opened, Ritual is good for 12 weeks.

The Chicago-based Ritual Beverage Company was founded by longtime friends Marus Sakey, GG Sakey, and David Crooch. They wanted to create a new way to mark a special moment, whether you are an artist, entrepreneur, foodie, athlete, or parent. After experimenting with hundreds of recipes and in consultation with bartenders, chefs, and beverage professionals, in September 2019, Ritual launched two flagship products, a Gin Alternative and Whiskey Alternative. The brand expanded its portfolio by launching a Tequila Alternative in April 2020 and a Rum Alternative in June 2021. In January 2020, Ritual received a minority investment from global beverage alcohol leader Diageo via Distill Ventures.

Seedlip

Seedlip is often credited as the first non-alcoholic spirit available commercially. Founder Ben Branson drew inspiration from physician John French's 1651 book "The Art of Distillation," which provides distilled, non-alcoholic herbal remedies to solve medical issues. Seedlip comes from a family farm in Lincolnshire County that used "seedlips" baskets to hand-slow seeds. Ben purchased a small copper still and experimented with distilling herbs in his home garden. After having a bad experience with a sugary mocktail in an upscale London restaurant, he created a more sophisticated non-alcoholic option for the next two years. Ben launched his first product, Seedlip Spice 94, at London's high-end department store Selfridges in November 2015. Each Seedlip product requires six weeks for maceration, distillation, filtration, and blending. Each botanical ingredient is distilled separately and then blended, resulting in a final product devoid of alcohol and sugar. Seedlip does not need to be refrigerated and should be consumed within six months once opened. In 2019, the British spirits giant Diageo acquired a majority shareholding in Seedlip.

Spiritless

Spiritless is a portfolio of distilled non-alcoholic spirits designed for craft mocktails and low-proof or reduced ABV (alcohol by volume) cocktails that the brand calls Halfsies™ (1:1 ratio). The brand is women-owned, and three founders were already working in the beverage, food, and event planning industry when they realized the demand and opportunity for elevated non-alcoholic drinks. The trio wanted to begin with a product designed for Bourbon cocktails because 'Brown Spirits' had the largest market share, and it was an enormous opportunity if done right. In October 2019, they used a homemade still in the founder's basement and continued to tinker and sample until they had something that would work. The group has come a long way since those basement trials and has a patent pending process to produce non-alcoholic spirits through reserve distillation. All Spiritless products have a shelf life of 12 months after opening and do not require refrigeration.

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