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Whether you’re kicking the year off with Dry January, committing to a zero-proof lifestyle or among the growing number of sober-curious drinkers, opting for nonalcoholic drinks doesn’t mean happy hour has to end. From dealcoholized wines to craft mocktails, there’s a whole universe of alcohol alternatives out there, and it’s expanding.
“It’s growing faster than any other category of beverage. The data doesn’t lie, but look at the best bars and restaurants and you’ll have all the validation you need,” Nick Bodkins, co-founder of nonalcoholic specialty shop Boisson, says. “The days of O’Douls being your [only] option are over. You can legitimately order a zero-proof cocktail at PDT, Death & Co or Manhatta, and it’s made by the same bartender, is just as complex and thoughtful and just happens to be zero proof.”
In fact, Parch co-founder Ila Byrne has noticed that “those most steeped in the industry (bartenders, chefs, musicians) were the ones leading the change.”
“They had personally experienced or witnessed the detrimental effects of alcohol and knew there must be a better way that was more than seltzer or soda,” she continues.
Now, with brands making the nonalcoholic experience more sophisticated, elevated and nuanced, there are plenty of zero-proof options to try at any time of year.
Benefits of Dry January
In 2022, 35% of Americans successfully participated in Dry January, according to CGA, a food and drink research firm. The health challenge originally started in 2012 as a public health initiative from the British charity Alcohol Change UK and is now a worldwide phenomenon.
Heavy and long-term alcohol consumption is linked to a bevy of physical and mental health risks, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, digestive problems, various types of cancer, depression, anxiety and more, per the CDC.
On the other hand, abstaining from alcohol for even one month can make a positive difference to your wellness. According to a study in “BMJ Open,” regular drinkers who stopped drinking alcohol for 30 days lost weight, slept better and had increased energy. Other studies have shown additional benefits of reducing alcohol intake, such as lowered blood pressure.
So read on to find the best dealcoholized wines to uncork, 0% ABV beers to crack open, zero-proof spirits to sip and ready-made mocktails to enjoy. Cheers!
Nonalcoholic wine
Noughty is a must-try nonalcoholic wine brand. It does still and sparkling wines remarkably well, and Bodkins recommends the red, as well as the sparkling chardonnay and rosé. “It’s legit almost an everyday drinker for me,” he shares about the sparkling wines. The organic, sustainably sourced chardonnay is made from grapes grown in a southern Spanish vineyard and pairs the wine’s signature dryness with effervescent bubbles.
Surely’s crisp sauvignon blanc features notes of pear and apple with a touch of sweetness. Made in California, the award-winning white is a favorite among critics and customers, with one 5-star review stating, “I’ve been searching for the right product to satisfy my wine craving while pregnant; this will absolutely be my go to brand. I love sauvignon blanc, and I can say that this wine tastes exactly like regular wine would. I love that it is actually REAL wine.”
One of Bodkins’ recommendations, Giesen’s nonalcoholic variety comes from New Zealand’s Marlborough wine region and is made with the winery’s original sauvignon blanc, which is dealcoholized through a spinning cone technology.
Sovi’s Reserve Red is a blend of young cabernet sauvignon and petite sirah aged in French and American oak barrels. The result is a dry red with notes of boysenberry, plum, cassis and baking spices. It also makes for a great mulled wine when simmered with oranges, cinnamon and other favorite spices.
Reviewers (and Bodkins) love Leitz’s nonalcoholic wines, especially the sweet riesling. Alcohol is removed from the original German wine through a vacuum distillation process, leaving behind notes of citrus and red apple. “One of the best nonalcoholic wines I have tried,” one reviewer raves. “Flavor, mouthfeel, body, nose are all very good. A definite keeper.”
French Bloom’s nonalcoholic sparkling wines are another favorite of Bodkins, who is “partial to the rosé.” Organic French grapes give a nice acidity to the award-winning rosé, and the beautiful bottle feels celebratory as soon you pop the cork.
Nonalcoholic beer
Athletic Brewing Company is one of the top-rated nonalcoholic breweries and as Bodkins says, “the [nonalcoholic] beer I’m most likely to find on bar/restaurant menus.” You’ll also spot it on the shelves of Whole Foods. The Run Wild IPA is a fan favorite with an ideal balance of malt and hops.
With about half the calories of a standard can of beer, reduced gluten and no alcohol, Visitor’s lightly hopped lager is a healthier alternative.
BrewDog creates an alcohol-free IPA by microfermenting yeast just to the point of alcohol creation. Using West Coast hops, the crisp brew doesn’t compromise on flavor.
This nonalcoholic IPA gives the feeling of drinking a “real” beer with its full-bodied taste and hints of citrus. It’s also available for pickup at select Target locations.
Clausthaler has been making nonalcoholic beer since the ’70s, and its pale lager remains a favorite beer alternative. One reviewer called it “hoppy and satisfying,” while another noted “the flavor on this beverage is so complex that the lack of alcohol seems immaterial. Very dry, not sweet at all. Love it.”
This light and crisp craft brew is one of Byrne’s favorites. “Al’s nonalcoholic lager tastes just like the boozy equivalent,” she says.
Mocktails and zero-proof spirits
Truly original and complex as all get-out, the Pathfinder is a new favorite nonalcoholic spirit, hands down. If you’re a whiskey lover or simply tired of the amaro-focused mocktail scene, get your hands on a bottle of this earthy, mood-boosting treasure.
With just the right amount of orange zest, rosemary and clove, Wilfred’s Nonalcoholic Bittersweet Apéritif is a delightful pre- or post-dinner pick-me-up. Serve it with Fever Tree Tonic and a squeeze of orange for the ideal flavor profile.
This one’s for all the Mezcal lovers out there. Somehow, Brooklyn-based St. Agrestis has made magic happen with its smoky, bitter Phony Mezcal Negroni, which is lightly carbonated to help mimic the bite and mouthfeel of a proper alcoholic libation and is available in both bottles and cans. The brand’s Amaro Falso is also stellar if you’d prefer less smoke in your mocktail.
Bright, berry-forward and not too sweet, the Rose City Fizz by For Bitter For Worse is a complex alternative to sangria or your favorite happy hour berry spritzer. Subtle gentian root helps round-out its fruity flavors by creating that post-sip bite that alcohol provides, sans-booze. Want some on the go or in your office mini-fridge? This sip-worthy sensation is also available in cans.
Smooth bitters and cloves make Figlia a phenomenal choice for an alcohol-free after-dinner drink. Designed to elicit the lushness of sprawling Italian gardens, this mocktail-ready spirit reminds me of a classic amaro or a fizzy mulled wine. Trust us, it’s good.
Made with adaptogens, natural nootropics and botanicals, Hiyo promises “a stress-relieving, mood-boosting lift [they] like to call ‘the float.’” Try it out for yourself with this variety pack that comes with a four-pack of each of their peach-mango, watermelon-lime and blackberry-lemon flavors.
While giving up alcohol can seem like a huge compromise, looking to nonalcoholic alternatives doesn’t mean giving up the feeling of having a good drink. “For me, the ritual of making a cocktail (i.e. mixing different ingredients together, using bar tools and fancy glassware) is the part I like the most,” Camille Wilson, a New York-based cocktail blogger and author of “Free Spirit Cocktails: 40 Nonalcoholic Drink Recipes,” says. “So even if I make a mocktail, I try to mimic the experience of making a cocktail, so it’s still very exciting for me.” Ritual makes some of her favorite zero-proof spirits, and this quartet of nonalcoholic tequila, whiskey, rum and gin is a great starting point for those looking to stock their nonalcoholic bar carts and experiment with mocktail recipes.
Bodkins recommends Pentire’s second botanical nonalcoholic spirit, Seaward. Herbaceous, citrusy and floral, it’s refreshing and zesty with notes of pink grapefruit and a blend of sea herbs. Serve it over ice with a splash of tonic water or soda. Like any good zero-proof spirit, you want to sip and savor it.
Also from Pentire, this vibrant vermillion Coastal Spritz mix has blood orange and oakwood flavors and is the newest addition to their zero-proof line of spirits. The brand’s mission is to create a “grown-up drinking experience without the side effects,” and it has truly delivered with this beachy blend that would pair perfectly with summer sunshine. Mix with soda water or tonic for a refreshing at-home treat or grab a pack of cans to enjoy wherever your adventures lead.
Bodkins describes this nonalcoholic drink as the “Pacific Northwest in a glass.” Crafted from 14 botanicals, the unique flavor is earthy and verdant. Juniper, sumac, sorrel, lemon peel, apple and green herbs are among the spirit’s vibrant notes, which taste best when served over ice and with a squeeze of lime.
Byrne says Parch’s ready-to-drink mocktails are “built on authentic spirit-credible ingredients like organic Blue Weber agave, desert fruits, herbs and botanicals, but never a mimic of tequila or a watery seltzer.” Available in two flavors, Spicy Piñarita and Prickly Paloma, the adaptogen-infused drinks pay homage to the Sonoran Desert. “Taste is paramount, and our cocktails are highly crafted, complex and layered with flavors that open up over ice just like traditional cocktails,” Bryne says.
Recommended by Wilson, Lyre’s makes a whole range of nonalcoholic spirits — gin, rum, vermouth, triple sec, you name it — plus these canned mocktails, with flavors like Amalfi Spritz, sharp G&T, Malt & Cola and Champagne-like Classico.
Aplós’ thoughtfully crafted botanical beverages are perfect for those looking for a sophisticated drink to sip slowly. I’ve been a fan of the original CBD-infused Calme since it launched, and now the new Arise offers another refreshing option. With its herbal and citrus flavor profile and infused adaptogens, it goes down smooth with some soda water and lime juice or mixed with iced jasmine tea.
Ghia has become a go-to alcohol alternative. Its original Apéritif features botanical ingredients like yuzu, lemon balm, fig, elderflower and more. The new Berry flavor is juicy and festive. Both mix beautifully in homemade mocktails with tonic water, ginger beer, grapefruit soda — the list goes on.
Ghia also makes canned spritzes, and the perfectly bitter Ginger is a favorite of ours and Bodkins. “Ghia is a staple at our house; we always have Ghia Ginger cans cold,” he says.
Created by Katy Perry and Morgan McLachlan, De Soi makes wellness-focused, adaptogen-infused nonalcoholic aperitifs. “I’ve got a young daughter, and when Katy and I met the first time, we both agreed that your kid gets up at the same time if you have a hangover or not, and De Soi makes that a thing of the past,” Bodkins says. De Soi makes three flavors — Champignon Dreams, Golden Hour and, Bodkins’ favorite, Purple Lune — all available in canned or bottled varieties.
When trying out zero-proof spirits, it’s important to remember that “on their own, most nonalcoholic spirits do not taste similar to the alcoholic versions,” Wilson says. “However, once mixed into a cocktail, the sensation on your taste buds mimics the experience of drinking alcohol and the flavors in the spirit mix well with the other cocktail ingredients.” She’s a fan of Monday’s nonalcoholic gin, which features the spirit’s signature juniper, along with notes of lemon, grapefruit and coriander.
Bare developed three zero-proof spirits — gin, bourbon and tequila — with the help of bartenders. Each one features key tasting notes of the traditional alcohols, making them easy to substitute into cocktails. The tequila has a touch of sweetness from agave, joined by serrano and fresh-cut grass that you’ll want to mix into your next Dry January margarita.
This variety pack includes three favorite flavors of Sunwink’s alcohol-alternative tonics: Detox Ginger, Lemon Rose Uplift and Hibiscus Mint Unwind. Each one is great on its own and at any time of day, and it offers a refreshing substitution to traditional cocktails. The superfood-powered drinks are among a growing category of functional beverages that not only taste great but are made to make you feel great too.
Nonalcoholic mixers
Casamara Club offers a whole host of low-calorie “leisure sodas,” but of all the ones we tried, Sera was our favorite. Instead of trying to mimic a bitter amaro like many of their others, this bottle provides subtle notes of lavender and strawberry, ideal for sipping with dessert or a good book.
Blake Lively’s award-winning nonalcoholic sparkling mixers won’t get you buzzed, but they will bring a smile to your lips. The refreshing flavors are tasty on their own or in your favorite mixed drink. Our favorite is the ginger beer, which has the spicy zing we always look for.
Hella Cocktail Co.’s top-rated drink mixes and bitters make it easy to create your favorite cocktails at home. Covering the classics, there’s an Old Fashioned mix, Bloody Mary mix and margarita mix, plus spicy versions to add a kick. They'd make a great hostess gift as anyone can enjoy them paired with liquor or a nonalcoholic alternative.
Avec’s no- to low-sugar mixers come in six zesty flavors: yuzu and lime, grapefruit and pomelo, jalapeño and blood orange, hibiscus and pomegranate, spiced mango and passionfruit, and ginger. The bubbly drinks balance the flavors so beautifully we usually end up drinking them on their own, but it’s fun to play around with them in mocktails too.