Fitness / December 6, 2023

9 Best Non-Alcoholic Spirits of 2023 That Taste Like the Real Thing

The days of making do with club soda and lime are over. The last half-decade has seen a surge of non-alcoholic spirits that taste so good you won’t know what’s missing.

Finding the best non-alcoholic spirits, though, requires more than cracking a bottle and taking a swig. Most are designed for mixing, not shooting alongside a can of alcohol-free IPA. Therefore, to find the best non-alcoholic whiskey and other not-so-spirited takes, we concocted cocktails and consulted some of the brightest minds in the booze-free world.

Our top overall pick for the best non-alcoholic spirit is The Pathfinder Hemp and Root, which goes toe-to-toe with amaros in flavor and complexity. The Pathfinder can also pull double duty, either sipped neat, stirred into a non-alcoholic Negroni, or blended with seltzer for a standout spritz.

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Why You Should Trust Us

I’m a veteran journalist and author who’s been covering the beverage industry for more than two decades—from the craft beer boom to the cocktail revival, cider’s resurgence, hard seltzer’s bubbly rise and, now, the new wave of non-alcoholic drinks. Over the years, I’ve tasted scores of non-alcoholic spirits and cocktails, as well as interviewed many makers in the non-alcoholic sector. Over the last several months alone, I’ve sampled more than 40 different non-alcoholic spirits.

I also received expert recommendations from Nick Bodkins, the founder and president of Boisson, a fast-growing chain of non-alcoholic bottle shops in New York City and California, and Alex Jump, a cofounder and director of operations for Focus on Health, which advocates for the health and wellness of workers in the food and beverage sector.

What We Look For When Choosing the Best Non-Alcoholic Spirits

We found that the best non-alcoholic spirits feature distinct aromatics and flavors, serving as faithful copies of full-strength tequila, gin, bourbon, and more.

We placed a premium on high-quality ingredients and processes, in addition to testing the spirits’ abilities to be mixed into common classic cocktails.

Best Overall Non-Alcoholic Spirit: The Pathfinder Hemp & Root The Pathfinder Hemp and Root

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Fermented from hemp and distilled in copper pot stills, The Pathfinder Hemp and Root is flavored with a host of botanicals including saffron, wormwood, sage, angelica root, ginger, juniper, and orange peel for a citrusy, bittersweet ride. (Note: There’s no THC in this non-alcoholic spirit.)

“We love its nod to the bygone apothecaries of the American West, as well as its versatility,” Bodkins says. “Pathfinder makes a memorable after-dinner drink.”

Jump is also a fan. “It’s great in cocktails, served long, or on the rocks,” she says, praising its notes of pine, rhubarb, and grapefruit. “Whether you drink but are skipping for a round or a night, or if you’re sober, Pathfinder is truly for every kind of consumer.”

How to Enjoy: Sip it neat, use it in a Negroni, or sip it in this signature spritz. Mix 2 ounces of the Pathfinder Hemp & Root with ½ ounce of lemon juice, then pour over ice and top with seltzer.

Best Non-Alcoholic Tequila: Lyre’s Agave Blanco Spirit Lyre’s Agave Blanco Spirit

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The British company Lyre’s was founded in 2019 to reproduce the globe’s greatest alcoholic spirits, be that gin, bourbon, or absinthe. One of our favorite nonalcoholic spirit is this take on tequila called the Agave Blanco. The top blanco, or unaged, tequilas boast a bright, fresh character, and this one offers a bracing citrus quality sprinkled with notes of fresh-cracked black pepper.

How to Enjoy: Have a favorite classic tequila? You’re in luck! The agave-based spirit makes for a mighty fine margarita. Try this recipe that also includes the Lyre’s Orange Sec.

Best Non-Alcoholic Gin: Pentire Seward Pentire Seward

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“The zesty and vibrant botanical spirit is inspired by the coastal flora of the U.K.,” Bodkins says of the Pentire Seward–a nonalcoholic gin that combines pink grapefruit with a raft of oceanic ingredients including wild seaweed and sea rosemary. “Pentire not only holds up to any mixer, but it’s complex enough to make Seaward a compelling standalone as well.”

How to Enjoy: Keep it classic and mix the non-alcoholic gin with quality tonic from Fever-Tree or Q Mixers. Garnish with a lime.

Best Non-Alcoholic Whiskey: Free Spirits The Spirit of Bourbon Free Spirits The Spirit of Bourbon

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Good bourbon is the product of patience, aging a spirit in charred oak barrels for years. The Spirit of Bourbon from Free Spirits ably channels its namesake spirit.

“The warm oak and spice aromas, followed by a rich and rounded-out mouthfeel, make it a standout,” Bodkins says. “The finish offers a pleasant warming sensation that keeps us reaching for this alternative anytime we’re craving a whiskey-based cocktail.”

How to Enjoy: The Spirit of Bourbon can be used in any classic bourbon-based cocktail, from the Old-Fashioned to the Mint Julep.

Best Non-Alcoholic Vodka: CleanCo Clean V CleanCo Clean V

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Vodka is sometimes touted for its total absence of flavor. But our favorite vodkas have deeper complexity, maybe spiciness from rye or a smooth character courtesy of wheat. CleanCo’s Clean V vodka alternative calls to mind tart green apples with a touch of spicy cinnamon too, like a clear-eyed take on fall cider. The best non-alcoholic vodka has far more character than you’ll find in the average boozy vodka.

How to Enjoy: Set the shot glasses aside. Mix the vodka alternative with club soda and a spritz of lime.

More Non-Alcoholic Spirits We Love

Best Non-Alcoholic Rum: Ritual Zero Proof Rum Alternative

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“[Ritual doesn’t] make a distilled spirit, they are making spirit alternatives that never start off as alcohol or ever touch alcohol,” Jump says, also noting the company’s commitment to sustainability. The Ritual Zero Proof Rum Alternative is an excellent choice, made with ripe bananas, Tupelo honey, Madagascan vanilla beans, and charred apricots.

“Dark and bold spices layered with flavorful tropical notes make this rum a dependable stand-in for any rum-based cocktail,” Bodkins says. “Designed with mixology in mind, we appreciate the ease and reliability of Ritual’s rum.”

How to Enjoy: Use the non-alcoholic rum as a one-to-one substitute for rum in your favorite recipe for a piña colada, mojito, or other tropical cocktail.

Best Non-Alcoholic Specialty Spirit: Tenneyson Black Ginger