This January I decided to cut out alcohol. It wasn’t dry January, in fact my January started very not dry with a bottle of champagne all to myself on NYE that I polished off on New Years Day and at home cocktails shaken up with top shelf tequila a client gifted me. However, I participated in a fast with my church and during a 3 week period that started mid-month I eliminated alcohol, meat and dairy from my diet.
This wasn’t the first time I committed to a limited window of sobriety: I’ve done a number of Whole 30 Challenges, a few Dry Januarys and also that 40ish week stretch when I grew a human inside my body. But outside of that my experience with sobriety has been little to none. I started drinking in college and I drank socially and just because in abundance, ever since. I did “slow down” over the past year but it was not my intention at all to quit.
The accountability of the fast included writing out anything you were praying for, my list was long long, and on it: God, change my relationship with alcohol. Simply that.
After the fast, I drank twice, both times with friends and both times I was miserable afterwards and felt the impacts on my body, my mood, and my sleep intensified so loudly I had no choice but to say okay God, I hear you. So I prayed again: If this is my assignment, please change it for me. Change this experience, change my taste.
So now I’m tasked with following through. It is indeed not enjoyable anymore for me and I know that, but temptation does creep up when I sit down at a restaurant or pass my favorite wine shop. But…
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But, when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
A way of escape for me sometimes this looks like sitting in the desire and being okay that I have the desire while very consciously making another choice. And In other times I’m pouring an alternative into my wine or cocktail glass and sipping it, satisfied with having something special in a pretty glass while knowing I won’t have to pay the price that alcohol taxes my body.
I started exploring the world of Non-Alcoholic beverages well before this internal transformation and before the massive boom the category is seeing right now, so I already had some go-tos. But lately I’ve been opening that world up even more, and I love it. So here’s my personal guide to navigating NA Beverage options. There’s a lot, the market is growing right now and the options can be overwhelming, but hopefully this shares some insight on where to start based on what you’re looking for.
Cheers!
Non-Alcoholic Wine | All recommendations in this category are meant to replace what would typically fill my wine glass. Some of these are dealcoholized wine and some are beverages that position themselves as NA Wine but are actually more a complex wine-like substance, sold in a wine bottle that gives the drinker a similar flavor experience of some of their favorite wines.
Surely - Surely NA wine is delacoholized wine, which was made through the same process as traditional wine with the alcohol extracted. The flavor of these wines is rich and complex like a typical red, white or rose and for me, absolutely fulfills that desire to have a glass of something that compliments a meal.
NON - NON isn’t really trying to be wine, rather the beverages have layers of flavors and notes that evoke the complexity of a wine (plus, it’s wine bottle style packaging). NON7 Stewed Cherry and Chocolate is (was) my fave. It’s been out of stock for a while on the brand’s website. Perhaps I’ll try another. It’s definitely worth a shot and makes a fun addition for a girls night or gathering with friends.
Proxies - Very similar to NON in that this is not a dealcoholized wine, but something comparable to pair with food and pour into your wine glass.
Non-Alcoholic Spirits | When you want a cocktail but a mocktail is what your’re drinking instead, these Non-Alcoholic (Zero Proof) spirits can add depth of flavor and a little burn to create a kick. They resemble traditional spirits and are meant to be shaken, stirred and sipped while mixed with other ingredients to make a beverage worthy of your cocktail glass.
Ritual Zero Proof - Ritual’s Tequila Alternative was the first zero proof spirit I ever tried. I bought it around 2021 after 2020 saw me speeding through bottles of Casamigos like there was gold at the bottom. I wanted to have my post WFH while living through chaos margarita, but even then I knew that I needed to reel it in. If you’re looking to make a mocktail that gets super close to the real thing, I recommend having these in your NA bar.
Seedlip - I noticed Seedlip around the mid-pandemic era as well. As the “world’s first nonalcoholic spirit”, it’s no shocker that Diageo had scooped it up into it’s portfolio (good move, liquor conglomerate). I’ve seen it more and more popping up on bars and mocktail menus in my favorite spaces. Recently at Dick & Jane’s Bar Room in Bed-Stuy I asked for a non-alcoholic Paloma, though it wasn’t on the menu I figured any bar tender should be able to figure that out. I saw the bottle of Seedlip come out and appreciated that the staff had acknowledged the shift in consumer habits and adjusted to meet the market. Well played. As for Seedlip, it’s herbaceous, light and almost not even there, except it is. Another great NA spirit for your bar if making a true mocktail with high quality ingredients is your thing.
Aplós - Late 2023 found me seeking something else that was hard to come by at the time, sleep. I had already noticed a pattern: when I drank I got less and worse sleep. But still I wasn’t ready to let my margaritas go. So I made a deal with myself, don’t drink during the week. I found myself looking for an alternative week night beverage that would help me fall asleep, a clerk at Boisson in Cobble Hill (now shuttered, sad face) pointed me to Calme by Aplós. That evening I put 1 part spirit, 1 part seltzer, a squeeze of citrus into my heavy cocktail glass, sipping it while my Hatch 2.0 grown up sound machine doled out lo-fi sleep beats, I woke up 7 hours later with no hangover and fully refreshed. My God. Aplós’ spirits are actually functional spirits which means they contain ingredients that offer another benefit like a calmer mood, easier sleep, relaxation. Calme is infused with Hemp which is largely responsible for putting me out like a baby in a swaddle. Functional beverages are a major part of the NA movement, but be mindful of what your body likes and can tolerate and if you’re drinking NA because you have a baby in your belly, make sure these are safe for you before consuming many do carry warnings on the label.
Non-Alcoholic Apéritifs & Elixirs | These beverages, similar to the NA “wines” that are not dealcoholized wine are rich, layered, very complex drinks meant to give you a taste experience.
Ghia - If you like a fancy grocery store, you’ve likely seen these on shelves in can or bottle form. My first Ghia was the Lime & Salt canned aperitif, delicious and even more so when poured into a ribbed coupe glass. The brand’s assortment will mostly lean bitter, that was their specialty, capturing the bitterness of some classic cocktails like a Negroni in a sexy, non-alcholic way.
Curious Elixirs - Curious elixirs prefer to not be referred to as a mocktail. They’re so much more, and they’re “sprit free” cocktails. I’ve had a hard time finding these in stores but when I did, I tried the Smoked Chocolate and Cherry Old Fashioned which was delicious.
Canned Functional Beverages | Pre-made, served in a can with a variation of functional benefits, often meant to be enjoyed in the same social settings you would a cocktail.
Aplós - I really like this brand. The branding is just clean enough to remind me of that beach front boutique resort I stayed at in Tulum. And the brand voice gives older, mature, cooler cousin who’s been doing this non-alcoholic thing since well before it was cool and is sheparding you through — with no judgement — as you hop on board the trend. Anyway, the canned mocktails take their classic spirits Calme and Arise and kick them up 10 notches. They’re meant to be enjoyed socially and truly fulfill that desire for a cocktail. No mixing and stirring required, pour into a glass and maybe top with a garnish, maybe not, either way, take your time to savor.
Recess Zero Proof - The Recess Zero Proof line includes a functional, non-alcoholic version of four classics: Margarita, Paloma, Mule and Mojito. I have enjoyed them all but I keep coming back to the Margarita (what can I say, I’m loyal). The original Recess beverage was already a go-to for me when I wasn’t drinking but wanted a little something special, I wasn’t surprised to see them fully dive in to the NA lane with a dedicated product, it makes sense and as far as functional beverages go I think they get it right. I see these making many summer park appearances in the near future.
Kin Euphorics - I was an early adopter of Kin, discovering these little cans around 2019. I’ve enjoyed them at home relaxing or packed for a picnic out with friends. They also get the functional beverage lane right. My favorite is Lightwave which has notes of vanilla, lavender, and smoked sea-salt but they all serve a different functional need. Lightwave contains L-Theanine and L-Tryptophan to “mellow your mind” and it does this job very well. Like a lot of beverages in this category some of these also contain caffeine for that awakening affect. If this is what you’re looking for, great, but if you’re sipping on a few of these socially and then head home to bed and can’t fall asleep that could be why. Check your labels carefully!
Kombucha | On a recent flight to Salt Lake City for Sundance Film Festival I watched a Masterclass series on gut health. One episode focused on fermented foods and their benefits and I was reminded that kombucha is actually good for you, but the key is to be mindful about the sugar included. After I returned home I set out to find a kombucha I truly love.
BKE - BKE’s kombuchas are not the sweet, juice like kombucha I recalled from trying the beverage years ago. I picked up a few of these in what I like to call a bougie grocery store in Park Slope on a Saturday morning. Rose was the first flavor I tried and loved. The taste was herbal, heady, very much rose, but without any sugar the drink could be bland to some. For me I loved knowing I could sip this without reeling from the effects of alcohol but also not feeling guilt for drinking too much sugar while also benefitting my gut health. Better yet, there’s an actual Kombucha Brewery in Bushwick that I will be visiting once the vise grip winter has on NYC loosens up.
Health-Ade - Of all the grocery store, readily available brands this one is my favorite. I find the flavors complex enough to be worthy of my wine glass however the sugar content is pretty high. I consume in moderation but the flavor that keeps me coming back is Strawberry Glow Up. Typically not a fan of Strawberry flavored anything, this is fruity, light and fun and allegedly good for my “glow”.
Sparkling Beverages | Because sometimes, just the bubbles are enough to get me going. Sparkling water, seltzer and sodas have been a nice distraction while in my early stages of sobriety. They’re easily accessible, far cheaper, and something that I can drink day to day.
Something & Nothing - With no added sugars or sweeteners, high quality natural juices flavor these incredible sodas. The first time I picked these up it was because the packaging, minimal and artful images against solid white can, make them stand out in a sea of technicolor packaging in the bodega fridge case. I grabbed one of each flavor, Yuzu, Cucumber and Pineapple & Pink Grapefruit are my absolute faves. This is a real treat to myself when I get home from work and the thing I reach for the most to pour into my wine glass and give me that same feel of “a little something special” while I prep and cook dinner. Note: they also make a low ABV Spritz, I have not tried this, my experience is only with the NA soda.
Sanzo - Sanzo’s Yuzu flavor became my go-to after having trouble finding Something & Nothing’s Yuzu in my local corner store AND seeing that it was sold out on Amazon. So I picked up a case of Sanzo and they’ve been on regular rotation ever since. Totally sugar free but full of flavor, crisp, dry and delicious.
LaCroix - Yes, LaCroix, that sparkling water brand that’s been around for years. They keep coming out with new flavors, staying competitive with their offerings. My personal favorite for the last few years has been Limoncello, oddly enough I discovered this flavor while hung over, waiting for my appointment to get my ear pierced. Irony at it’s best.
Olipop - In the battle of the prebiotic sodas, Olipop is the victor for me. The flavors are rich, the sugar is low (4 or 5 grams per can, typically), and they don’t taste like apple cider vinegar. My favorite flavors include: Classic Cola, Ginger Ale, Grape (I know, don’t come for me), and Lemon Ginger. My daughter is particularly fond of Strawberry Vanilla which is fun. They honestly nail it when it comes to “healthy soda”.
Honorable Mentions
Heineken 0.0 - You may have noticed I didn’t add a beer category when this category is wide open and full of options, well, I don’t drink beer. But if I someone handed me a Heineken 0.0 I’d drink it, it’s good.
Vybes - A magnesium based mood beverage based out of LA, I love their packaging and it’s sold in a few stores around Brooklyn.
St. Agrestis Phony Negroni - These bottled non-alcoholic Negronis are on quite a few restaurant menus under the “Spirit Free” or “Mocktail” section. They’re popular but they aren’t my fave, but then again I don’t really like Negronis. But since they’re so ubiquitous I have to acknowledge that they’re doing something right, perhaps you’ll like.