The 11 Best Nonalcoholic Spirits of 2023

When it comes to nonalcoholic spirits, the drinks industry has come a long way in the last ten years. As recently as a decade ago, non-imbibers were relegated to sodas, juices, and sparkling waters. In 2014, however, a company called Seedlip began offering up a spirit-adjacent alternative, and consumers now have a full rainbow of booze-free options, from rums and whiskeys to tequilas and aperitivos.

But not all n/a spirits are created equal. “The best nonalcoholic spirits have good balance, that can stand up to being mixed, and that deliver more than just a flavored water experience,” describes Lynnette Marrero, the co-founder of Speed Rack and bar director of Llama Inn and Llama San. “I think of it like food. You have to hit more receptors when alcohol is not included.”

Seedlip is our top pick because it has a neutral profile and mixes well for any non-alcoholic cocktail.

Here are the best nonalcoholic spirits that hit those crucial notes of flavor and balance.

The Rundown

Best Overall:

Seedlip Non-Alcoholic Spirit at Amazon

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Best Whiskey-inspired:

Spiritless Kentucky 74 at Amazon

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Best Rum-inspired:

ArKay Alcohol-Free Rum at Amazon

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Best Gin-inspired:

MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin at Amazon

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Runner Up, Best Gin-inspired:

Salcombe New London Light Non-Alcoholic Gin at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Curious Elixirs No. 1 Booze-Free Cocktail at Curiouselixirs.com

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Best Aperitif:

Proteau Zero-Proof Botanical Drinks at Food52

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Best Campari Substitute:

Lyre's Italian Orange Non-Alcoholic Spirit at Amazon

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Best CBD-forward:

Aplós Hemp-Infused Non-Alcoholic Spirit at Aplos.world

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Best for an N/A Negroni:

AMASS Riverine Distilled Non-Alcoholic Spirit at Amazon

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Amazon

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There’s a reason Seedlip is a household name when it comes to nonalcoholic spirits. Its neutral profile and excellent mixability make it an easy reach for making nonalcoholic cocktails.

Founded in 2013 by Ben Branson, Seedlip bills itself as a booze-free line of botanical spirit alternatives. While the original flavor is an excellent alternative to gin or vodka, “my favorite expression is the Garden 108,” says Alejandro Ibanez of Dilworth Tasting Room. “It has flavors of fresh peas and garden herbs that give the spirit very herbaceous notes. That makes it taste similar to the French liquors—Benedictine, Chartreuse, genepy. I find its silky texture is perfect to create Martini-esque and spirit-forward cocktails.”

Good to Know:

How do you drink a nonalcoholic spirit? “Many people enjoy them neat or on the rocks but more commonly in simple cocktails like highballs or easy classic cocktails,“ says Marrero.

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Leave it to a Kentucky company to produce a worthy alternative to Kentucky bourbon. This nonalcoholic distilled tipple starts as a high-proof aged spirit that is then additionally distilled, using a proprietary method, to remove almost all of the alcohol. The resulting spirit sits at around 0.5 percent (the same ABV as regular kombucha) and is full of caramel, vanilla, and oak flavors.

One of the big draws of Spiritless is you can use it to cut the proof in your regular bourbon. Split the base of a bourbon cocktail with Kentucky 74 for a lower-alc option. Spiritless has the additional appeal of being woman-founded: the company was started by three Kentucky-bred women who wanted a low-ABV alternative to their state's signature spirit.

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ArKay was born in Dubai, where abstaining is a common practice due to religious imperatives. The brand concocts a wide range of spirits, including tequila, brandy, and several whiskeys, as well as the spiced rum featured here. Try it in a Cuba Libre or pour it into a Pina Colada to cut the sweetness of the pineapple and coconut.

They also have a white rum, if Daiquiris are on the menu, but the spiced rum is particularly flavorful. Use it in a Mai Tai or Painkiller if you’d like to cut the strength of typical tropical cocktails.

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"As far an n/a spirit goes, I really like what Monday Gin is doing,” says Robert Kidd, the head bartender at the award-winning Le Cavalier in Wilmington, DE. “The flavors are pretty spot-on, and it isn’t hard to get a hold of. There are some other great n/a spirits out there, but as far as accessibility, Monday can be found everywhere.”

This SoCal-produced craft spirit hits all the classic gin notes, with plenty of juniper, citrus, and coriander on display. “Personally, I love making different syrups and shrubs that complement the spirit," says Kidd. "Lavender and fennel shrub with oranges or a chamomile syrup both mix wonderfully with the juniper in Monday."

Related: The Best Cocktail Glasses

Salcombe New London Light Non-Alcoholic Gin

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Salcombe Distilling's New London Light is inspired by gin-making processes, so even though it’s nonalcoholic, it boasts delicious, full-bodied flavors of citrus zest and unique botanicals.

While the botanical mix does include juniper, the final flavor profile leans farther in the citrus realm, boasting a mix of cardamom, ginger, habanero capsicum, orange, sage, cascarilla bark, and lemongrass—making this bright and complex n/a gin an excellent choice for a spritz.

What Our Experts Say

“Even though it just hit the market, my go-to for no-ABV is now New London Light from Salcombe Distilling Co. It’s super aromatic and definitely achieves a spirited status even with zero alcohol. I like to enhance its body with some simple syrup and verjus, which lets the fresh, citrusy notes of New London Light speak.” — Will Wyatt, owner and beverage director of Mister Paradise and Electric Burrito

Related: The Best Soda Makers

Curious Elixirs

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Based out of the Hudson Valley, Curious Elixirs crafts nonalcoholic cocktails packaged in double-serving bottles. Curious No. 1 riffs on the Negroni by using pomegranate and rhodiola extracts, while No. 2 tastes like a Dark & Stormy. Curious No. 3, packed with lemon, cucumber, and genepy-leaning herbs, tastes like a Collins.

The company reproduces the flavors of classic cocktails using only juices, spices, herbs, roots, and barks. The resulting drinks are complex, smooth, and well-balanced—nonalcoholic cocktails sans the effort.

If you’re swinging by a party, pack a few of these in your bag for a low-effort drink option. All options are gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free, plus fair-trade and non-GMO.

Related : The Best Nonalcoholic Beers

Food52

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Marrero also vouches for Proteau. “This was made by bartender John Debary so it is bright, spritzy, and fresh," she says. "He uses bitterness and balance to make a nuanced product.”

DeBary brought the product to life after years of digging through books and playing with vinegars and botanicals to make a nonalcoholic spirit that people actually want to sip.

The first release, Ludlow, boasts complex layers of fig vinegar, blackberries, rose flowers, roasted dandelion root, chrysanthemum, and blackberry juice—making it perfect for sipping over ice. If you’re looking for something more vibrant, the recently-released Rivington Spritz is a refreshing, tart little number with hibiscus, chamomile, strawberry, and Champagne vinegar.

Lyre's Italian Orange Non-Alcoholic Spirit

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Lyre's, an Australian producer of n/a beverages, is not only well-regarded within the industry (they cleaned up at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, raking in 10 medals), but they also churn out an impressive range of zero-proof spirits, including gins, liqueurs, aperitivos, absinthes—and even dry vermouths for those abstaining Martini enthusiasts. Their dry London spirits and rums are particularly appealing: they smell and taste just like their alcoholic counterparts, making them excellent for cocktail buffs.

Lyre’s Italian Orange expression is formulated to replicate a bitter orange aperitif, e.g. Campari. This particular flavor stands up well poured into a Negroni, an Americano, or a Spritz.

Lyre’s offers almost a dozen different mixers, so you can replicate a full range of classic cocktails (think Espresso Martinis or Manhattans) with their portfolio alone.

What Our Editors Say

"Lyre's has really nailed the bitter orange complexity of some of my favorite aperitivi in their Italian Orange spirit. I love it in a Spritz but is also delightful just on the rocks with an orange twist." — Prairie Rose, Editor

AplÃ³s Hemp-Infused Non-Alcoholic Spirit

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While many of the n/a spirits in our roundup are built around big flavor infusions to replicate the missing alcohol notes, Aplos takes a different tack: their spirit is built around CBD. Instead of getting you dizzy and tipsy, this hemp-infused, nonalcoholic beverage aims to get you blissed out and uplifted.

Fusing the non-alc industry with the CBD-forward world, Aplos uses active compounds called cannabinoids as the main flavor influence in their spirit. Expect subtle notes of rosemary, cardamom, and citrus, with flavors that play well with tonic, soda, or citrus.

Lynnette Marrero, who helped develop the flavor profile, notes “I also love the effects of the CBD.”

AMASS Riverine Distilled Non-Alcoholic Spirit

Food 52

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Amass is a well-regarded producer of spirits, including their flagship gin, who have stepped into the nonalcoholic spirit world with Riverine—which they refer to as a "social ritual product." This non-alc option is complex and heavy on the herbaceous notes (including mint, white thyme, parsley, and eucalyptus), making it unique to use in cocktails; try it as an earthy alternative to a vermouth or amaro.

It’s best served with tonic or soda and a splash of citrus to balance out the sumac, sorrel, and lemon peel in the botanical mix. The lovely woodsy quality from the sumac and thyme also lends itself well to Negronis, along with Mules and Spritzes, and balances out the sweetness of more saccharine cocktails.

Related: The Best Nonalcoholic Drinks

Foxtrot

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Inspired by the Mediterranean tradition of aperitivo hour, Ghia drinks like an elevated amaro. Founder Melanie Masarin blended Riesling grape juice with a range of herbs and extracts to replicate the complexity of apres-dinner drinks. It’s also available in single-serving spritz form.

“It’s fun to experiment with,” says Derek Brown, a spirits expert and the owner of D.C.’s The Columbia Room. “The key to making a delicious drink with this was balancing the bitterness but not losing its flavors by adding a bunch of sugar or citrus.”

Try it in cocktails, or sip it over ice with a splash of soda to showcase the layers of gentian root, yuzu juice, fig concentrate, elderflower, orange peel, ginger, and rosemary.

Final Verdict

Seedlip (view at Drizly) has been a frontrunner in the category for years, and for good reason—it makes a perfectly serviceable alternative to normal-proof spirits. If you’re looking for something zero-proof to sip on at the end of a meal, pick up a bottle of Proteau (view at Food52).

What to Look for in a Nonalcoholic Spirit

Use

Consider what your preferred spirit is. Do you want a gin alternative? A hangover-free whiskey for all your Old Fashioned needs? Do you want to sip it neat, or are you planning for a booze-free cocktail party? Choose accordingly. There are different bottles for each of these options.

Expiry Date

Unlike higher-proof spirits, many nonalcoholic drinks have a short shelf life. Lyre’s will expire after 12 weeks, while Ghia must be consumed 4 weeks after opening. If you’re not one to sip these quickly, consider purchasing a bottle with a longer shelf life.

FAQs

How do you drink n/a Spirits (rocks, solo, mixed)?

It depends on the spirit. Some are meant to be mixed into cocktails to add that bite, while others are elegant enough to be sipped neat or on the rocks.

How are n/a spirits made?

Many nonalcoholic spirits are made in the same process as alcoholic spirits before undergoing a secondary process to remove the alcohol. Some nonalcoholic spirits are also fermented (a la kombucha).

Are n/a spirits the same price as regular spirits with alcohol? Why are they so expensive?

Even though nonalcoholic spirits do not contain alcohol, they often still undergo a similar production process. Add to that the costs of development, staffing, shipping, raw materials, and other business expenses—often undertaken by comparatively small operations—and it becomes clear why they're not priced like juice or soda.

Why Trust Liquor.com?

Kate Dingwall is a wine and spirits writer and a WSET-trained sommelier at one of Canada’s top restaurants. She has spent six years writing about the field and 10 years working as a bartender / sommelier. Her partner doesn’t drink, so she’s become quite savvy at conjuring up zero-proof happy hours.

This piece was edited by Jesse Porter, a former bartender and longtime spirits enthusiast who's really glad that the nonalcoholic options he can provide for teetotaling guests at his cocktail parties are not limited to just "club soda or ginger beer?" anymore.

Read Next: The Best Nonalcoholic Wines

Best Overall

Seedlip Garden 108 Non-Alcoholic Spirit

Best Whiskey-inspired

Spiritless Kentucky 74

Best Rum-inspired

ArKay Alcohol-Free Rum

Best Gin-inspired

MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin

Runner Up, Best Gin-inspired

Salcombe New London Light Non-Alcoholic Gin

Best Budget

Curious Elixirs No. 1 Booze-Free Cocktail

Best Aperitif

Proteau Zero-Proof Botanical Drinks

Best Campari Substitute

Lyre's Italian Orange Non-Alcoholic Spirit

Best CBD-forward

Aplós Hemp-Infused Non-Alcoholic Spirit

Best for an N/A Negroni

AMASS Riverine Distilled Non-Alcoholic Spirit

Best for a Spritz

Ghia Non-Alcoholic Apéritif