The Ultimate Guide to Non-Alcoholic Alternatives
We have answered the age-old question, what do you drink when you are not drinking? Fear not! We have compiled The Ultimate Guide to Non-Alcoholic Alternatives. In this list, each beverage will be rated on flavor, availability, what makes the brand unique, and of course, the packaging! With this list, you will find a new favorite alternative to mix and mingle with.
In order to feel satisfied and fulfilled, we must replace our vices and habits with something healthier for us. We start to feel restricted or come from a place of lack when we completely omit the habit. Just like vegan, sugar-free, and any other diet, the use of alternatives is what keeps us feeling included and satisfied. That is why alternatives are key to a healthy booze free journey.
To fall into the non-alcoholic category, a beverage must contain .5% or less alcohol. Your body can't compound enough alcohol in your system, making it physically impossible to become inebriated by non-alcoholic substances. In fact, you will most likely get very sick and even pass away from water poisoning before you feel intoxicated.
That being said, always check your intentions before partaking in non-alcoholic beverages of any kind. Remember, we love and care about you and YOU are our first priority! If you feel like these may be a gateway or a trigger, please be mindful.
NKD LDY
This is your chance to support a woman-owned alcohol alternative. NKD LDY was founded by Becca Gardner, we love her, her mission, and of course her products so much we had to have her on the podcast. (Listen here)
NKD LDY has successfully created high-quality non-alcoholic alternatives. Their lineup consists of gin, whiskey, and tequila. The zero-proof whiskey is from the world's bourbon capital, Bardstown, Kentucky, and is reverse-distilled, so it retains the bold, rich caramel and wood-matured notes you’d expect from Kentucky whiskeys.
The zero-proof tequila is made from real tequila sourced from Mexico, so it always stays true to the sweet aroma and signature taste of earth and spice that you love. The flavor is complex, with some smokey agave, smokey pumpkin, and sweet custard flavors. The finish is a sweet and fruity blend of ripe pears and apples.
And the zero-proof gin is made from real gin by their partners in Milwaukee, so it always stays true to the real floral and citrus flavors you know from a classic gin.
We love the clear glass bottles with the NKD LDY logo, they are always a great conversation starter and looks great on your non-alcoholic bar at home.
What we love:
-0.4% alcohol
-Women-owned small business
-Incredible flavors
Curious Elixirs
We love a mocktail experience with a lot of different options and Curious Elixirs really delivers. There are so many flavor profiles to choose from, there is definitely something here for everyone. These booze-free craft cocktails are not just a pretty face. They are also functional! Curious Elixirs are infused with adaptogens to help you unwind and contain nothing but the best ingredients with zero refined sugar. The flavors are bold and crafted for the adventurous. Each flavor is a collaboration between world-class bartenders, herbalists, and food scientists, and will make your mouth dance.
Curious Elixirs are ready to drink, no mixer needed and best enjoyed chilled.
Curious No. 1 A riff on the Negroni, with the added benefit of Rhodiola and gentian to boost energy. Best served on a large cube in a rocks glass, garnished with an orange slice or twist. Tasty and refreshing!
Curious No. 2 Think if a spicy margarita and a dark & stormy had a baby. This flavor contains the aphrodisiac damiana as well as ginger and citrus to help settle any butterflies. Serve up on the rocks with a lime wedge and a salted rim. This is hands down our favorite. The ginger and the spicy pineapple combo just hits.
Curious No. 3 Calm, cool, and collected. This is a riff on the Cucumber Collins with the de-stressing benefits of ashwagandha. Curious No. 3 is best enjoyed over a large cube or neat, garnished with a lemon peel. It is refreshing, delicious, and easy to drink.
Curious No. 4 Is best described as a Sicilian Blood Orange Green Mandarin Spritz, invoking both the ever-popular Aperol Spritz with the delicate effervescence of Prosecco. The de-inflammatory properties of ginseng, and turmeric, as well as holy basil to reduce stress is a huge bonus. Serve in a wine glass, on the rocks, or neat, garnished with an orange slice.
Curious No. 5 A smoked cherry chocolate old-fashioned. Spicy, smokey, and oh-so luxurious, it’s infused with the immunity boost of elderberry, ginger, chicory, and cayenne with the power of legendary aphrodisiac shatavari, a body-balancing Ayurvedic ingredient known as "The Queen of Herbs." Best served stirred on the rocks, garnished with orange peel, cherry, rosemary, or purple sage.
Curious No. 7 A champagne cocktail riff on the French 77, and the perfect companion for celebrations large and small--from weddings to Wednesdays. This is a perfect alternative to non-alcoholic champagne without the extremely sugary aftertaste many seem to have.
What we love:
-Very unique flavor profiles
-Extensive selection
-Ready to drink
Use code: SOBERGIRL10 at checkout to get $10 off any order of $50 or more.
Crisp & Crude
Crisp & Crude is putting the fun in functional beverages. They bring extra chill to your life with non-alcoholic cocktails infused with hemp and mood-lifting botanicals. Reap the benefits from 20mg of broad-spectrum hemp extract, along with a blend of aromatic botanical terpenes.
New or don’t know much about hemp and terpenes? No worries. Hemp and terpenes are meant to help you relax, not get you high, at all. Think of a warm hug, or the weight lifting off your shoulders after a deep cleansing breath. That is what Crisp & Crude offers. Not into hemp, no worries, they make hemp-free options as well.
Crisp & Crude’s gorgeous, bright slim cans come in four unique flavors. Paloma Daydream with Rio red grapefruit, charred oak, and a dash of salt, is basically a vacation in a can. Our personal favorite, the Mellow Mule with juicy pineapple, ginger heat, and muddled mint is delish! The Gold Fashioned is very unique with an aged oak barrel, bitter orange, and zesty dandelion. A great take on the classic old-fashioned. And last but not least the clean, classic, solid OG Tonic with piney juniper, bright tonic, and gentian root.
It is clear to see that Crisp & Crude has put extra love and attention into creating explosive and unique flavor combinations and we love them for it!
What we love:
-0% alcohol
-Ready to drink
-Outstanding flavor
Ritual
Ritual has a stellar line-up. They have mastered non-alcoholic gin, rum, tequila and whiskey. There is no learning curve here, it is a simple replacement. Their alternatives have all the smokey, peppery flavors and mouth feel of traditional alcohol, minus the calories, carbs, gluten, and most importantly the hangover. The bottle is clean, and beautiful, and has a cork top that makes it feel unique and special.
It took hundreds of iterations to perfect their recipes. Ritual learned how to blend jambu and prickly ash, how to extract the essence of blue agave, reduce the oil in juniper, and heighten the perfume of pine. They sought guidance from master chefs and held tasting sessions for Chicago's best bartenders. The result is a spirit alternative that delivers the flavor and experience of the original, without the alcohol.
Ritual is such a unique brand, It was started by three friends who loved to socialize and the ritual of catching up over drinks but despised how they felt the next day. Determined to find a substitute that felt and tasted like the real thing, they set out making recipes in their kitchen, and Ritual was born. GG Sakey one of the co-founders was on the podcast to talk about the non-alcoholic space and how her relationship with alcohol has changed since starting this journey. Listen to the interview here.
What we love:
- 0% alcohol
-Sugar-free and gluten-free
-Low calorie
Wild AF
Just when you think the perfect non-alcoholic rosé doesn’t exist, look no further. Wild AF really knocked it out of the park. Wild AF is made with California Syrah. It has no sugar, no calories, no juice, and less than 0.5% ABV. It's simply all the best parts of rosé without the alcohol.
The tall aluminum cans are absolutely stunning. The different tones of red make the cans stand out and definitely picture-worthy. Because it doesn’t contain sugar or juice, we found it quite tart, which is refreshing because everything else is quite sugary and unbearably sweet.
Wild AF has notes of Rainier cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, and a refreshing finish. We love that it’s sparkling too. Whether you are on the go, at the beach sipping it out of the stunning can, or at a dinner party and pouring it into a wine glass, Wild AF is all-around gorgeous.
What we love:
-0.5% alcohol
-2g sugar and 50 calories
-Ready-to-drink cans
Use promo code: SOBERGIRL20 for 20% off your order