An increasing number of distillers and mixologists have been toiling away at their potions to capture what it is we love about a drink. Whether you're a mother-to-be or supporting father-to-be, skipping the alcohol, or on a permanent spirits hiatus, there’s something for all of us to drink in place of a cheeky cocktail or glass of wine.
Gone for the time being are Summer Fridays, happy hours and after work drinks, but what do we do when the possibility of happy hour could be any hour, at home? Nielsen has found that the “healthier” drinking trend will continue into 2020, and we’ve found that non-alcoholic no longer means slightly sad beer or overly fizzy, sickly sweet mocktails with no bite.
Many of our social habits revolve around food and drink, and while we are no longer gathering to cook and eat and mix and drink in large numbers, we can still recreate the communal feeling at home. Schedule a zoom party, send out the ingredient list, and add a signature cocktail with a zero proof option. Or, if looking for a more intentional approach to an evening at home, try one of these alcohol free beverage brands and get creative with the next aperitif, pairing, digestif or a relaxing nightcap.
1
Ghia
Made with summer in mind, Ghia captures that particular in between of Mediterranean beach vacations, with a bitter yet bright botanical taste of citrus and floral flavors that reminds us of an aperitif by the seaside still salty from the last swim of the day.
“I wanted to create something that changed the way we think about drinking and socializing. A beverage that
brings people together, but can also be made your own,” explains Founder Melanie Masarin. “Ghia is meant to
bring intention to every sip and support the creation of your own memories— whether that’s mixing up a cocktail to
your favorite music, having a deeper conversation, or dancing into the night.”
All of Ghia’s ingredients are sourced mindfully and as close to their elemental form as possible, most with geographic origins in the Mediterranean, the very place that inspired Ghia. Masarin led the development of Ghia during a 55-week process, complete with 37 iterations to land on the perfect formula.
2
Fluère
Hailing from Denmark, FLUÈRE bursts with botanicals that issue a complex yet balanced taste. The raspberry blend offering is made with fresh distilled raspberries that gives a fresh, smooth and slight sweet nose followed with a unique after-bite that normally only alcoholic drinks have. Fresh raspberries, Coriander, Juniper, Lavender and Lime peel lend a complex but well-balanced taste for a pink gin alternative. Try their signature Think Pink cocktail for a rosy libation.
3
Seedlip
Founded by Ben Branson in 2015, Seedlip marries his 350-year farming heritage with a love of nature, flavor and design. Inspired by the 17th century book, The Art of Distillation, Ben tinkered with a copper still & homegrown herbs in his kitchen in the woods to create the first non-alcoholic spirit. Distilled with traditional botanical methods in a six-week process, each individual botanical ingredient is distilled separately, before blending into one of three offerings that can be sipped, stirred, mixed or crafted into drinks of choice. Their mycelium gift set comes in completely biodegradable-at-home packaging made from mushroom roots and includes a recycled highball glass and plantable thyme seed tag.
4
Artet
Artet is a zero-proof, low dose cannabis beverage inspired by one family’s shared appreciation for the intersection of aperitif culture and the tradition of joint-passing between friends. Crafted to live on bar carts that favor the drink but perhaps not the sleepless night or the hang over that alcohol can bring, Artet’s flavor profile is a blend of natural botanicals that draws homage from French and Italian style liqueurs. It can be sipped and savored on the rocks or used as the base of an intriguing mixed drink. Each 750 ml bottle contains 15 intuitively dosed servings of cannabis; each containing 2.5 mgs of THC. A percentage of every bottle sold is donated to The Last Mile, which prepares incarcerated individuals for successful reentry through job training.
5
Kin Euphorics
With a blend of adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals, Kin Euphorics promises only the good vibes of drinking; the social high, enlightened mood and uplifted state, without the alcohol of course. Adaptogens work by strengthening the adrenal system and moderating stress responses. They tend to be good sources of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, which helps to prevent cellular damage. Nootropics are supplements that may improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity, or motivation. We found the most effective Euphoric to be the Dreamlight blend, which includes a small amount of effectively sleep inducing melatonin.
