I've Ranked All The Alcohol-Free Drinks I've Tried, And Three Of Them Are Tied For The #1 Spot
Hi! My name is Syd, and I don't drink (I'm having sparkling cider here lol).
And since I don't drink, I've had plenty of time to try all kinds of different non-alcoholic options — the good, the bad, and the SOOOO GOOD I literally keep it in my bag for when I go to bars and social events.
NBC / giphy.com
So, whether you're trying out Dry January or completely abstain, here are my top alcohol-free drink recommendations, RANKED:
HBO / giphy.com
DISCLAIMER: I'm a fruity drink girlie, so my opinions are, most certainly, a little biased toward the drinks that fit that criteria.
ALSO, I realize not all of these drinks are marketed specifically as non-alcoholic beverages, but still, these are the drinks I've reached for recently instead of alcoholic ones, so...yeah!
18.ISH — 2/10
So, this was the only flavor I tried from ISH, and to be fair, this just was not in my palate. With that being said, this is probably because they use a non-alcoholic spirit in it that tastes SO CLOSE to actual alcohol that 1.) I got scared for a second that I broke my sobriety, and 2.) it was simply a strong taste that I was not expecting. However, if you're someone who enjoys the taste of liquor, this may be the NA option for you!!!
Get a 4-pack of these for $21.99.
17.Untitled Art Brewing — 3/10
To me, this tasted like someone dipped a strawberry in plain seltzer water for 2.3 seconds, which may totally work for some people, but it’s personally a no from me.
Get a 12-pack of these for $24.99.
16.Mocktail Club — 4/10
The thing with canned mocktails is that the makers tend to get a little wackadoo with the flavors. I typically prefer NA takes on tried and true classics, so this particular combo of flavors was a little jarring. Still, we absolutely love the creativity, and this was probably just not the flavor for me. Not my thing.
Get a 4-pack of these for $16.96.
15.Phony Negroni — 5/10
I tried this because it was the only NA option at my friend's birthday party, and it definitely tasted like a negroni. I just don't like negronis. If you do, you'll probably like this.
Get a 12-pack of these for $55.99.
14.De Soi — 5/10
Sadly, I was not blown away by Katy Perry's latest business endeavor, but I have to respect her trying to bring an NA option into the mainstream! I just kind of thought this one was okay, but honestly, I may have just been mentally swayed by the fact that the first ingredient is a mushroom, which just feels weird to me. So...we're kinda inconclusive on this one.
Get a 4-pack of these for $25.
13.Flyers — 6/10
This bubbly lil' concoction was just a bit bitter for my tastes, but I'd say it was a pretty good option if you're also looking for a slight CBD buzz. AND Flyers is an amazing company that makes alcohol-free, CBD-infused drinks (and even THC-infused drinks in certain states where they're legal) and donates a portion of their proceeds to The Last Prisoner Project, an organization dedicated to cannabis decriminalization and criminal justice reform!
Get a 4-pack of these for $19.99.
12.Athletic Brewing Co. — 7/10
The other day, my friends and I went out to a bar/restaurant for lunch, and since they're both doing Dry January, they joined me in trying this NA beer that I've been getting Instagram ads for CONSTANTLY!!! Here's the thing — I, myself, was never a beer drinker, so I wasn't like, "Wow, this is delicious!" but at the same time, it definitely tasted just like beer, and a nice light one at that. My friends (both beer lovers) even said they couldn't tell the difference.
Get a 6-pack of these for $13.99.
11.Mad Tasty — 7/10
Founded by legendary songwriter and producer Ryan Tedder — he wrote Beyoncé's "Halo," and many, MANY other hits — Mad Tasty offers yummy hemp-infused seltzers that any sparkling water enthusiast will love. I kind of shoot right down the middle when it comes to seltzers, so I liked this flavor of Mad Tasty, but wasn't obsessed with it. Still, I liked it enough to recommend!
Get their mixed flavor 12-pack for $60.
10.Wander + Found — 7/10
The first time I tried this NA rosé, I gotta say, I was not obsessed. It just kinda tasted like juice to me. With that being said, it DID really grow on me, and I even repurchased it a couple times during the holidays so I could bring it to family functions. TL;DR: It's a grower, not a shower.
Get a bottle of the rosé for $18.99.
9.Little Saints — 7/10
I tried Little Saints for the first time at a BuzzFeed happy hour, and I was instantly a fan! Little Saints is a "plant-based mocktail," using adaptogens to create a calming effect with every sip. I tried the Ginger Mule first, and truly had no notes. I also tried the Mimosa one though, and I just couldn't get behind it — I thought it tasted a little chemical-y. Overall, though, Little Saints is one of my favorite options to reach for when I'm in the mood for an NA drinkity drink.
Get their bestsellers variety 12-pack for $66.
8.Recess — 8/10
Oh, how I love Recess seltzers!!! I think they're simply divine — especially their limited edition Margarita flavor, which I truly hope they permanently add to their flavor roster. They use hemp, magnesium, and adaptogens which are said to help you feel calm, cool, and collected. I love these!!!
Get a flavor sampler 6-pack of these for $29.99.
7.De La Calle! — 8/10
Okay, I really, really like these!!! I know I ragged on quasi-experimental flavors earlier, but I feel like De La Calle! — a company that makes Mexican fermented probiotic drinks — kind of nailed them...?! So far, I've only tried the Mango Chili Picante and the Grapefruit Lime Paloma, and both have been FABULOUS! The Mango Chili one has a nice kick to it, and the Grapefruit Lime is gorgeously refreshing, so all in all, De La Calle! gets an 8/10 in my book.
Get their Originales variety 12-Pack for $46.99.
6.Culture Pop Soda — 9/10
Every flavor I've tried of Culture Pop has been delicious. They're perfect for just sipping on during the day or for bringing to parties, and I really, truly cannot recommend them enough!!!
Get their flavor sampler 16-pack for $39.99.
5.Brooklyn Best — 9/10
So, yeah, it's technically not marketed as an NA brand, but Brooklyn Best teas are one of my favorite drinks to bring to get-togethers, especially summer rooftop hangs. They're great any time of the year, though — especially Dry January 😉 — and will instantly transport you to the beach, even if you're just curled up on your couch next to a space heater.
Get a 12-pack of any of their flavors for $36.
4.Sovi — 9/10
Okay, I ADORE SOVI WINES!!!!!!!! They're made the exact same way as regular alcoholic wines — taking some grapes grown at a vineyard and fermenting them — only the alcohol gets distilled out of the wine through a process called "vacuum distillation." To me, Sovi tastes just like regular wine, only slightly less bitter. (Frankly, I think it's better than regular wine.) Highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend!!!
Get their cans sampler 6-pack for $44.
And FINALLY, I have a three-way tie for the #1 spot, with all these drinks earning the coveted 10/10 ranking..........
3.Bonbuz — 10/10
Tying for the #1 spot is Bonbuz, an "alcohol-free social spirit" that tastes vaguely of kombucha, Coca-Cola, and citrus — and I LOVE IT. It's a perfect mixer, mixing (unsurprisingly) well with Coca-Cola, making an EXQUISITE rum and Coke-esque bevvie.
Get their mini combo pack for $27.95.
2.Jeng — 10/10
As far as canned mocktails go, Jeng is EASILY the best, at least IMHO!!! They offer three flavors: Moscow Mule, Paloma, and "Jeng and Tonic," and to me, they all taste suuuuper close to their regular drink versions! If you love sweet, fruity cocktails as much as me, these will 1,000% be your new favorites.
Get their Dry January 24-pack for $115.
1.Ghia — 10/10
Lastly, my FINAL favorite is Ghia, a fully NA brand that appeared on ABC's Shark Tank, gathering two offers! Their spritzes are rich and flavorful, but I gotta say, my favorite is their aperitif, which is a lovely botanical mixer that goes great with just about anything. I try to keep a bottle of the aperitif in my bag whenever I go out so I can toss some into a glass of lemonade and seltzer — it's my go-to!!!
Get a bottle of their aperitif for $38, and a flavor sampler 12-pack of the spritzes for $60.
So, what are ✨YOUR✨ favorite non-alcoholic go-to's? And do you agree or disagree with my ranking of all these? Let me know in the comments below, and happy Dry January to those participating! 😌
HBO / giphy.com
