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Giving up alcohol — whether for now, if you’re trying out something like staying sober for the holidays, or for good — isn’t easy. And while the benefits are vast, you might also find yourself navigating certain challenges as you dive in. Figuring out the best way to explain why you’re not drinking, for instance, might be tricky. And then there are more basic considerations, like: What exactly do I drink?
Thankfully, there are more options than ever for people looking to replace booze in their lives. From hop-infused sparkling waters to herbaceous and complex alcohol alternatives, a slew of beverages have cropped up over the last few years to serve the increasing number of people who want something other than liquor to toast with friends. Whether you’re trying a sober month or you’ve cut out alcohol permanently, we’ve curated a list of 10 of our favorite alcohol alternatives below. Read on to discover a world beyond the hangover.
Liquid Death Mountain Water
Just when you thought staying hydrated couldn't get any more hardcore, the folks at Liquid Death bring you their signature product: spring water in a tall can, emblazoned with an OId English typeface and a gnarly melting skull. For those doing dry January or the newly sober, the familiar feeling of holding a tall can is a great way to ease into life without alcohol. It’s the perfect beer decoy when you’re out and about and don’t feel like being asked, “why aren’t you drinking?” You’ll feel more at home, with none of the drawbacks of booze.
Club Mate
I first discovered Club Mate in my previous life as an indie rocker, while on tour in Berlin. At the time I used it as a mixer with vodka, as a continental version of the American party favorite Red Bull and vodka. Yet Club Mate is just as good on its own; it’s a mildly flavored carbonated drink made from mate tea extract, with 100 mg of caffeine but significantly less sugar than other energy drinks. Great straight out of the bottle or on the rocks with a lime wedge, Club Mate’s slightly spicy effervescence and sweet earthy flavor will reinvigorate you, whether you’re raving in a warehouse or just working at home.
Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher
While Lagunitas has made a name for themselves in the craft beer world with their widely popular IPAs, their Hoppy Refresher is not a “near beer,” but a drink all its own. Using dry beer hops to infuse sparkling water, this is a refreshing and zesty beverage that has a tamarind aftertaste. Not as skunky or intense as an IPA, the Hoppy Refresher is a great substitute beverage for craft beer heads who need a break from booze.
TÖST Sparkling Beverage
With the heft and embellishment of a champagne bottle and a warm golden hue, this drink is perfect for doing exactly what it’s called — toasting friends and loved ones. It’s surprisingly refreshing to sip, with a sharp and sweet (but not cloying) taste. Made from white tea, white cranberry, and ginger, this stuff is shockingly good, so much so that you might find yourself reaching for it any old day of the week.
Fosé Rosé
This brand was created by none other than Real Housewives of New York’s Countess Luann de Lesseps, and it’s an impressive rosé dupe. Lightly sweet, fruity, herbal, and woody, the brand says each bottle is “packed with superfood ingredients,” like schisandra and damiana, and is low calorie. Whether you’re a Housewives fan or not, this is a bottle worth cracking open with friends.
For Bitter For Worse
This brand of non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink cocktails are made in house by a husband and wife team in Portland, Oregon, and you can feel the love in these drinks. With three varietals on offer — Eva’s Spritz, a refreshing rhubarb-based concoction; The Saskatoon, an herbal, berry-based botanical blend; and Smoky No. 56, a bracing fig mix — you’ll have something interesting to reach for whenever you’re having a drink. Start with the gift trio to give each a taste, enjoyed straight up over ice or as part of one of their many cocktail recipes.
Ghia
Ghia is a botanical aperitif that can stand head-to-head with any alcoholic apertivo. Made with Riesling grape juice, orange peel, and a blend of herbs, it’s slightly bitter but not off-putting — enough to make you savor its complex taste and remember you’re drinking something special. Enjoy it over ice and sparkling water as a spritz, and you’ll never look back at aperol again.
Three Spirit
These three “functional drinks” — named Livener, Social Elixir, and Nightcap — are meant to carry you throughout your night, from happy hour to bedtime. And while each contains a mix of botanicals designed to support your mood throughout, from guayusa and ginseng to valerian and ashwagandha, all that matters is how they taste. As it turns out, they taste great: Livener, aptly described as a “fiery” drink to get your night going, is pleasantly peppery and sweet, with caffeine to get you moving. Social Elixir is a more subtle, herbal and spice-driven mixture that lends itself well to any number of creative cocktail ideas. Not all non-alcoholic cocktails on the market are this creative or delicious; while this brand isn’t cheap, at $39 per bottle, it’s worth the splurge if you can afford it.
St. Agrestis Phony Negroni
St. Agrestis is a Brooklyn-based distillery that offers an array of mocktails and aperitifs. The brand's Phony Negroni is particularly popular, giving the same glamour and rich taste as the classic cocktail sans alcohol. If you’re feeling trendy, you can even make it a phony negroni sbagliato by adding a dash of seltzer or non-alcoholic sparkling wine from another brand (may we suggest the TÖST faux champagne above?) If you're in the mood for something smokier, the brand also offers a Phony Mezcal Negroni that gives an extra kick.
MeMento
If florals are your thing, MeMento’s collection of non-alcoholic spirits come in three distinct flavors: classic, green, and blue. Each essence is derived from aromatics like herbs, flowers, and other natural ingredients. MeMento Green takes inspiration from common myrtle, sweet bay, and bitter orange, creating an herbaceous and refreshing flavor profile. For a more savory, spicy undertone to your mocktail, MeMento Blue contains notes of highly purified sea water, clary sage, and oregano. Each bottle will run you about $33, so they’re a little pricy, but if you’re looking to expand your non-alcoholic bar, this might be the ticket.
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