Looking for the best non alcoholic bottled drinks to sip on while you take a break from booze (for now or forever)? Here are my faves.
To drink or not to drink? That is the question.
For you it might just be a question you ask yourself on January 1st when you wake up hungover from way too many glasses of champagne. For me, it’s a question I ask myself nearly every time I go out.
I took a month off of drinking in December of 2016, and I ended up keeping my “Dry December” going for about three years. It was just this past summer that I really started getting a lil tipsy again—but now I only drink champagne and I skip the tequila shots.
Needless to say, I like to think I know a bit about the non-alcoholic beverage options you need in your life if you’re taking a break from your beloved vodka-sodas or French 75s.
Here are the best non alcoholic bottled drinks.
1. TÖST
Out of this entire list, TÖST is definitely the one you want to bring to your classy (and instagrammable) summer soiree.
The bottles are super cute and will blend in perfectly with all your friends’ rosé drinks, and the look of TÖST when poured into a glass is similar to that of Champagne or Prosecco.
The taste of TÖST is a bit sweeter than your standard dry brut, but this is still definitely a great option for those who are sober and longing for a glass of bubbly.
2. Honeydrop
Honeydrop Cayenne Honey Lemonade, $25 for a 6-pack
Certain flavors of Honeydrop lemonade are kind of like a classy cocktail, minus the booze. My personal favorite is the cayenne honey flavor for a little kick.
3. Wild Tonic
Wild Tonic Jun Kombucha, Mango Ginger, $2.96
As far as kombuchas go (and I am a big fan of kombucha), Wild Tonic might have the prettiest bottles I’ve ever seen. Their flavors all sound equally fabulous—from mango ginger to raspberry goji rose to blueberry basil.
If I’m honest, the flavors don’t taste quite as exciting as they sound, but the bottles are so pretty and these jun kombuchas are not as potent as standard kombuchas, which means they’re a good option even for your friend who isn’t a fan of the ‘booch.
Oh, and if when February 1st runs around you’re back to boozin’, they have hard kombuchas in the same exact flavors!
4. Ginger Beer
Fever Tree Premium Ginger Beer, 4 Count, $4.99
As soon as I quit drinking, ginger beer became my go-to. Not only because I love all things ginger, but because most bars (even really shitty, dive-y ones) have ginger beer behind the bar.
In fact, a lot of people (even some servers I’ve had at restaurants) don’t even realize ginger beer is non-alcoholic. I’ve totally had random guys buy me a ginger beer at the bar, and they probably thought they were getting me one step closer to getting tipsy and accepting their invitation to dance.
I like Fever Tree’s Ginger Beer because it comes in a bottle like a real beer and sort of reminds me of champagne because it’s light and bubbly, but I like Gosling’s too and that’s usually what they have behind the bar at most spots.
5. Fre Wines
Fre Non Alcoholic Wine Premium Blend, $18.74
If you’re desperately missing the flavor and body of a red wine but are off the booze, Fre Alcohol-Removed Wines are probably your best bet.
You might be thinking, “isn’t that just glorified grape juice with a steeper price tag?” But it’s not. Fre wines are made the same way that regular wines are made (fermentation and all that jazz), but they use a “state of the art spinning technology” to remove the alcohol post-fermentation. It really does taste pretty dang close to red wine, but of course it’s missing the warmth and flavor of the alcohol (mostly in the aftertaste).
And also, regarding the price tag, it’s $18 on Amazon where I linked it. But, if you go to their website and find a store near you, you can probably find it cheaper. I bought mine at a local liquor store for about $7.99.
6. Frassers
Frassers Hemp-Infused Peach Green Tea, $42/pack of 6
If you’ve sworn off alcohol but are down with CBD (not to be confused with THC), you might want to try Frassers’ iced teas.
Think of them like your traditional Arizona Iced Teas, but with a super flavorful twist. I prefer the peach green tea because I’m not a big fan of hibiscus, but I can get down with their hibiscus tea too.
As for the CBD, I’m not really sure if it actually does anything, which is how I feel about all CBD products. But, they do donate a percentage of their profits to local social justice organizations in Venice Beach, which is rad.
7. Spirity Cocktails
Spirity Cocktails Margarita, $14.99 for a 4-pack
Want a quick margarita, negroni, or mule that won’t leave you stalking your ex’s new girlfriend on Instagram? Spirity Cocktails has the solution.
They launched their three non alcoholic beverage options in September of 2020 and are sold exclusively on Amazon.
While again, they don’t really taste exactly like the real thing, they’re a fun and easy option. Plus, chances are your drunk friends won’t even realize that what you’re sipping on is zero-proof.
8. Liquid Death
Liquid Death Sparkling Water 12 Pack, $15.99
Okay, so this isn’t exactly a “drink,” but this is the coolest looking water (still or sparkling) you’ll ever find, IMO. And really, if I brought this to a bar or a party and was chugging it, I know for sure that all the tipsy people there would think it was a beer.
Their branding is fucking sick. They’re all about saying “F U” to plastic with aluminum cans and by donating 10% of profits to nonprofits that fight our plastic problem.
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