Hey there, fellow beverage enthusiasts! Confession: recently I seem to have become completely and utterly addicted to mocktails and alcohol-free spirits. These delightful, alcohol-free drinks have become my go-tos, offering all the fun of traditional cocktails, minus the hangover. If you are looking for a fun and flavorful way to cut out or cut back on your alcohol intake, you’re in the right place. Join me on this tantalizing journey as I rank my fave booze replacements.
Before we dive into my top picks, I want to acknowledge that these beverages are not for everyone. For some, just the taste of alcohol can be triggering, so please proceed with caution if this might be you. For me, however, the placebo effect of these drinks has been a truly integral part of maintaining my freedom from alcohol.
Please also note, some of the recs on my list include trace amounts of alcohol—so if you need a full zero proof, please do your research; but to make it easy, you’ll see a green exclamation point after its title to note it’s completely zero proof and alcohol free (AF)!
Now, for my favorite mocktails, alcohol-free spirit recommendations, wines, and beer, leading with my favorites:
Unfortunately, I am currently going through a breakup. After today’s good cry, I dramatically and desperately wished to play the part of that newly single betch with a bottle of rosé and a face mask watching The Other Woman, crying some more, and allowing myself to both feel the feelings and try to relax from the overexertion and overcompensation post-breakup. Feeling feelings is not something that can be done with an excess of alcohol. Sobbing on the phone to my bestie, I threw on my comfiest and most hideous matching grey sweatsuit and took off to Whole Foods, exhausted from expending all of that emotional stress. There I was, darting through the aisles—a woman on a mission, clutching two bottles of 0-proof wine. Never did I dream this psycho could be me.
I can literally drink an entire bottle of this stuff, but who cares, right? I can now maintain a clear head while doing so, and that’s a total game-changer! This award-winning rosé from New Zealand has distinctive aromas of stone fruit apparently (had to look it up, linked if you were curious too) and fresh strawberries. It’s refreshingly dry and textured, with clean, crisp flavors that make it a light and fresh addition to any dinner table or social gathering. The notes include white peach, apple, and cranberry, and they linger on the palate, mimicking the flavor of real rosé perfectly, in my opinion! It has garnered global accolades, like recognition at the UK’s Global Low & No Alcohol Wine Masters and the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Cheers to this team of winemakers for their stellar work!
2. Giesen Non-Alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc
Experience the best of New Zealand wine with this premium dealcoholized Sauvignon Blanc. Famous for its fresh aromatics and crisp, clean flavors, this non-alcoholic version delivers the same delightful experience without the alcohol. Imagine enjoying a glass with delicate aromas of fresh lime, redcurrant, and lemon shortbread. The citrus flavors, highlighted by blackcurrant and passionfruit notes, lead to a crisp, dry finish that’s both juicy and invigorating. Join the movement towards non-alcoholic wines and savor the unique style of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with 0% alcohol and 100% flavor.
4. Ariel Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Dealcoholized Wine – Bundled by Louisiana Pantry
Experience the enchanting allure of Ariel Cabernet Sauvignon, inspired by Shakespeare’s ethereal spirit, Ariel. This oak-aged, alcohol-removed wine captivates with lush aromas of black currants, cherries, and blueberries, complemented by subtle notes of chocolate. Soft tannins and a dry finish evoke the poetic and elusive nature of its namesake.
With less than 0.5% alcohol by volume, only 45 calories and 11 grams of carbs per 8 oz. serving, this gluten-free delight offers indulgence without compromise. Perfect for savoring the magic of a great Cabernet Sauvignon, anytime.
5. SIGHTLINES by Ara Dealcoholized Sauvignon Blanc
This one’s from the same family as my beloved Giesen — because it turns out Giesen is the one actually making it, sourced from their Ara Estate vineyards in Marlborough, New Zealand. So really, it’s Giesen’s winemaking with a different label on the bottle.
It’s light-bodied, crisp, and hits all the classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc notes — grapefruit, pineapple, tropical fruit, a little fresh herb on the back end. Lower in calories than a standard glass of wine, and you still get all the real citrus brightness.
Honestly, if you’ve had Giesen’s 0% Sauvignon Blanc before (see: my ongoing obsession), this is basically its cousin — same DNA, slightly different bottle. A completely valid addition to the rotation for anyone who wants their sober wine to actually taste like wine.
6. King Maui
7. Clever: Non-Alcoholic Mocktails – Margarita !
Enjoy this guiltless margarita crafted with botanical distillate of citrus peels and pink pepper. Sugar-free, calorie-free, and alcohol-free, it delivers the perfect balance of tangy and spicy flavors. This is the ideal mocktail for those who crave the zing of a traditional marg, minus the alcohol. I genuinely couldn’t get over how close to a craft margarita this tasted to me. Pair with street tacos!
8. AF Non Alcoholic Cocktail Whiskey Ginger!
I mean, I was pretty convinced.
9. RITUAL ZERO PROOF Tequila Alternative!
Experience the earthy agave flavors and pleasant heat of Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative (now Agave Spirit Alternative), an award-winning non-alcoholic spirit that’s perfect for crafting delicious alcohol-free cocktails. This sustainably made tequila substitute, crafted in the USA, delivers the same grassy flavor, smoky aroma, and bright fire as traditional tequila—minus the alcohol, calories, and hangover. If you’re a fan of mezcal, you’ll appreciate its earthy, smoky profile, making it an excellent choice for your AF celebrations.
10. RITUAL ZERO PROOF Gin Alternative!
Before it closed (RIP, truly a loss for DTLA), Cole’s French Dip used to make me the most perfect “fartini.” That’s fake martini, for those of you not initiated into my nonsense vocabulary. Ritual’s gin alternative, shaken cold, a couple of Castelvetrano olives dropped in like they belonged there — and I swear it hit every note a real dirty martini would, minus the part where I’d need a nap after two of them.
Ritual’s gin alternative is a 1:1 swap for actual gin, which is the whole point — you’re not learning a new cocktail, you’re just quietly removing the alcohol from the one you already love. It’s built on real botanicals: Siberian pine, coriander berries, angelica root, juniper berries, English cucumber, peppermint — basically everything that makes gin taste like gin, without the ethanol doing the heavy lifting.
It’s low calorie, low sugar, gluten-free, and somehow still gives you that crisp, herbaceous bite you want in a proper Gin & Tonic, Gimlet, or yes, a “fartini.”
Cole’s may be gone, but the ritual (pun very intended) lives on. I’ve been recreating it at home ever since — Ritual gin and a few Castelvetrano olives in a martini glass.
11. Whissin Non-Alcoholic Whiskey Alternative From Spain 700ml, Vegan & Never Alcoholized!
12. Free AF: Non-Alcoholic Paloma!
A refreshing blend of lime and pink grapefruit, this Mexican favorite contains a pleasant warmth that mimics the sensation of alcohol. It’s 100% natural, low in calories, and perfect for a hot summer day. Just add ice and a slice of lime or ruby grapefruit, and you’re good to go. PS: did you know that ‘paloma’ translates to ‘dove’ in Spanish?
13. Seedlip: Notas De Agave – Non-Alcoholic Spirit!
Seedlip’s latest flavor, Notas de Agave, is a vibrant and refreshing blend of prickly pear, zesty lime, and agave flavors, with notes of vanilla, damiana flower, and peppercorn. One bottle should yield 12-14 cocktails.
Below I’ve added an incredible recipe using this spirit called the Manta Ray from a restaurant in Annapolis I schmoozed the bartender for:
- 1/2 parts Seedlip Notas De Agave
- 3/4 part pineapple juice
- 3/4 part orange juice
- 1/2 oz. habanero syrup
- half a lime
It’s perfect for brunch, summer, or when you’re in the mood for a sweeter refreshment. Give it a try and drop your thoughts below!
14. Martini & Rossi Floreale Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo Alcohol Free Drink Herbal Aperitif Made in Italy!
A bartender named Roger at Dear Irving in Times Square made me the best “Nogroni” with this stuff!
To make your own, try:
- 1.25 oz Wilfred’s Non-Alcoholic Aperitif
- 1.25 oz Martini & Rossi Floreale
- 0.75 oz Lyre’s Italian Orange
Shake well with ice, strain over large block ice, and garnish with an orange twist for a perfectly bitter, zero-proof classic!
15. Asahi Super Dry 0.0% Alcohol Free Lager!
Starting the NA beer rankings with Asahi feels right, because if you know anything about Japanese beer, you know Asahi Super Dry basically invented the whole “super dry” category back in 1987 in Tokyo. It’s been Japan’s top-selling beer for a reason, and now the 0.0% version exists so you can have the same experience minus the part where you’re texting your ex at 2am.
Here’s the thing about this one: it’s not a “beer alternative” trying to approximate a beer. It’s Asahi’s actual master brewers taking the real recipe and pulling the alcohol out, so what’s left still tastes like the original. Water, barley malt, corn grits, hops, corn starch, natural flavors — that’s it. No weird bittering agent substitutes, no artificial workarounds.
The result is that same crisp, dry, almost snappy finish the alcoholic version is famous for. It’s not trying to be a novelty — it just tastes like Asahi.
If you’ve had the real Super Dry before, this is going to feel less like a substitute and more like a rerun of a show you already loved.
16. Suntory All-Free Non-Alcoholic Beer!
I’ve hosted a few activations for Suntory over the past few months (yes, that’s a real job, no I did not make it up), and All-Free has become the one I actually reach for when nobody’s watching. Which says something, because I was fully prepared to hate it. NA beer has a reputation — watery, flat, tastes like it’s apologizing for itself. This one doesn’t.
It’s Japanese-made, zero alcohol, zero calories, zero sugar, and somehow still tastes like an actual beer instead of a science experiment. There’s real malt and hops in there doing their job, plus a bittering agent that gives it that crisp snap you want.
The carbonation is genuinely satisfying too — poured over ice or straight from the can, it doesn’t go flat and sad on you halfway through like some of the other NA beers I’ve tried.
17. Mingle Mocktails: Non-Alcoholic Cocktails – Cucumber Melon Mojito!
Celebrate your spirit with this invigorating fusion of crisp cucumber, succulent melon, and a tantalizing touch of mint. Mingle Mocktails are crafted with real botanicals and fruit juices, offering a low-calorie, gluten-free, and vegan alternative. Enjoy it on its own or as a mixer for those who still enjoy a light cocktail.
18. Mingle Mocktails: Premium Non-Alcoholic Cocktails – Key Lime Margarita Mocktail!
Delight in the ultimate refreshment with this virgin mojito, featuring a vibrant medley of crisp cucumber, succulent melon, and mint. A revitalizing experience that is rare in the world of non-alcoholic cocktails, this one is perfect for anyone looking for a clean and crafted drink.
Mocktails and alcohol-free spirits have truly revived my social life, providing all the fun and none of the drawbacks of traditional cocktails and hard alcohol. If you get a chance try any of my suggestions or recipes above, please let us know in the comments below! Cheers to delicious, guilt-free indulgence, and here’s to being AF, but still fun!
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