All products featured on Bon Appétit are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
The nonalcoholic drinks category has expanded so much in recent years that it’s not uncommon to find a list of thoughtful, complex nonalcoholic beverages on a bar or restaurant’s cocktail menu—yes, even outside of the major cities. And it’s even easier to enjoy alcohol-free beverages at home thanks to a slew of brands making really good alcohol alternatives that you can order online and have delivered directly to your door.
So whether you’re sober curious, swearing off booze completely, or interested in alcohol alternatives for some other reason, here are the best nonalcoholic drinks our team has tried—including a suspiciously convincing Negroni dupe. We’ve also included some of our favorite NA wines and NA beers that deliver on complex hoppy flavors without the buzz.
The best premade zero-proof cocktails
When you want a fun zero-proof drink that requires zero effort, premade nonalcoholic cocktails are the way to go. These are the ones that we keep stocked in our fridges at home and in the office.
Ghia entered the NA drinks world with a nonalcoholic apéritif and the brand has continued to put out some of our staffers’ favorite nonalcoholic drinks, including Kate Kassin’s beloved Le Fizz. But the real star of the Ghia line is the collection of canned spritzes, which comes in four flavors. If you enjoy a traditional spritz, try the Ghia Soda. The Ghia Ginger is great if you love ginger beer or ginger ale but want something far less sweet, the Sumac & Chili is perfect if you like a little kick, and the Lime & Salt is a fun margarita alternative—no tequila required. If you’re not sure where to start, go for the brand’s bestsellers bundle so you can find your favorite. You can get each in a four-pack or try them all in a variety pack.
More than one BA staffer has waxed poetic about the Phony Negroni, a bottled (and now also canned) NA Negroni from Brooklyn, NY-based distillery St. Agrestis that tastes just as good as the real thing. If you enjoy creative takes on the cocktail, you’ll probably also love theirs, which include a Phony Mezcal Negroni, a Phony White Negroni, a Phony Espresso Negroni, and at the time of publishing, a limited release of a Phony Limone Negroni. The brand also makes an Amaro Falso if you prefer to experiment with your own NA mixology. We recommend trying all six with a Phony Negroni Bundle.
If you like a little mystery and surprise—or adaptogens—in your non-alc cocktails, Curious Elixirs should be your new go-to. The nine different booze-free cocktails (plus a “booze-free craft brew”) are surprisingly complex. Think spicy pineapple ginger margarita (No. 2), Sicilian blood-orange spritz (No. 4), smoked chocolate cherry old-fashioned (No. 5), and booze-free champagne with elderflower and lavender (No. 7). If you find yourself reaching for these all the time, consider subscribing to their cocktail-of-the-month club.
If you’re looking for a low-sugar option, try Recess Zero Proof Craft Mocktails. Each of the six flavors (Classic Cosmo, Island Spritz, Lime Margarita, Watermelon Mojito, Ginger Lime Mule, and Grapefruit Paloma) has less than 35 calories and 7 grams of sugar per 12-ounce can. Unlike the CBD-infused sparkling waters from the brand (please note: These are not the CBD drinks from Recess you might be familiar with), Recess Craft Mocktails don’t contain any hemp—but they do have about 10 milligrams of caffeine.
The best nonalcoholic wines
When buying NA wine, the first thing to consider is whether you want alcohol-removed wine or a wine proxy. Alcohol-removed wines are exactly what they sound like: They used to be wine, but they’ve had the alcohol taken out while retaining all the original flavor. Wine proxies, on the other hand, mimic wine-like flavors by layering ingredients like fruit juices, botanical extracts, and teas. When you’re looking for a white or red wine alternative to pair with a nice dinner, a wine proxy is your best bet. And if you're just starting to explore this category and have no clue what you might like, consider subscribing to The Zero Proof’s quarterly wine club.
The best nonalcoholic spirits
You don’t have to give up on the dream of an enviable home bar cart just because you’re chilling out on alcohol. Nonalcoholic spirits have arrived at a place where they really can mimic the real thing—and some have unique flavor profiles that will encourage you to experiment. These are the brands BA staffers keep on deck.
Seedlip is the OG NA spirit, and it’s still one of the best. It comes in three different flavors—Garden 108, Spice 94, and Grove 52—all of which have their own tasting notes. It shines without needing to fuss with too many add-ins or garnishes: “I like it with some tonic water and basil for a crisp, simple nonalcoholic drink (jazzed up with a cucumber ribbon), but a spritz of lime or any herb you have on hand can make for a refreshing pick-me-up,” says former associate cooking editor Antara Shinha.
If you have a sweet tooth and that translates cocktails and love an amaretto sour or a whiskey and Coke, and Lyre’s NA spirits are pretty much indiscernible from what you'd get at your local bar.
If you love the artsy romanticism and licorice flavors of drinking absinthe, but don’t love how absinthe makes you feel, Gnista makes an intense, nuanced floral wormwood nonalcoholic spirit you can enjoy on the rocks. They also have a bourbon-like barrel-aged oak spirit that mixes especially well.
Everleaf’s botanical spirits are inspired by the natural world, which is why they have names like Mountain and Marine. Designed to be paired with effervescent mixers (even just a basic soda water), these make for a perfect summer spritz.
Liqueurs are great for after-dinner drinks and sweeter cocktails, and Giffard’s NA offerings fill this niche with delicate flavors like elderflower and ginger. These are best used as components of a nonalcoholic cocktail rather than the main event, but they add a lot of nuance when paired with the right NA Champagne or spirit.
The best nonalcoholic beer
Nonalcoholic beer has come a long way from the days of O’Douls (though you can still get that too), and if you love craft beer for the flavor, you’ll likely be very pleased with Athletic Brewing Company’s NA beer offerings. And while it is not exactly a nonalcoholic beer, Hopwtr’s classic flavor offers a lighter option for people who enjoy the taste of ales. It’'s what would happen if a seltzer and an IPA had a baby.
