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Whether you’re looking for a night or two off negronis, a month to flush your system after a holiday of heavy indulging, or you plan to swear off the sauce forever, it’s never been easier to give dry a try thanks to the quickly growing world of non-alcoholic spirits, beer, wine, and pre-made mocktails.
From “Sober Curious” to “Damp Lifestyle,” plenty of buzzy phrases boil down to cutting back, whatever that may look like for you. January is the ideal time to start healthy habits, but there’s never a wrong time to try booze-free cocktails, near-beers, and nonalcoholic wines.
To help, we pored over the available non-alcoholic options on the market and are happy to report that sobriety has never tasted so good — or so much like the real thing. Our list of the best non-alcoholic beers, wines, and spirits includes options we’ve sampled, brews backed by strong reviews, and the buzziest brands you should know (that won’t get you buzzed).
Best Non-Alcoholic Beers
If suds are your swill of choice, hop to trying these copycat cold ones.
Best Beer
Athletic Brewing
Founded in 2017, Athletic Brewing has built a cult-like following around its non-alcoholic beer — unlike some breweries that pivot to include NA options, every product Athletic offers is non-alcoholic. The brand’s offerings have grown to include cocktail-inspired canned beverages and sparkling water.
BERO
Celebrity alcohol is everywhere, but celebrity non-alcohol? It’s a comparatively small club whose newest member is Tom Holland, the founder of BERO. Holland was driven by a desire to create an NA beer during his own sobriety journey. BERO is available in three styles, including a hazy IPA, a pilsner, and a wheat beer. In the surest signal yet of the strength of the sober curious movement, BERO is now available at Target locations nationwide.
Heineken 0.0 Beer
Because sometimes you want something familiar. When Heineken realized how quickly the mindful drinking market was growing and that they had yet to tap into it, the Dutch master brewer said, “Hold my beer.” The company emerged from R&D in 2019 with 0.0, a 69-calorie liquor-free lager made using the brand’s signature A-yeast.
The Best Non-Alcoholic Spirits
Prefer the punchiness of a liquor? Check out these NA spirits.
Best Spirit
Almave Non-Alcoholic Tequila
Founded by Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton and distiller Iván Saldaña, Almave is one of the first brands to get non-alcoholic tequila right. It’s smooth and tasty enough to pair with food, sip on the rocks, or even pound shots alongside the drinkers. Almave’s authentic taste is largely due to the fact that it’s made in Jalisco, Mexico, using real Blue Agave.
Seedlip
No discussion of non-alcoholic spirits can be had without mentioning Seedlip, a pioneer in the field since 2015. Seedlip’s sophisticated offerings include its core expressions: the savory Garden 108 with peas and hops, Grove 42 with its auroral blend of citrus varieties and ginger, and aromatic Spice 94, which relies on allspice berries and cardamom—none of which have calories, sugar, or sweeteners. The brand’s newest offering is Notas De Agave, a tequila-inspired non-alcoholic spirit.
Best Non-Alcoholic Wine
Wine proxies and non-alcoholic vintages promise all the complexity and body but none of the buzz.
Best wine
NON
Great wine is one of the hardest things to find in the NA isle, but NON gets it right. Instead of trying to imitate alcoholic wine, NON does its own thing and delivers a range of delicious bottles ideal for pairing with food or sipping at the end of the day. It’s even served in Michelin-starred restaurants like n/naka in Los Angeles.
Proxies
Proxies has collaborated with sommeliers and chefs from some of the most acclaimed fine-dining restaurants. The best way to explore the world of Proxies is through its four-bottle tasting sets. If you’re sweet on what you swig, take your relation-sip to the next level and join the club, which delivers six bottles four times a year and always includes a mix of classics, bubbles, and the newest collaborations and limited-edition flavors.
Fre Non-Alcoholic Wine
Fre’s non-alcoholic wines are made using traditional winemaking methods, and the alcohol is removed afterward using centrifugal force and nitrogen gas to separate the wine’s flavors from the alcohol, helping preserve the flavor without alcohol.
Best Non-Alcoholic Canned Cocktails
NA cocktails are one of the most common non-alcoholic beverages on the market. Here are a few of the best.
Best canned Cocktail
De Soi
We crowned De Soi’s best-selling canned cocktails the best in the category last year, and we stand by it. They offer a great range of flavors and cute packaging, but the real kicker is what’s inside. De Soi uses adaptogenic mushrooms (lion’s mane, l-theanine, and reishi) to boost the drink’s health factor and even give you a light buzz (without the hangover).
Recess Zero Proof
With its colorful branding and clever name, Recess takes a not-so-serious approach to NA cocktails. Options include familiar favorites like cosmos, spritzes, and palomas. They’re also a low-sugar option, with adaptogens and natural ingredients like guayusa for a subtle caffeine boost.
Curious Elixirs
Some of the hottest trends in the beverage world have been the growth of canned cocktails and the explosion of interest in non-alcoholic spirits. Curious Elixirs combined the two trends into aptly named concoctions that are ready to enjoy right out of the bottle. Sophisticated varieties include a spicy pineapple ginger margarita, a pomegranate negroni sbagliato, and a juniper cucumber collins.
What Are the Benefits of ‘Dry January’?
Even if you enjoy the socializing that often comes with imbibing, and have your consumption under control, experts say abstaining from alcohol can often have positive effects on your body, mind, and even your mood. Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, a New Jersey family medicine physician known as “Doctor Mike” by his millions of followers, says the benefits of a month of abstinence are proportionate to how much you normally drink. Still, Varshavski says most people would likely see some positive changes if they forego alcohol.
“Although a month is not a long period, it’s possible to see improvements in several aspects of your general health, including decreased acid reflux, lower caloric intake and weight loss, increased concentration, an immunity boost, and more restful slumber,” says Varshavski, adding that quit-quick challenges can be unsafe for heavy drinkers/alcoholics and are not substitutes for recovery programs or rehab. “The main reason it can be worth it is that it gives you the chance to learn about your actual relationship with alcohol and [can] lead you to make long-term changes after you identify problem areas in your drinking habits. It’s very easy to lose track of how often or how much you’re drinking.”
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