🍸 Feelin’ Bubbly: The Non-Alcoholic Beverage Shopping Guide
Zero Proof: 90 Non-Alcoholic Recipes for Mindful Drinking
compiled by Elva Ramirez
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Hot Pick B/C:
Expect some serious non-alcoholic beverage-making action in this book! It’s compiled with recipes from renowned mixologists from v cool bars around the world that do not disappoint.
What’s Good:
The Ryo Palmer - one of the more simple non-alcoholic recipes in the book - uniquely blends matcha and yuzu for a refreshing, Asian-flavor forward take on an Arnold Palmer.
Garden 108
by SeedliP Distilled non-Alcoholic Spirits
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Hot Pick B/C:
Okay - first off, by itself, you may think this is just some watered down herb water. BUT, it is a staple in many of the Zero Proof recipes above, and when blending into a non-alcoholic drink, the subtleties of this spirit really do demonstrate their sophistication.
What’s Good:
My personal favorite is the Garden 108, a fresh, herbaceous blend of peas & traditional garden herbs including Rosemary, Thyme & Spearmint. When I want something simple and quick, I add 2 ozs. of Garden 108, 1 oz. lime juice, and 2 squirts of the tincture Nervous System Relief by Herb Pharm to an 8 ounce glass and fill the rest of the glass up with sparkling water and a little ice.
Adaptogenic CBD Sparkling Waters
By Dram Apothecary
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Hot Pick B/C:
Dram’s Adaptogenic Hemp Sparkling Waters are infused with adaptogens and 25mg of CBD. They are crafted from quality herbal ingredients, are gluten free - and deliver a real noticeable non-alcoholic sense of calm.
What’s Good:
My personal favorite is the Gingergrass, and I’m not alone in that opinion - it won a Good Food award in 2021. It is a lighter take on a ginger beer with a heaping infusion of adaptogenic herbs/mushrooms.
Non-Alcoholic Apéritif
By Ghia
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Hot Pick B/C:
Ghia is a non-alcoholic apéritif that’s chock full of aromatic, body-supportive herbals.
What’s Good:
Ghia by itself actually has a very complex flavor profile. With that said, check out their website recipes because for such a bold flavor, it can really shape-shift in different drinks. I personally love the recipe on their website, “I Love Yuzu.”
Zero-Proof Spirit Restoratives
By RASĀSVĀDA
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Hot Pick B/C:
These zero-proof Spirit Restoratives are 100% whole-plant decoctions crafted using techniques from herbalism, tea traditions, and traditional eastern medicine.
What’s Good:
My personal favorite is 2 oz. of the Rose Bergamot mixed with some sparkling water over ice. It has a really earthy, aromatic, breathy feel to it.
DIY Bitters Book
By jovial king & guido mase
Check it out here
Hot Pick B/C:
DIY Bitters: Reviving the Forgotten Flavor - A Guide to Making Your Own Bitters for Bartenders, Cocktail Enthusiasts, Herbalists is an excellent book not only for non-alcoholic beverage making, but also for crafting easy herbal formulations. It includes beautiful imagery and a whole host of applications for using bitters in beverages, foods and for health-specific applications.
What’s Good:
A very simple recipe to start with is the Bitter Ginger Syrup made from a classic combo of gentian, ginger and honey. It is incredibly easy to make (especially if you buy the tinctures pre-made) and spices up any non-alcoholic beverage with a classic warming bitters combo.
Swoon Simple Syrup
Naturally Sugar Free
By Swoon
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Hot Pick B/C:
Swoon doesn't have any artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols because it gets its sweetness from Monk Fruit, a vine-ripened melon packed with sweetness and antioxidants.
What’s Good:
While I personally love sugar, my body (specifically my bowels) don’t have as a great a relationship, so I wasn’t sure how to navigate the simple syrup world of non-alcoholic drinks…that is, until I saw Swoon. This stuff really is delightful and I sub 1:1 for other simple syrups and I love it!
A Monthly Zero-Proof Cocktail Experience
By Raising the Bar
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Hot Pick B/C:
A monthly subscription box delivering alcohol-free craft cocktail ingredients to make incredible zero-proof drinks at home.
What’s Good:
Full disclosure: I personally do not have this mix kit subscription, but also, I couldn’t not share! I thought this was perfect for the person who doesn’t have time to shop around for all these different items but wants to drink more complex non-alcoholic drinks.
P.S. Some of these are affiliates, but all of them are folks or small businesses that I genuinely like their products and what they create in the world!