Our Favorite Non-Alcoholic Drinks (So Far)

I’m a drink person. I love water, but I’m never far from one or three other options, be it coffee, a Gatorade, or an ice-cold Coke from McDonald’s. I also like to indulge in a nice glass of wine or margarita, but I wanted a happy medium. A drink that wasn’t soda that I could sip socially or on a hot summer day, but also wouldn’t get me drunk. Thankfully, non-alcoholic drinks and craft mocktails have been increasingly popular lately and I set out to try a few of the top options with the help of a small tasting panel (AKA my family). These are our favorites.

_{Prices are accurate as of September 25, 2024. Subject to change.}

What Non-Alcoholic Actually Means

Confusingly, non-alcoholic doesn’t always mean truly zero alcohol. When a drink is labeled non-alcoholic, it might say it contains less than .5% alcohol. That means there is some alcohol in the mixture but not enough to get you intoxicated — .5% is about the same amount you’d find in kombucha. To compare, a standard beer usually contains 5% alcohol and wine typically contains 12%.

You may also see alcohol removed on the label, often with wine. That means the drink started out life as regular wine made from fermented graps and then went through a dealcoholization process. It does usually leave behind the same .5% alcohol. Alcohol-free, on the other hand, should mean they contain truly 0% alcohol. For example, a Shirley Temple mocktail that uses Sprite, grenadine syrup, and a cherry is completely alcohol-free. This would also include regular drinks like teas and a can of Coca-Cola. We have a few options on this list that are totally alcohol-free.

If you’re unsure, look at the fine print of whatever you’re drinking, as different brands use different words to describe their products. It’s also important to not automatically assume non-alcoholic drinks are safe to drink while pregnant. Some drinks use herbs and other ingredients that aren’t recommended to be consumed while pregnant or breastfeeding. Your doctor will have the best advice on what you can and can’t have.

Our Favorite Drinks

Athletic Brewing Co

If you love beer but are abstaining from alcohol, try Athletic Brewing. The brand’s IPAs taste exactly like beer. If I didn’t already know these were non-alcoholic, I would never suspect that something was different about them. Not only do they taste like beer, but they taste like good beer. I don’t generally choose IPAs, but I thought the Run Wild flavor was quite good. My taste testers agreed.

White Claw 0%

Despite usually not liking regular seltzer water, White Claws are one of my favorite go-to drinks whether I’m at a bar or lounging outside in the summer. I was happy to see a non-alcoholic version and even happier to find that they taste nearly identical to their spiked relative. The only thing to note is that the cans look similar to the White Claw Surge cans, which are 8% alcohol — quite the opposite of what you’re trying to achieve here. So whether you’re ordering these at a bar or grabbing a case at the store, it’s worth it to double-check that you’ve got the right one.

Toma Bloody Mary Mix

I love a White Claw, but Bloody Marys might be my favorite drink ever. However, I find that they’re rarely made well. Believe me, I’ve ordered plenty of duds and I never loved any of the mixes I found in-store. Then I tried Toma. Both the original and horseradish recipes are delicious, with the right homemade consistency. While they are technically meant to be mixed with alcohol, they’re just as good on their own.

Ted Segers

As a dedicated listener to the Armchair Expert podcast, I needed to try host Dax Shepard’s NA beer, Ted Segers. I loved it, but we were a house divided. It’s light, so I felt like I was drinking an icy beer without the full, bloated feeling I usually get from it. Some of my testers thought it was too light, however, so it all comes down to the type of drink you’re looking for. If your go-to beer wouldn’t normally be light, maybe try something else. But it’s very affordable, so I think it’s worth a taste.

TÖST

Tost uses sparkling white tea for its drinks, so it’s one of the few options on this list made without alcohol altogether. The classic Tost adds ginger and cranberry, while the rosé uses ginger and elderberry. I found both flavors to be delicious and could definitely substitute for wine. However, because it uses sparkling tea, it’s obviously got a fizz to it, which you wouldn’t get from a bottle of Pinot. We liked it, but some may want something different.

Casamara Club Superclasico

Casamara Club’s leisure sodas (see below) are a solid choice that some people will enjoy, but the brand’s first NA cocktail is delicious. And like Tost above, it truly is made with zero alcohol. It’s sweet, but not overly so, just enough to keep you coming back. There’s also a hint of bold allspice and clove. The downside is that they’re quite pricey.

Casamara Club Leisure Sodas

Casamara Club sodas are inspired by Italian aperitivos — drinks meant to be had before a meal — and digestivos — those meant for after. These versions are completely free of alcohol and they’re also low on sugar. Don’t let the word soda fool you. They’re made from sparkling water and are refreshing, with subtle hints of flavor. The tasting panel either liked them or didn’t, but we all agreed that while this is an article about non-alcoholic drinks, if you do partake, these would make excellent mixers.

Curious Elixirs No.2 Spicy Stormy Pineapple Margarita

Like the name suggests, Curious Elixir’s No.2 is a mix of a dark and stormy — a rum and ginger beer cocktail — and a pineapple margarita. Of the options from this brand that we tried, it was the standout and reminded me of a regular spicy marg. It’s heavy on the ginger, but I enjoyed drinking this over ice with dinner.

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