By Myles Faulkner of The Modern Substitute
I was never really a cocktail drinker in the Before Times. I plain sailed on beer and gin and tonics for decades, and learned how to make a Negroni after stumbling across one in Italy a few years back. But anything more complicated than opening a couple of bottles felt like hard work.
Now that I don’t drink, I’m all over making cocktails. From tea concoctions to all kinds of syrups to plucking up the courage to dive into my copy of “Zero” to make all manner of gorgeous concoctions. I’m still a bit rubbish at it, but it’s a whole lot of fun. I’d say some of the biggest kicks I get out of writing my newsletter is experimenting with non-alc spirits and mixers.
So, here are a few I’ve been enjoying over the last six months.
Monday Zero Alcoholic Gin
The quest to find a good gin alternative is a well-traveled road and opinions are strong, to say the least. For me, Monday Zero Alcoholic Gin has been a fantastic find in this department. Floral notes intermingle with a subtle peppery essence, mimicking the characteristic kick of alcohol, followed by a refreshing citrus finish. Two cocktails from Monday’s recipe collection, The O.G. and the Cos-Whoa Cosmopolitan, both showcase the versatility and depth of flavor of Monday Gin. This is not a non-alcoholic gin that gets lost in a cocktail like so many of its peers, nor does it overwhelm it. What’s more, it’s not half bad sipped neat, either.
Wilderton Earthen
Wilderton’s Earthen has been a staple on my bar cart for a couple of years now. It’s a drink with bold, bold flavors—pepper for a kick, cardamom for warmth, spice, and sweetness, and a basketful of botanical flavors all combined with pine-smoked tea. Taken neat, you might be wary. It’s an acquired taste and one I’ve warmed to, but it won’t be for everyone. In cocktails, though, Earthen shows its real strength. From Wilderton’s recipe collection, I’m a big fan of the Modern Old Fashioned made with, among other things, a lovely mulling spice syrup. Also fun at this time of year is an apple-based cocktail, Pomme Et Terre, with a lovely fizzy tartness that is sure to keep you on your toes.
Abstinence Cape Floral
Inspired by the biodiversity and multitude of diverse plants of Cape Floral Kingdom, the folks over at Cape Town’s Abstinence have created a fabulous line of small-batch non-alcoholic spirits. I’ve been a huge fan of Cape Floral since I came across it at the end of last summer. The Perfect Serve is an excellent G&T stand-in. The rose geranium contributes both the floral aroma and flavor to the drink, while the juniper takes it closer to that classic gin experience. A touch of bitterness from the Angelica root and a hint of lemon combine to create a delightful take on the classic. The Cape Floral Paloma is another great one for BBQ evenings.
Seedlip Grove 42
Another fun one to experiment with is Seedlip’s four different spirits. I’m quite partial to the Grove 42 that leans toward the citrusy side of things. Blossom, from Seedlip’s recipe collection, is one of my favorite cocktails, period. Preparing this made me feel like a proper mixologist for half a minute. I was a little wary at first, as I have never used a raw egg white in a drink before, but I got a thumbs up from Mrs. ModSub, and it was off to the races. One to keep in your special occasions arsenal for sure. Another favorite is The Cherry Blossom by @zeroproofgirl, though I substituted the maraschino cherry syrup for some sour cherry juice, which alongside the lime and grapefruit juice certainly takes the bitter/sour taste to another level.
Ritual Zero Proof Rum Alternative
I used to only drink rum on planes. It was my comfort blanket drink to curb the anxiety of floating along at 30,000 feet. Recently, though, my mate Matt turned me on to his non-alc Mai Tai and it’s opened up a whole new world of cocktails. This was reinforced when I met the folks at Ritual Zero Proof at the Mindful Drinking Fest this past January and was blown away by their Rum Alternative. While it wasn’t created to be sipped neat, it makes a tremendous cocktail. Along with the Mai Tai (see below), I would head straight over to the Maple Rum Old Fashioned recipe and prepare yourself for a real treat.
My Mate Matt’s Magic Mai Tai
• 1.5 oz Ritual Zero Proof Rum Alternative
• 0.5 oz BG Reynolds Tiki Spice
• 1.5 oz pineapple juice
• 1.5 oz orange juice
About the author
Myles Faulkner is the chief scribbler at The Modern Substitute. He searches out, tastes, and writes about non-alcoholic drinks in order to help people sift through the hundreds of options in the marketplace. He lives in the Pacific Northwest and loves his family, his soccer team, and staring at mountains. For more from Myles, subscribe to his weekly newsletter.
