Laura Silverman, Founder of Zero Proof Nation, has “an absolutely ridiculous amount of beverages” in her apartment. Brands regularly send her products, and she supports the dry economy by frequenting indie bottle shops. To Laura, this sea of beverages is a good problem to have, but it’s also nearly impossible to choose favorites. While she’s absolutely loving craft non-alc beer these days (check out her top 12 picks here), she loves highlighting liquids from other categories.
Here’s what Laura’s loving lately, from “ride-or-dies” to new discoveries:
Bark and Bitter Novara Aperitivo
Love its gorgeous, deep red color. Bitter, sweet, and with a touch of citrus, this aperitivo from Toronto’s award-winning Bark and Bitter pairs delightfully well with a dry sparkling brut for a beautiful two-ingredient spritz. Want more? Ask me about The Silverman Spritz.
Remember that two-ingredient spritz? This dry sparkling white from Austria’s Zeronimo is what I pair Novara with. Try it in a champagne flute for the easiest non-alc brunch crowd-pleaser ever. Zeroimo’s Leonis Blend is getting lots of press (and it’s a well-deserving red, for sure), but I love love love the Sparkling Select.
Hazard’s Hopwater Passionfruit
Anyone else obsessed with passionfruit? For anyone who loves hops but may have gluten sensitivities—or who just wants a calorie-free beverage without added junk—Hazard’s is the hopwater brand for you. They’ve got Lime and Mint, Grapefruit, and Classic Citra (plus a limited edition Arnold Palmer). For me, their Passionfruit tops the charts.
This alcohol-free bitters brand out of Chico, CA is winning awards left and right, and I couldn’t think of a more deserving small business than Ian and Carly Blessing’s All The Bitter. Literally every single cocktail / digestive bitters SKU on their permanent and limited edition rotation is a winner in my book. New Orleans tops them all. Notes of cherry, hibiscus, and anise complement everything from still, sparking, and tonic waters to cocktails, coffee, oatmeal, yogurt, and even vanilla ice cream.
Half sparkling white wine, half sparkling tea, all delicately stunning. I picked up a bottle of SemiPlume at Spirited Away during my impromptu trip to New York City in June. I first tasted it in a cocktail Nick Mechak, Co-Founder of (parentheses), made me at a dinner party at his and powerspouse Tawny Lara’s home. As you’re probably aware, teas are having a moment right now. The tannins aren’t overpowering here, but they do add an interesting element to a “featherlight” sparkling white wine alt.
(parentheses) – Before & After
So… about that cocktail. Nick mixed SemiPlume with Before for a vinegar-forward spritz. It was so good. Refreshing, light, and slightly floral—plus that bite you get from the tart vinegar. By the way, the darker, moodier After goes really well with an aperitivo. Try it with Novara (or with antidote, as I had at the Mechak/Lara residence). Remember, Before helps whet the appetite and wake up the senses, and After can calm the system and aid in digestion.
I first sipped on vampire blood—er, Namari—in New Orleans at Tales of the Cocktail. It was lust at first sip and I surprised myself by blindly identifying a good portion of the liquid’s elements from one little 2 oz glass. That either means my palate is becoming super refined, I’ve earned my World Alcohol Free Awards (WAFA) judging chops, or the ingredients pack that much of a punch. Orange, warm baking spices, gentian root, wormwood, and star anise are just some of what you’ll pick up on from this beautiful new amaro alternative.
Gather Beverage Co. Unthinkable
This smoky oak functional dark spirit won a WAFA 2024 gold medal. Some of the ingredients and notes you can pick up on: burnt caramel, honey, charred oak, cinnamon, vanilla, cherry, and the complexity of orange combined with juniper, apricot, orange, black tea, szechuan peppercorn, and more. This alternative can be ordered with or without CBD. I just love this small business. Amber Cebull and Erik Salas are the duo behind Gather and they’re constantly leveling up when it comes to product and flavor innovation.
I’m Cali Sober-curious lately. After 17 years of sobriety, I’ve been ever so lightly dipping my toes into the low-dose THC beverage scene. One of my current faves is the brand Cali Sober (pretty on the nose here); their ranch water is citrusy and bubbly with a small but satisfying amount of earthiness. Plus their retro 80s to early-90s branding is totally bodacious.
I’ve been loving Little Saints even more ever since the brand reformulated and went full mushroom (plus founder Megan Klein listened to my prayers and brought back their Espresso Martini!). The new Old Fashioned has the orange you’d expect from an Oldie and adds a little cherry on top, literally. Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without reishi mushroom and damiana—for those relaxed vibes you’ve come to know and love from Little Saints.
I never thought I’d have The Pathfinder in a non-alc boilermaker, but that’s how I enjoyed this “third eye opener” at a Tales of the Cocktail no/low bar takeover. Focus on Health’s Alex Jump (winner of Bar Mentor of the Year) offered me a behind the scenes glimpse of how to make this cocktail. Mix 1.5 oz of The Pathfinder with a splash of lime juice and a touch of simple syrup in a 2 oz shot glass and serve alongside a Good Times IPA. Good times indeed.
If you’ve been following me and Zero Proof Nation for a while, you’d know I was one of the first to introduce both The Pathfinder and Tenneyson to the no/low community. This one is another ride-or-die for me. Gorgeous blood orange and ginger explode together for the ultimate palate cleanser, literally. This is a great shot to take in between tasting other products, or one to wake the senses up. I’ve even mixed equal parts Tenneyson and The Pathfinder together with either club soda or Fever Tree tonic water for my own version of a spritz. Top with a splash of fresh lemon.
