By Myles Faulkner of The Modern Substitute
Finding a great non-alcoholic spirit you can enjoy neat is much like finding a worthy non-alcoholic red wine—difficult, but not impossible. While I have by no means exhausted all the non-alcoholic spirits that mimic their full ABV counterparts, I have yet to find a gin or whiskey that can truly fly solo. I look forward to being proved wrong in the future on this, but the ones I’ve sampled so far have all unquestionably benefitted from some kind of a mixer. Of course, that’s completely okay. And to be fair to those companies, many actually state on the label, “best enjoyed in cocktails.”
The good news, though, is there are a handful of non-alcoholic spirits that have innovated their own unique flavor profiles and are pretty fabulous all on their own. These spirits work neat (or over ice if that’s your preference) thanks to the pungent combination of botanicals and herbs. They help create bitterness, spice, or both, and force you to enjoy the drink at a slower pace. Balanced with sweetness from perhaps citrus, honey, or other plants, you have a complex, sometimes bold, aperitivo or digestif that will both surprise and delight you.
If this sounds like your thing, then here are three options I think you should explore:
If I had to point to one single drink that gave me hope that life would go on after alcohol, it would be The Pathfinder.
I spent a couple of years enjoying the company’s recipe collection—Pathfinder E&T is the perfect evening pick-me-up for a late night out. More recently, I have been enjoying just a small pour all on its own. There is no doubt the complexity of the botanicals shine through in a cocktail setting, but the full intensity and swirl of those aromatic flavors are unparalleled when the spirit is left to its own devices.
Tenneyson Black Ginger
From the minute I read about Tenneyson I knew—okay, hoped—it would be the spirit that would fill the void left by giving up the likes of premium bourbon and gin. I was looking for a replacement to those higher-end spirits that were too expensive to use for cocktails but perfect to sip neat late into the night.
For me, Tenneyson checks that box. It has multi-layered flavors and orange-forward tea, blended with an earthy maturity and spice from not one but two types of ginger. You’ll find tempered bitterness from the Yerba Mate married with a touch of honeyed sweetness. The spice awakens every nook and cranny of your palate, with a lengthy peppery linger that taunts the remaining contents of your glass to join in. Tenneyson is uniquely different. A full-blooded spirit that challenges you to fall in love with it. I’m head over heels.
Bark & Bitter Novara
Novara is another spirit that is arguably more appealing straight than mixed. It can certainly be the star of the show as the base for numerous afternoon cocktail recipes—and most will use it for exactly that purpose. There’s fun to be had with Novara served as a Spritz or a Negroni on a long summer’s evening.
For me, though, this Amaro-like spirit with its gentle glance at an Aperol, is best served in a liqueur glass, slowly sipped and savored. It’s bittersweet perfection straight from the bottle.
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.
