What exactly are non-alcoholic spirits? When did these products come about? And how are alcohol-free spirits made in the first place?
In this post we want to provide an overview of one of the most intriguing developments in modern day drinking culture, alcohol-free spirits!
Non-alcoholic spirits are exactly what they sound like, spirits such as gin, whiskey or rum that contain no alcohol but still possess the taste that consumers know and love. When you think of your classic non-alcoholic drink 10 years ago, grape juice ‘wine’ might come to mind, you know the one you found in the supermarket, the one they give children on Christmas to make them feel more grown up.
Well now you don’t have to worry about looking out of place or missing out on your favourite cocktail taste. The rise in alcohol-free spirits has been huge and immensely popular and is only set to increase in public interest and consumption in the future.
Alcohol-free spirits have exploded into the current alcohol market, attracting a whole lot of attention and buzz with their health-conscious, booze free choice. A wide variety of brands are launching products on the market that imitate the taste of gin, rum, or whisky, the only difference, no alcohol, arguably the ingredient that makes spirits truly spirits. However, once you get a taste of these non-alcoholic spirits, you won’t be able to taste the difference.
How do they recreate the taste of alcohol?
It's no secret that alcohol is one of the main flavour carriers when it comes to alcoholic beverages, especially spirits, so how does one recreate this very specific flavour and taste. It has only been in recent years that the number of drinks with a 0.0 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) hit the market – previously a rarity due to the technological difficulties involved in producing them.
Some non-alcoholic spirits are made in the same way as low-alcohol spirits are: a neutral grain spirit and botanicals are combined in a still, which is then distilled several times to extract all of the alcohol.
Alternatively and now the more common method of making any non-alcoholic spirits includes relying on maceration, a method in which botanicals are allowed to "soak" in a liquid before they produce a flavour close to that of the real spirit. These processes can also alter a liquid's mouthfeel, giving it a more "ginny" or “whiskey” flavour, depending on your spirit of choice. Some non-alcoholic spirits taste so close to the real deal that you truly cannot tell the difference, except for the noticeable effects you will not endure.
Benefits of drinking non-alcoholic spirits
There are many benefits of switching to non-alcoholic spirits or cutting back on alcohol and using these alcohol free spirits as an alternative. The first and most obvious being of course your health.
As you may have already gathered, there are absolutely no benefits for your body when it comes to drinking alcohol. From horrendous hangovers to accidently over drinking and losing control, there are endless health risks and risks in general when it comes to consuming alcohol, especially too much. Consuming alcohol long-term can also have very damaging effects on your body, specifically your liver, sometimes even leading to liver cancer.
A great social option
Partaking in drinking is fun but there are definitely moments and circumstances where you just cannot but you still want to be social and not feel as though you are missing out. That is where non-alcoholic spirits come into play and why they are so popular and convenient. Whether you are pregnant, religious, working the next morning, on medication that permits you from drinking or other personal preferences, non-alcoholic beverages will become your best friend. They allow everyone on or off that list to still enjoy a crisp, refreshing beverage or cocktail or to go out and be social in a drinking setting without any of the worries.
No Regrets the next morning
If you don't want to wake up the next morning feeling like you said or did anything stupid, or if you're suffering from a raging, pounding headache and a nauseous, queasy stomach, alcohol-free sprits will become your go to!
Guilt-free!
In the past, trying to be alcohol free didn’t always mean you had a readily available substitute other than a plain glass of water or juice, which also makes it very obvious to anyone around you that you are not drinking.
Well, no need to worry about that anymore. With non-alcoholic spirits, you are still able to enjoy your favourite cocktails, mixes, even on the rocks without feeling guilty.
So, what exactly does non-alcoholic spirits consist of? Well, most if not all modern non-alcoholic spirit brands use essences and aromas extracted by distillation or maceration. More often than not, the main and most prominent ingredient is water.
What's the added bonus? This brand's drinks are sugar-free and sweetener-free, allowing them to have a true, nutritious drink as well as a modern alcohol-free alternative to traditional alcoholic spirits.
Since most mocktails rely on sugar syrups and several pre-made mixers are loaded with additives, this is a perfect way to get a taste of gin in a more PG form and with very low calories, so guilt free!
Our recommendations
Finding a good quality, alcoholic alternative can be tough, but not with Craftzero. Here we have a wide range of non-alcoholic spirits, all of which we highly recommend. Some of our favourites include;
Seedlip Garden 108 - A floral blended, full-flavoured spirit. A combination of hand-picked peas and home-grown hay, rosemary and thyme undertones that together celebrate the English countryside. Seedlip works with the natural world to produce a grown-up complex drink. Enjoy with a splash of tonic and ice.
Fluère Original - Tastes like gin, smells like gin -- wait… it’s not gin?! Fluère Original is the non-alcoholic gin alternative that has everyone talking. Complex yet balanced, it’s flavour that’s second to none. Juniper, lavender, lemon peel, and coriander combine in harmony to create the botanical aromas you expect from your favourite gin -- without the Sunday hangover to follow. Your gimlets will be forever changed for the better.
