When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. Free Spirits non-alcoholic bourbon (left) and the author in the midst of a blind taste test of non-alcoholic whiskey (right).
James Brains and Erin Brains/Insider After trying over 150 full proof whiskeys, I decided to give my liver a break and try some non-alcoholic options. I compared five non-alcoholic whiskeys neat and in mocktails. Free Spirits and Monday were clearly the best with their pleasant complexity and balanced flavors.
I like whiskey. I’ve tried over 150 bourbons, ryes, Scotches, and more. Yet, non-alcoholic whiskey is great to have around when I want a fancy mocktail or to keep my teetotaling guests from feeling left out.
I gathered five of the best non-alcoholic whiskeys to compare their flavor to the real deal and to see if they work well in mocktails. I also enlisted the help of my wife and a non-drinking friend to get their thoughts on the mocktails. Free Spirits Spirit of Bourbon and Monday Zero Alcohol Whiskey stood out.
Here’s what made them special and how the competition fared. First, I conducted a blind taste test to see which non-alcoholic whiskey tasted the best. James Brains/InsiderI included Big Nose Kate Western Whiskey (90 proof) as a comparison to see if it was possible to mistake non-alcoholic whiskey for the real deal.
It was obvious which whiskey had alcohol. I’d take Big Nose Kate over any of the non-alcoholic brands. However, the zero-proof whiskeys were tasty.
Lyre’s American Malt was my least favorite. The taste was light and watery on the palate with just a hint of spice. James Brains/InsiderI had high hopes for Lyre’s since I’d previously enjoyed the brand’s American Malt & Cola Premix Drink, their answer to Jack and Coke.
Gnista Barreled Oak was the sweetest of the five, but the flavor lacked depth. It reminded me of prune juice. James Brains/InsiderYet, if you want a sweet mixer for your mocktail, you might find Gnista Barreled Oak more enjoyable than I did.
Next, Ritual Whiskey Alternative provided a strong floral taste, mild sweetness, and notes of baking spices. James Brains/InsiderLyre’s, Gnista, and Ritual weren’t nearly as good as our two favorite picks, though depending on your tastes, you may prefer them. For instance, if you like floral flavoring, Ritual Whiskey Alternative is a good choice.
The second-best non-alcoholic whiskey was Monday Zero Alcohol Whiskey. It’s evocative of Tootsie Rolls with a little bitterness. I felt the long, pleasant finish all over my mouth.
James Brains/Insider Free Spirits The Spirit of Bourbon was my favorite. It had a nice complexity that combined anise, a pinch of citrus, and a helping of vanilla ice cream with graham cracker. James Brains/Insider My wife and I invited a friend with 19 years of sobriety over to help sample the non-alcoholic whiskeys in Old Fashioned cocktails.
James Brains/InsiderFor a fair comparison, we used a complicated system to ensure that my wife (Erin), friend (Amber), and I were all blind to which non-alcoholic whiskey was in each Old Fashioned. I chose an Old Fashioned for the comparison because it’s one of the most popular whiskey cocktails. Each Old Fashioned had the following ingredients:2 ounces non-alcoholic whiskey2 teaspoons homemade honey-ginger syrup3 dashes Stirrings Blood Orange Cocktail Bitters (non-alcoholic)Amber and I thought the Monday Old Fashioned was the best.
James Brains/InsiderI caught a hint of prune on the nose while Amber smelled maple, which didn’t come through on the palate. Instead, she found it fruity and evocative of Jim Beam. It “would be amazing in tea,” she said.
This was Erin’s second favorite, and the creaminess reminded her of a cream soda. She liked the hint of spice on the tip of the tongue. I also appreciated the pleasant spice and depth of flavor.
Erin’s favorite was the Free Spirits Spirit of Bourbon. It was my and Amber’s second favorite. James Brains/InsiderAs with the neat tasting, Monday and Free Spirits were the best in the Old Fashioneds.
Erin thought the Free Spirits mocktail was similar to Monday but that the spice was stronger at the back of her throat. The flavor reminded her of chai. Amber noted that it smelled like cider but with a bite.
“I think I’d like to try this one hot,” she added. With sweetness dominating, I didn’t think the flavor was as complex as the Monday cocktail, but it was still delicious. I picked up gingerbread notes.
The Gnista Old Fashioned was evocative of ginger ale with heavy sweetness and mild spice. James Brains/InsiderNone of us cared for the Ritual Zero Proof mocktail, but it may appeal to people who like floral notes in their beverages. James Brains/InsiderThe Lyre’s Old Fashioned lacked flavor depth and reminded us of grape juice.
James Brains/InsiderThe bottom lineErin Brains/InsiderI wouldn’t casually drink any of the non-alcoholic whiskeys on their own. Yet, I’d gladly fix myself a mocktail using Monday or Free Spirits when I feel like having a fancy drink without alcohol. These two were clearly the best.
If my non-drinking friend Amber is any indication, the non-alcoholic whiskeys may be a good option for people who are several years into their recovery and can handle a potential flavor trigger. She said she’d like to take the remainder of my samples after I’m done. If that isn’t a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is.
Read the original article on Insider.
From: insider
URL: https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/best-non-alcoholic-whiskey
