I was recently asked to write a guide to non-alcoholic spirits for the New Mocktails Bible, an all-occasion guide to an alcohol-free, zero-proof, no regrets, sober curious lifestyle.
Two years ago, a non-alc spirits guide covering three distilled botanicals would have given the reader a reasonably good sense of the breadth of the category. Today, it merely scratches the surface. There are many zero proof distilled botanical spirits that warrant mention but weren’t included for space constraint reasons. Here is a deep dive on three of my favorite booze-free distilled botanicals as of December 2022.
But don’t take my word for it. See what other sober curious drinkers have to say about over 35 other non-alcoholic botanical distillates as well.
| Spirit | Pentire – Adrift | Seedlip – Garden 108 | Optimist – Bright |
| Introduction | A difficult NA spirit to classify, Pentire’s Adrift is the most juniper-forward of the distilled botanicals and thus could be mistaken for a gin, although its creators don’t explicitly call it one. | Gin and vodka are separate and distinct spirits, but both are made by fermenting and distilling the same base ingredients, e.g. corn, wheat, rye, potatoes, etc. The difference comes when vodka producers filter their spirit to remove all impurities and taste whereas gin producers incorporate juniper and botanical herbs to create its distinct flavors. Vodka is the most loved alcoholic spirit in America, yet NA vodka is simply water. The creator of Seedlip wisely chose to explore botanical flavors other than juniper to create complex, sophisticated spirits that are neither gin nor vodka but can be enjoyed by lovers of either. | At first glance, Optimist might be mistaken for merely an American copy of (British) Seedlip. They both have three flavors, an herbal/vegetal one, a citrusy one and a smoky/spicy one. However, a side by side tasting quickly shows how distinct each of their offerings are from one another. Moreover, it shows how many interesting and complex flavors are possible by thoughtfully distilling high quality botanical ingredients. |
| Flavor Notes / Profiles | Like an herbal gin with unique local botanicals foraged from Cornwall’s surrounding headland | Fresh like a walk through an English garden in spring | Bright like lemon, jasmine, green mandarin, fennel and cinnamon |
| Notable Characteristics | A terroir NA spirit founded by environmentally conscious surfers and outdoorsmen, Pentire transports the drinker to the Cornish coast of the UK | Seedlip is the world’s first non-alcoholic spirit, inspiring not only other NA spirit brands but also existing alcoholic spirit brands who have created novel alcoholic botanical spirits, a burgeoning category. | Inspired by the diverse landscapes and cultures of Los Angeles, Optimist dedicates 2% of its sales to providing access to mental wellbeing services for underserved youth in their community |
| Notable Ingredients | Rock samphire, sage, Pentire plant blend, citrus & Cornish sea salt | Fresh, herbal blend of peas, hay and traditional garden herbs including rosemary, thyme, spearmint | Distillates and extracts of lemon, jasmine, green mandarin, lavender, turmeric, cornmint, orange, tangerine, fennel, myrrh and cinnamon leaf |
| Comparable Alcoholic Spirits | Lantic Gin, Mermaid Gin, Dà Mhìle Seaweed Gin, Greenwich Marine London Dry | Ketel One Botanicals Cucumber & Mint, Grey Goose Essences Watermelon & Basil, Hendricks Midsummer Solstice | Ketel One Botanicals Grapefruit & Rose, Grey Goose Essences Strawberry & Lemongrass, Malfy Gin con Limone |
| Pairing / Mixing Suggestions | With Indian tonic water and lime or a sprig of rosemary, or with flavored tonics like cucumber or elderflower | Both alcohol and sugar are excellent carriers of flavor, yet distilled botanicals contain neither. On its own, Seedlip yields a strong scent but only a subtle flavor. A mixer should contain sugar (or alcohol, if desired) in order to properly release and convey the flavors. I prefer a good tonic water, which has sugar but not too many other flavors of its own to distract from Seedlip’s botanicals. | Same as Seedlip, with tonic water and a citrus garnish |
