Good morning. A theory: You're tired of hearing (and reading) the same story about non-alcoholic drinks. NA drinks used to be bad, but now they're good! Also, people are drinking less—especially in January!
So, yeah, we're not doing that today. Instead, I've put together a four-part, no-frills, NA-beverage purchasing guide to give you the best odds at finding something you'll actually want to drink when you're not drinking (or even when you are). Here it is:
1. Bitter is best. That was our team's conclusion after trying nearly 30 NA spirits last year. We especially liked Wilfred's, Ghia, and Figlia. We certainly disliked anything that attempted to replicate vodka, tequila, or gin.
2. Big beer is good beer. Our team's favorite NA brews came from some of the category's most established brands. Like Guinness, Brooklyn Brewery, and Athletic (though we might be biased). Point being: If you've got $20 to spend on an NA six-pack, it's—likely—in your palate's best interest to hand your money over to the brewery with the biggest executive board.
3. Spritz saves all. If you're not obsessed with the alcohol-free lager you're sipping, mix in one of the NA aperitifs listed above—and you'll be in a much better spot. Or follow Jeffrey Morgenthaler's NA Radler recipe. Or try John deBary's also really good Radler recipe.
4. Wine is meh. There's probably some good stuff out there. I haven't found it. Would I recommend you go looking for it? If you don't care about wasting some money—sure.
