Review: Non-Alcoholic Spirits of Fluere, Complete Lineup
Review: Non-Alcoholic Spirits of Fluere, Complete Lineup
Fluere is a non-alcoholic spirits brand owned since 2023 by Lucas Bols, known for its extensive liqueur lineup. With a selection of five N/A “spirits” under its command, Fluere covers a vast swatch of the alcohol world with its spiritless takes on gin, rum, mezcal, and more.
We tasted the entire lineup. Thoughts — quite varied — follow.
Fluere Botanical Review
A stand-in for gin, with coriander and lime noted on the label. Lime wholly dominates both nose and palate, showcasing a mix of zest and juice, all well sweetened to approach something akin to a lime-flavored lollipop. You have to breathe deeply to detect much of anything else, but a gentle piney quality makes an aromatic appearance, if fleetingly. There’s less of that on the palate, and while the finished product is wholly pleasant, it’s so one-note that I have to question its utility. On the bright side, if you mix it with tonic you won’t need to add a squeeze of lime. B [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]
Fluere Spiced Cane Dark Roast Review
That’s a complex name for a faux, NA rum, but this concoction fits the bill a bit better than you’d think, thanks to a mix of cinnamon and chocolate notes that pair with a brighter Maraska cherry character underneath. Again there’s no real bite here, just a gentle sweetness (particularly on the somewhat saccharine finish) that feels like it would pair best with a latte, though if you poured a shot into a glass of ginger beer, you might have an acceptable mocktail of a sort. B [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]
Fluere Raspberry Review
It’s the sole spirit in the Fluere lineup without a clever name, but at least “Raspberry” is descriptive about what you’re getting in the bottle. It’s certainly apt, though the raspberry flavor is less effusive than I expected, the sweetness of the beverage dialed back a lot further than you’d think. Lightly medicinal, there’s a bitter-herbal character to the finish that evokes the sensation of drinking alcohol more than in most of the other expressions in the Fluere lineup, with notes of rosemary and apple cider vinegar lingering on the slightly tart finish. Makes for a reasonable Cos-no-politan. B- [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]
Fluere Smoked Agave Review
Smells like mezcal, in that it is smoky and sort of fruity. Tastes like nothing. Aromas of smoked apple and some citrus are mild but not disagreeable, but on the tongue that all vanishes almost completely. There’s a whiff of smoke that lingers, like when you kiss smoker who’s hastily brushed their teeth, just the slightest bit ashy and, here, a tad herbal — perhaps the agave distillate in the mix showing its face. It doesn’t last for long, though. In short order the whole affair has faded away save for an echo of smoke, coming across more like a bite of fresh asphalt being poured somewhere in the distance. Zero calories, by the way. C+ [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]
Fluere Bitter Review
Designed as an alternative to red Italian bitter liqueurs, this is (perhaps ironically) dosed with ample sugar, giving it 56 calories per serving (and 14 grams of carbs) when the rest of the lineup has 20 calories or less. Clearly the best thing going in the Fluere stable, this fits the bill pretty nicely, mimicking the bittersweet character of the category, albeit ending up on the sweeter side of the fence and touched with cinnamon and vanilla, both rather powerful. I’d have liked to see this a bit more bitter than it is, but it stands up well enough. Soda tends to wash the bitterness out even more, so go easy with a mixer (or, better yet, use tonic). B+ [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]
each $33
Fluere Bitter
USD33
