Mixers/Non-Alcoholic

By definition, a cocktail is a mixed drink, and while there are plenty of cocktails composed entirely from alcoholic beverages, many of the best involve a mixer — a nonalcoholic juice, syrup, carbonated drink, or some other addition. A mixer’s job may be to twist the flavor of the cocktail in a different direction or to reduce the overall amount of alcohol in the cocktail — or both. While many mixers (like lime juice or simple syrup) can be easily made at home, there’s a cottage industry dedicated to ready-to-use mixers, ranging from artisan ginger ale to exotic, spiced syrups.

Top Mixers Posts:

Cocktail Artist Cocktail Mixers
The Murph’s Famous Bloody Mary Mix – Original and Hot & Spicy
Cascade Ice Zero-Calorie Mixers

Review: All the Bitter Alcohol-Free Bitters, Complete Lineup

By Christopher Null | June 6, 2022 |

Bitters are traditionally made, quite simply, by steeping botanicals in alcohol for a length of time, then bottling the finished product. Bitters add a lot of flavor to a drink, but they also add a bit of booze — most bitters are actually very high in abv — so for folks looking to limit or…

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Review: Enroot Cold Brew Teas

By Christopher Null | June 3, 2022 |

These cold brew iced teas are lightly sparkling, caffeine free, and lightly sweetened — to the point that a 12 oz bottle offers only 25 calories. Funded in part by Brad Pitt, the line is available in at least five different flavors, including a variety pack. Enroot Cold Brew Tea Strawberry Lavender Rosemary Tulsi –…

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Review: Hella Cocktail Co. Bitters & Soda, Complete Lineup

By Monica Uhm | May 18, 2022 |

Hella Cocktail Co. is leaning into the spirits-alternative category with five bitters-centered non-alcoholic sparkling beverages. The Bitters & Soda expressions all feature “gentian tincture,” aka a tincture (medicine) made from the root of flowering plants in the Gentiana genus. Gentian root has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries across the continents. Let’s dig right…

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Review: Hop Wtr Lime

By Christopher Null | May 16, 2022 |

Water and hops — you’re halfway to beer there — and that’s where Hop Wtr (aka HOP WTR) would like to keep it. This non-alcoholic, zero-calorie concoction is made with sparkling water, a blend of various hops (Citra, Amarillo, Mosaic, and Azacca), and some nootropics, including ashwagandha and L-theanine. Four different flavors exist, but we…

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Review: Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Craft Beers, Red Wine, and Sangria (2022)

By Monica Uhm | May 7, 2022 |

We’ve dived into the non-alcoholic offerings of Gruvi in the past, with mixed and sometimes lackluster reception (see reviews of releases from 2020 and 2021). Today we visit with them once again, with a recent round of mostly limited releases. Let’s see how they’re coming along in this journey. All are 0.05% abv. Gruvi Golden…

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Review: Mocktails Ready-To-Drink Non-Alcoholic Cocktails

By Monica Uhm | April 16, 2022 |

Mocktails (the beverage company) hails from the UK and has recently expanded into the U.S. with its offering of non-alcoholic ready-to-drink, well, mocktails. There are no artificial flavors nor high-fructose corn syrup in the drinks (and, of course, no alcohol), and they are certainly not shy about literally and figuratively going the distance to source…

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Review: Betty Buzz Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Mixers

By Monica Uhm | April 13, 2022 |

The new flavored seltzer, ahem… buzz, about town is Betty Buzz, a new line of sparkling mixers that are also designed to be consumed on their own (and which are brought to you by Blake Lively). These mixers boast “only clean ingredients” as the flavoring agents, are lightly sweetened, and promise nothing artificial. If that’s…

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Review: Deschutes Brewery Black Butte Porter and Non-Alcoholic Black Butte Porter

By Christopher Null | April 12, 2022 |

It’s a bold move for Deschutes to send us its non-alcoholic Black Butte Porter and its standard, pro-alcoholic expression side by side. Can an NA version of this beer really hold up to its big brother? Let’s find out! Deschutes Brewery Black Butte Porter – This is the year-round version of the Deschutes expression which…

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Review: 2022 Sovi Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rose

By Rob Theakston | March 13, 2022 |

In mid-December 2021 we had the opportunity to review the inaugural offerings from California’s Sovi line of ready-to-drink canned non-alcoholic wines. While the red blend was flavorful and well-rounded, the Sparkling Rose could have used some fine-tuning.  I am pleased to report that, after receiving this year’s vintage, things have improved for the better. Before…

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Review: DaySmith Coffee+

By Rob Theakston | February 24, 2022 |

Pop into any bodega or convenience store and chances are there will be a cooler filled with ready-to-drink coffee options ready to refresh and energize. You probably won’t find DaySmith in those options, as this plucky little Texas upstart is just getting its feet wet in the market, but we were lucky to sample a…

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