Our Tasting Guide includes tasting notes from our panel (always at least four tasters) on everything from NA beer and wine, to nonalcoholic spirits, bitters, mixers, and more. Each month, we’ll be updating you with the products our panel gets to try as we add to our extensive database of drinks. Check out the rest of the guide here.
A few notes: Beverages listed as “panel favorites” were unanimously and wholeheartedly adored by our whole panel—not an easy feat! Many other beverages, in addition to those listed as panel favorites, are also extremely popular among our group. Overall we strive to share our balanced and honest opinions about what we experienced, and, importantly, we believe there’s something out there for every preference.
Here’s hoping you find some new favorite sips here!
Cheers from Cara and the Guide Team
Wines
We had the delightful experience of tasting two white wines from Relax Zero. Though the chardonnay was slightly different from a classic chardonnay in flavor, it still ended up as a panel favorite. The sauvignon blanc was true to its namesake. We deemed these two delicious and affordable nonalcoholic wine options.
Relax Zero Chardonnay
Relax Zero Chardonnay
A panel favorite. We noted a hint of effervescence with tart, juicy melon and peach notes. Started slightly sweet, mellows out to a tart finish. Balanced acidity balanced a mouthwatering and lingering finish. Strictly speaking, not exactly the flavors we expected in a Chardonnay, but that didn’t interfere with our enjoyment.
Click to tryRelax Zero Sauvignon Blanc
Relax Zero Sauvignon Blanc
A panel favorite. A hint of effervescence with tart, juicy, melon, and peach notes. Starts out sweet but then mellows to a tart finish. We found the acidity balanced and the finish mouthwatering and lingering.
Click to tryWine Alternatives
One of the most exciting categories in the NA space is wine alternatives—also sometimes called wine proxies. These wine-adjacent products are not intended to be exact replacements for wine, per se, but to offer the same kind of ritualistic, complex, sometimes celebratory experience you might find with wine. Many are intended to pair well with food, as well.
These two wine-adjacent products from Three Spirit both ended up being panel favorites with lots of complexity and depth and unexpected, layered flavors.
Three Spirit Spark Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Alternative
Three Spirit Spark Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Alternative
A panel favorite. Full bodied and complex with a lasting flavor and strong bubbles. Tea tannins give it a full, lush mouthfeel and we got notes of berry, rhubarb, tea and spice plus a bit of heat from cayenne pepper. We found the sweetness and tartness to be well balanced. This felt both celebratory and like it would pair well with food.
Click to tryThree Spirit Sharp Non-Alcoholic White Wine Alternative
Three Spirit Sharp Non-Alcoholic White Wine Alternative
A panel favorite. In the best way, we found this to be savory, vegetal, herbaceous, and earthy. Slightly vinegary with a slight lingering bite at the back of the throat. The flavors were complex and balanced, not overly sweet. We recommend pairing with spicy flavors or a simple charcuterie.
Click to tryBeers
Though this Belgian Wit from Athletic is technically a seasonal beer, it seemed pretty seasonless to us. We loved how easy it was to drink, how true it tasted to the Witbier style. The can art is pretty great, too.
Athletic Brewing Wit's Peak Belgian-Style White
Athletic Brewing Wit's Peak Belgian-Style White
This seasonal beer hits the classic Belgian notes with lightness and a lightly sweet aftertaste. It has a complex scent. The can mentions adding an orange slice, but we felt it stood up well on its own.
Click to tryAperitifs and Liqueurs
We enjoyed tasting this duo of unique aperitifs from (parentheses). Both have a strong vinegar component (harkening to their founders’ background in vinegar making), which even our shrub fans found pronounced, but this was balanced by a depth of interesting flavors. We recommend experimenting with these as ingredients in your mixology creations.
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Intensely tart and acidic with almost a pickle nose. We thought this would be an interesting ingredient to experiment with in cocktails. Complex and strongly sour, which appealed to our panel members who are fans of shrubs/drinking vinegars. Recommended to mix with tonic and pair with substantial appetizers like cheese and crackers.
Click to try(parentheses) after
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Vinegar forward with a smokey nose; leathery, possibly with a hint of tobacco. We found this digestif to be very complex with a bracing acidity. We enjoyed sipping it neat as well as mixed with tonic or ginger beer. An interesting addition to your NA bar.
Click to tryMixers
We loved the strong, smoky scent and flavor of this maple syrup-based Old Fashioned mixer. Though it was lovely in a drink, we all had ideas of other ways we would use it (I personally think I’d drink a tiny bit in a cordial glass as I would a port).
Runamok Smoked Old Fashioned Mixer
Runamok Smoked Old Fashioned Mixer
A panel favorite. Flavorful and smoky with a definite maple note. We added Free Spirits Bourbon as per the instructions which added a slight burn and lightened up the texture. We felt some orange bitters or a twist would be a nice addition and that this might be nice in warm beverages as well.
Click to tryReady To Drink
True to its brand, Pentire’s version of a margarita is herby and savory in addition to its citrus notes. Not a classic margarita, but it is complex and interesting. We recommend serving over ice, and we appreciate that it is available in both bottles and cans to keep things easy
Pentire Margarita
Pentire Margarita
Served on the rocks as suggested on the bottle, this has a vegetal nose and an initial smoky tartness. We got notes of oregano and bell pepper with a sort of herby margarita experience. Some heat on the finish with balanced sweetness.
Click to tryOptimist Botanicals Cali Spritz
If spritzes are often too sweet for you, you might enjoy this version from Optimist. This is the ready-to-drink spritz version of the brand’s Cali Amaro. The result is a spritz that is totally unique.
Optimist Botanicals Cali Spritz
Optimist Botanicals Cali Spritz
A lovely orange color with an orange blossom/creamsicle scent. Mildly flavored. A bit tart and bitter with very little sweetness. The bubbles add a nice texture and there is a tannic feeling that lingers on the tongue.
Click to tryDe Soi Très Rosé
If you like things sweet but complex, you’ll want to try this multi-faceted pink pour from De Soi.
De Soi Très Rosé
De Soi Très Rosé
A strawberry candy nose with hints of butterscotch. We found this rich, balanced, and mouth-watering in a way we described as "grown-up fruity." Light effervescence gives it texture and reminds us of a sparkling moscato but more tart and complex from the lingering vinegar. finish. Overall, a summery, shrub vibe.
Click to trySee you soon with more updates!
