The Best Nonalcoholic Drinks Our Editors Actually Love

From vibrant aperitifs to botanical spritzes and zero-proof wine, these are the standouts in a sea of new nonalcoholic drinks.

In a world awash with lackluster spiritless proxies, uninspired mocktails and overly sweetened “alternatives,” finding a nonalcoholic (NA) drink that actually tastes good — really good — can feel like striking gold. Too often, alcohol-free wines fall flat, zero-proof spirits lack backbone, and you’re left sipping something that feels like a consolation prize. But the good news? That’s changing.

Today’s most exciting nonalcoholic options aren’t trying to be replicas of the real thing; they’re delicious in their own right. From complex botanical sippers to refreshing ferments, these drinks bring nuance, balance, and pleasure to the glass without a drop of booze. Whether you're abstaining entirely, just cutting back, or simply thirsty for something new, there’s a growing world of truly satisfying zero-proof beverages out there.

To help you navigate this evolving landscape, we asked our editors to share the non-alcoholic drinks they’re genuinely excited about right now. These are the bottles and cans they’re reaching for again and again, not because they have to, but because they want to, proving that you don’t need alcohol to drink well.

Everleaf Mountain ($34/500ml)

I have something of a love-hate relationship with the faux spirits that’ve exploded onto the scene since Seedlip began to prove there was a market for nonalcoholic distilled … well, water. They tend to either lean too hard into the bitter, trying-to-be-an-amaro profile, or throw in enough herbs and botanicals to compensate for not actually being gin.

Everleaf is the exception. The stuff is just so damn delicious, I’m happy to drink it even when I’m not taking a break from booze. Each of the three products in Everleaf’s line is fantastic — Forest, Mountain, and Marine — but the Mountain has become a personal favorite. Flavored primarily with cherry blossoms, strawberry, and rose hips, it is the exact opposite of every boring, nonalcoholic half-approximation of a Negroni out there. It’s bright, it’s tart, and it pops with flavor instead of trying to be weird or faux-artisanal. Basically, it’s finally a nonalcoholic spirit that’s fun to drink.

I’ve taken to throwing a slug of Mountain in a basic cranberry seltzer when I’m hanging at home, or a splash into an open bottle of ginger beer. It adds a nice little twang to the back end of the drink and doesn’t require you follow some precise brand-produced cocktail formula in order to taste palatable. I’m basically treating Everleaf the same way I’d use a bottle of good hot sauce — throwing a splash into random things to make them taste better. —Dylan Garret, editorial director

Martini & Rossi Vibrante and Floreale ($21/750ml)

Most alcohol-free spirits alternatives are a pale imitation of the original. The one category in which N/A imitations shine is Italian aperitivo liqueurs. Martini & Rossi’s Vibrante and Floreale are two of the best examples of how the botanical-forward liqueurs can get by without booze. Vibrante offers bold citrus notes of orange peel, bergamot, and grapefruit, balanced by subtle bitterness, while Floreale leans more floral and herbal, with chamomile, lemon peel, and rosemary.

Both shine in zero-proof spritzes, Americano riffs, or simply over ice with tonic or sparkling water. Vibrante makes a solid substitute for Aperol or Campari, and Floreale can add a fragrant twist to drinks like the Hugo Spritz. Light, complex, and versatile, they both prove that nonalcoholic cocktails can be perfect for aperitivo hour. —Dylan Ettinger, contributing editor

Missing Thorn Red ($30)

Sadly, most nonalcoholic red wines are bleak. The alcohol removal process seems to suck away the midpalate and generosity of the wine, leaving it a shrilly acidic shell of its former self, one that’s truly the opposite of a joy to drink. Some winemakers add sugar in the hopes it will help. Meh. 

But in the case of Missing Thorn’s NA Red, made with Malbec, a small addition of black-currant juice gives it a rich, juicy flavor, and while you wouldn’t mistake Missing Thorn for a classic Malbec in a side-by-side comparison, it comes close, which puts it miles ahead of the rest of the pack. Chalk that up to the skills of Napa Valley star winemaker Aaron Pott, who has made wine for the likes of Quintessa, Seven Stones Winery, Château Troplong-Mondot, and many others (his own Pott Wines are superb), and the good taste of his partner in this project, wine pro Stephanie Honig. —Ray Isle, executive wine editor

Pathfinder Spritz ($20/200ml 4 pack)

I love amaro. From the deep, dark, inky versions that burst with medicinal complexity to the bright, sweet, citrusy, red-bitter aperitivo liqueurs used in traditional spritzes, bittersweet amaro is one of my favorite alcoholic treats. So, I was thrilled to discover The Pathfinder Spirit, a hemp-based, nonalcoholic “spirit” that closely resembles an Italian-style herbal liqueur. It really does smell, taste, and mix much like its boozy counterpart, incorporating ingredients like orange peel, angelica root, wormwood, juniper, and ginger.

In May, the brand released The Pathfinder Spritz, a ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktail that makes it even easier to tote around and spritz it up, sans alcohol. Refreshing, bubbly, bittersweet, and botanical, you’d never know this no-octane spritz is anything other than crazy delicious. —Prairie Rose, senior drinks editor

Siponey Non-Alcoholic Cocktails ($20/12oz 6 pack)

Born from a desire to craft a sophisticated, eco-conscious beverage, Siponey Spritz Co. began as a spirited canned-cocktail brand but has since expanded into the booming world of nonalcoholic drinks with the same reverence for quality, sustainability, and bold flavor. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Amanda Victoria and Joseph Mintz, the nonalcoholic cocktails celebrate flavor and purpose through natural and sustainably sourced ingredients and pollinator-friendly practices, including support of regenerative farming and American beekeepers.

But it’s what’s inside that really counts to our tastebuds and earns repeat pours, and thankfully, it’s all delicious. Designed to mimic the complexity of a cocktail without the alcohol, there are a range of flavors to try: Pollinator, a take on a smash; Botanics, a nod to a Paloma; Tropics, a fruit-forward punch; and Roots, a spicy Mule-like sip. Each showcases a bright and harmonious balance, with only 45 calories per can and no artificial sweeteners or preservatives. Bonus: they’re all fantastic on their own for when you want the proofless sip, but if desired, take incredibly well to an added spirited or THC infusion of your preference, too. —Lauren Buzzeo, contributing editor

Weingut Josef Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Riesling ($20)

My mother is absolutely not a connoisseur when it comes to wine. “Chardonnay on ice! That’s nice!” could be her motto, to borrow the old Riunite ad. So, perfect test subject. 

Last fall, amidst the scrum of our 30-person family Thanksgiving, I shamelessly handed her a glass of this nonalcoholic Riesling, without mentioning that it was the low-octane model. She took a sip, had zero reaction, and carried on her conversation. 

They say our senses get less acute as we age, and yes, my mom is 89 (and I am obviously a terrible human being). But if I’d tried that trick on her with most of the nonalcoholic wine out there, it would have been dumped in the sink after a single sip, accompanied by a look my way that would have had Vladimir Putin quivering in his boots. 

Through whatever technological legerdemain, winemaker Johannes Leitz actually makes a zero-alcohol Riesling that tastes damn near like the real thing. He’s aided by the fact that Riesling does well at lower alcohol levels, meaning you have to strip out less of the substance to begin with; that he works with a new vacuum distillation process that allows the wine to boil at 82.4˚ F, keeping it from heat damage; and that Leitz’s regular Rieslings are world-class. 

Interesting side note: the first patent for alcohol removal from wine was given in 1907 to a vintner in the same town in Germany’s Rheingau where Leitz is based. —Ray Isle, executive wine editor

Wilderton Aperitivo Co. Citrus Aperitivo ($37/750ml)

When it comes to nonalcoholic booze alternatives, I’ve found aperitifs to be among the most successful and satisfying spirit-free options (with NA beer a close second). The bitter, citrusy, and herbaceous notes typical of amari and other aperitifs translate beautifully without alcohol. Wilderton’s Citrus Aperitivo is a perfect example. Made from a complex blend of botanicals, it delivers a bold, balanced flavor.

Wilderton combines several types of citrus — like tangerine and yuzu — with warming spices including coriander, clove, bay leaf, and gentian. Bright orange leads the palate, with gentle spice and a subtle smokiness on the finish. Enjoy it neat over a big cube, or topped with club soda for an easy, all-season spritz. —Lucy Simon, special projects editor