What's the Deal with Zero Proof Spirits?

Zero Proof spirits are all the rage now. They provide an alternative for designated drivers who still want to enjoy a cocktail with friends and are great for the waistline since they have zero calories in addition to zero alcohol. But how do they taste, and are they worth the cost? Read on to find out!

I’ve been intrigued with the recent focus on zero proof spirits and mixers as well as the bevy of new releases over the past couple of years. The offerings usually include alcohol-free versions of specific spirits such as gin, tequila, whiskey, and rum. Others are crafted as mixers using different blends of fruits, spices, and herbs. These distilled non-alcoholic spirits provide an alternative to folks who either can’t drink alcohol for medical or health reasons, who want to reduce calories in their diet, who want to avoid the effects of alcohol while still enjoying a night out on the town, or who just want to take a break from alcohol every once and awhile. But they aren’t cheap – most bottlings run from $25 to $35 for a 750 ml. bottle. For that price, they better deliver on taste. Which is why I decided to do a tasting of two of the more popular and widely available non-alcoholic spirits made by Ritual Zero Proof Spirits – their zero proof versions of tequila and gin, each $28 per bottle.

I conducted four paired tastings, two “head-to-head” shot tastings of each spirit and then two paired cocktails using each of the spirits. I used Patron Reposado Tequila ($50 for 750 ml.) for the tequila tastings and Aviation American Gin ($20 for 750 ml.) for the gin tastings. I kept the cocktails simple so I could taste the spirits – I chose a Paloma (tequila, Fever Tree Grapefruit Sparkling Water, and lime juice) for the tequila tasting, and a Gin and Tonic (gin, Fever Tree Indian Tonic, and lime juice) for the gin tasting. Here’s a quick summary of the tastings.

Tequila Tasting

The Zero-proof tequila had an odd and somewhat medicinal nose with a hint of chili pepper, and it was weak and watery as well. They managed to create a peppery finish with a bit of heat (crushed red pepper, jalapeno) which was the most interesting aspect of the spirit. The Patron had rich scents of caramel and toasted oak, along with hints of citrus and cane sugar in the mouth. The mouthfeel was rich and viscous with nice heat and a warming sensation on the finish. My takeaway here was that the alcohol-free tequila was definitely not crafted to be sipped on its own – it just doesn’t have the right mouthfeel and the aroma was off-putting. The Paloma tasting highlighted the potential of these zero proof spirits – both Laurie and I could immediately tell which one was the non-alcoholic cocktail (Laurie tasted them blind) due to both the aroma and flavors. But it wasn’t a huge difference and we enjoyed both versions, even though we definitely preferred the one made with Patron.

Gin Tasting

The Zero-proof gin had a woodsy earthy nose with scents of pine along with a light and watery mouthfeel similar to the tequila. I noticed white pepper and slight heat on the finish. The Aviation gin had a much more discernable nose with aromas of lime zest, juniper berry, and black pepper. The mouthfeel was rich and full, with notes of nectarine and Asian spice on the finish. Again, the mouthfeel was the biggest difference between the two – they were simply unable to replicate the viscous sensation that you get with alcoholic spirits. The G&T tasting was a very close call though – while both Laurie and I were able to pick out the non-alcoholic cocktail, the differences were minor. The Aviation G&T had a richer and more complex flavor and a bit more bite on the finish, but again, both were tasty.

The Bottom Line

I think these non-alcoholic spirits have potential, but they aren’t there yet based on this limited sample. In particular, cost is the biggest issue for me. If these spirits were $15 or so, I would say go for it because they deliver to some degree in emulating the characteristics of various alcoholic spirits (like the heat of alcohol on the finish), but they miss considerably on other important characteristics (like the thicker, syrupy mouthfeel of alcohol-based spirits and the full flavor profile of specific spirits). But at close to $30 or more for a bottle, the quality simply isn’t worth the price for me. Instead, I’d search out a creative mocktail recipe that ditches the non-alcoholic spirits and uses other options (like shrubs, syrups, and bitters) to create innovative and tasty alcohol-free cocktails.

Finally, given the small sample I used from only one producer, I intend to sample other non-alcoholic spirits to see if there is one out there that stands out from the rest – I’ll let you know what I discover in a future post! In the meantime, have you ever tried these non-alcoholic spirits and if so, what did you think of them?