Non-Alcoholic Spirits
 

Best Non-Alcoholic Spirits

 

The Fifty Best Non-Alcoholic Spirits Tasting 2023


The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 19 Non-Alcoholic Spirits with fourteen members of our spirits judging panel. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Strict tasting rules were applied. The Non-Alcoholic Spirits were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at slightly above room temperature. Only ice water, neutral unflavored crackers and chips were available to cleanse the palate. The judges were provided with ice cubes to add to samples during the tasting.

The judges wrote down their impressions of each product on score sheets. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the highest. Double-Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are awarded according to a set range of final point scores received from the judges. Medals are provided based entirely on merit and only to products judged worthy of such award.

The tasting notes that follow are summaries of the judges’ opinions, with all replicated commentary eliminated. Clicking on the brands' names will link to their websites.


DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS


Dr. ZeroZero AmarNo
( ITALY)

Nose: Amaro, aperitif, root beer, licorice, burnt cotton, herbal, mixture of herbs & spices, mint, menthol, eucalyptus, cinnamon, allspice, clove, dark wood, nice, complex.
Palate: Amaro, sarsaparilla, vanilla, honey, dark stone fruit, pimento, fennel, eucalyptus, dark tea, mixed herbs, good bitter herbal, allspice, clove, good mouthfeel, balanced, integrated, pleasant, very nice, great.
Finish: Amaro, vanilla, anise, dried mint, gentian, wormwood, clove, spice, sour mash, lingering, substantial, pleasant, good aperitif, best of the group.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal


   Dr. ZeroZero AmarNo


ISH Spritz Non-Alcoholic RTD
(Denmark)

Nose: Orange, blood orange, orange peel, orange zest, burnt orange, orange soda, rhubarb, peach, fennel, bourbon barrel, white wine, Aperol.
Palate: Orange, blood orange, bitter orange, citrus, berries, hops, peanut, herbal, wormwood, bitter, Aperol, stone, wine, nicely balanced, nice bitter balance, drinkable, effervescent, refreshing.
Finish: Hint of orange, lime, citrus, light floral, Aperol, slightly bitter, spritzy, bubbly, good balance, delicate, clean, crisp, refreshing.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal


ISH Spritz Non-Alcoholic RTD


Dhōs Bittersweet Non-Alcoholic Aperitif
(OR)

Nose: Orange, juicy orange, Fanta orange soda, orange candy, Kool-Aid, bubblegum, bitter orange, cherry, herbal, Italian herbs, spices, brandy, wine, like an Aperol.
Palate: Orange, orange peel, orange zest, orange Jello, bitter orange, citrus, pink grapefruit with rind, cherry, spicy, spices, bitter, Aperol, Amaro, could actually be used in a cocktail, would make a great spritz.
Finish: Lingering orange zest, orange peel, lemon peel, gentian, bitter, light heat, nice balance, good, delicate.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal


Dhōs Bittersweet Non-Alcoholic Aperitif



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

ISH Lime Daiquiri Non-Alcoholic RTD
(Denmark)

Nose: Lime, Key lime pie, lemon peel, lime cordial, sweet cane, sugar syrup, vanilla, ginger, mint, rum.
Palate: Lime, limeade, Rose’s lime juice, lemon, citrus, crisp green apple, sweet apple, dried mint, vanilla, oak, pleasingly sweet, great balance of flavors, rum, daiquiri-like.
Finish: Key lime pie, sweet lime, lingering lime, citrus, strawberry, ginger, mint, brown bread, vanilla, pleasant, great finish.


Gold Medal
Gold medal


ISH Lime Daiquiri Non-Alcoholic RTD


Free AF Apero Spritz Non-Alcoholic Cocktail
(New Zealand)

Nose: Orange, orange soda, peach, apricot.
Palate: Orange soda, orange, lime, hint of citrus, apple, effervescent, nice balance, great flavor.
Finish: Orange soda, Orangina, orange popsicle, good balance, refreshing, nice to drink.


Gold Medal
Gold medal


Free AF Apero Spritz Non-Alcoholic Cocktail


FLUÈRE Spiced Cane Non-Alcoholic Spirit
(The Netherlands)

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, candy corn, orange toffee, cookie dough, marzipan, banana, cherry, lemon, elderflower, floral, Arabica coffee beans, cinnamon, mace, mulling spices, sweet spices, perfumed, Mama Juana.
Palate: Caramel, candy corn, vanilla, sweet almond, ripe banana, orange zest, lemon peel, light citrus, spiced apple juice – almost cider, elderflower, coffee, light oak, Mama Juana, balanced sugars, pleasant.
Finish: Apple pie, candied apple, Apple Jacks cereal, orange, citrus, ginger, vanilla, chocolate, lingering coffee, sweet, soft, pleasant.


Gold Medal
Gold medal


FLUÈRE Spiced Cane Non-Alcoholic Spirit


Dhōs Orange Non-Alcoholic Liqueur
(OR)

Nose: Orange, orange peel, orangeade, Creamsicle, citrus candy, Terry’s chocolate covered orange, fruit punch, bubblegum, vanilla, marshmallow, rose petals, nice, bright.
Palate: Orange, orange peel, orange zest, citrus, orange syrup, orange candy, orange sherbet, Jello, orange drink, Creamsicle, cream, vanilla bean, capsaicin, rich.
Finish: Orange soda, orange cream, Creamsicle, vanilla, Mars bar, a bit peppery, lingering sugar, sweetness.


Gold Medal
Gold medal


Dhōs Orange Non-Alcoholic Liqueur


Ghia Non-Alcoholic Apéritif
(CA)

Nose: Raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, cranberry, Bing cherry, persimmons, lemon, lime, ginger, strong herbal.
Palate: Cranberry, cran-apple, a bit of berry, clementine, orange, sour fruit punch, ginger, herbal, tart, bitter – giving way to sweetness, would go well with Sprite, pleasant.
Finish: Cherry, peach, fruit punch, ginger, bitter, flavorful, stays delicate, nice & easy.


Gold Medal
Gold medal


Ghia Non-Alcoholic Apéritif



SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

ISH Mojito Non-Alcoholic RTD
(Denmark)

Nose: Lime, floral, fresh herbs, tarragon, basil, hint of mint, peppermint candy.
Palate: Lime, mint, herbaceous, grassy notes, pine, spicy, simple syrup, candy, juicy, carbonated, nice, refreshing..
Finish: Lime, lemon, citrus peel, orange, citrus, mint, spearmint, sweet, nice, pleasant, refreshing.


Silver Medal
Silver medal


ISH Mojito Non-Alcoholic RTD


ISH Caribbean Spiced Spirit Non-Alcoholic
(Denmark)

Nose: Rum, dark rum, caramel, molasses, chocolate, candy, vanilla, root beer, cola, plum, coconut, ginger, ginger ale, lime, herbs, clove, nutmeg, spicy, oak.
Palate: Caramel, molasses, dark sugar, sugar syrup, candy, vanilla, cola, pineapple, ginger, herbal, clove, nutmeg, spices, wood, oak, nicely done.
Finish: Vanilla, burnt sugar, demerara sugar, pineapple, cinnamon, hint of menthol, light chili, light heat, flavorful, cool combination.


Silver Medal
Silver medal


ISH Caribbean Spiced Spirit Non-Alcoholic


Rasāsvāda Ruby Artemisia Spirit Restorative
(NY)

Nose: Prune, prune juice, dried raisins, fruit leather, honey, burned sugar, root beer, bitter cola, licorice, black tea, herbal, clove, dry herbs, hay, leaves, cinnamon, coffee beans, dark wood, tabasco, burnt, amaro.
Palate: Prune, prune juice, black raisins, fig, lemon juice, lemon peel, lemon twist, citrus, ginger, tea, green tea, strong tea, herbs, allspice, tart.
Finish: Sour cherry, lingering dark stone fruit, lemon juice, balsamic, musty, tree bark.


Silver Medal
Silver medal


Rasāsvāda Ruby Artemisia Spirit Restorative


ISH London Botanical Spirit Non-Alcoholic
(Denmark)

Nose: Lemon juice, lemon/lime, citrus, sweet citrus lemon candy, Sprite, Mountain Dew, kiwi, ginger, cucumber, cut green peas, fresh vegetables, lemongrass, lavender, wildflower, botanicals, juniper, sage, dried herbs, gin, soft.
Palate: Lemon, ginger, cucumber, green peas, green pepper, grass, herbal, basil, spice, hot pepper, capsaicin, pepper dominates, bitter.
Finish: Lemon/lime, lime zest, lime soda, spiced clove, white pepper, black pepper dominates, cayenne pepper, hot pepper, heat.


Silver Medal
Silver medal


ISH London Botanical Spirit Non-Alcoholic


Damrak VirGin
(Holland)

Nose: Balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, pickled cucumber, lemon, Worcestershire sauce.
Palate: Lemon, lemon juice, lime, lime juice, limeade, lime zest, lime peel, lime Popsicle, citrus, celery, pickled onion, salty, tart.
Finish: Lime, lemon juice, sour apple, orange, vinegar, salt, light heat, bitter, mouth puckering.


Silver Medal
Silver medal


Damrak VirGin


Dhōs Gin-Free Non-Alcoholic Spirit
(OR)

Nose: Gin & tonic, gin, juniper, lime, lemon zest, gentian, green peas, fresh cucumber, green leaves, dried flowers, floral, spearmint gum, pine, clove, hint of hot pepper, nice, bright.
Palate: Lime, light citrus, cucumber, green peas, celery juice, herbal, herbaceous, dried hibiscus, dried flowers, thyme, mint, menthol, eucalyptus, pine, hint of hot pepper, spicy.
Finish: Lime, trace of lemon water, ginger ale, menthol, white pepper, peppery, spicy, slightly bitter, light heat.


Silver Medal
Silver medal


Dhōs Gin-Free Non-Alcoholic Spirit



BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS

Rasāsvāda Rose Bergamot Spirit Restorative
(NY)

Nose: Rose, oxidized rose petal, plum, prune juice, tomato, apple butter, molasses, burnt sugar, balsamic, floral, herbs, leaves, clove, tree bark, wood, dark wood.
Palate: Rose water, herbal, bitter herbs, ginger, lime, powdery, sandy, salt, spice, spicy, balsamic, tart, acidic, bark, oak.
Finish: Lime juice, lime rind, lemon peel, bitter, vinegar, salty, lingering herbs.


Bronze Medal
bronze medal


Rasāsvāda Rose Bergamot Spirit Restorative


Seir Hill Biscane
Rum-Inspired Non-Alcoholic Spirit

(CT)

Nose: Rich caramel, chocolate, molasses, caramelized sugar, sweet vanilla, vanilla extract, vanilla bean, melted butter, cake icing, sarsaparilla, root beer, cola note, rum, coffee, oak.
Palate: Bittersweet chocolate, very slight caramel, Coca-Cola, herbal, citrus, salty, possibly good for piña colada, soft.
Finish: Chocolate Necco wafer, bitter.


Bronze Medal
bronze medal


Seir Hill Biscane Rum-Inspired Non-Alcoholic Spirit


Seir Hill Mashville
Whiskey-Inspired Non-Alcoholic Spirit

(CT)

Nose: Apple Jolly Rancher, black olive juice, hint of cola, ginger powder, nutmeg, spices, coffee, super funky.
Palate: Caramel, licorice, fennel, apple, lemon, slightly sweet, funky, possibly for a Manhattan mocktail..
Finish: Caramel, light.


Bronze Medal
bronze medal


Seir Hill Biscane Rum-Inspired Non-Alcoholic Spirit


ISH Mexican Agave Spirit Non-Alcoholic
(Denmark)

Nose: Agave, sweet agave, vegetal, lemon, lemon water, ginger ale, cola, peppermint, spicy white jelly bean, musty, smoke, oak, fresh.
Palate: Pine & pineapple mix, white grape, citrus, grass, herbs, almond, furfural, bitter, light stone, hint of smoke, oak.
Finish: Roasted agave, veggies, sour, meringue, furfural, bitter, dry, wood notes.


Bronze Medal
bronze medal


ISH Mexican Agave Spirit Non-Alcoholic


Rasāsvāda Black Ginger Spirit Restorative
(NY)

Nose: Coffee, coffee beans, coffee grounds, café au lait, cocoa, molasses, iced tea, black licorice, ginger, green pepper, white pepper, sage, dried leaves, mossy, earthy, tobacco, soy sauce.
Palate: Coffee, licorice, ginger root, burnt sugar, peach, grapes, herbal, loose soil, mud, earth, tree bark, bitter, acidic notes, oxidized wine.
Finish: Chocolate, burnt sugar, soy sauce, licorice, ginger, herbs, herbal, old tree bark, bitter.


Bronze Medal
bronze medal


Rasāsvāda Black Ginger Spirit Restorative

 

 


 

 

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