Non-Alcoholic Spirits 2022
 

Best Non-Alcoholic Spirits - 2022

 

The Fifty Best Non-Alcoholic Spirits Tasting 2022


The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 18 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


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


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


ArKay Alcohol-Free Bourbon Whisky
(Mexico/Texas)

Nose: Burnt caramel, flat cola, cherry, vanilla, corn, grain, allspice, furfural, maybe peat, wood, new wood, oak, rich.
Palate: Vanilla, flat cola, peach, pimento, pepper, hot pepper, capsaicin, spicy, tobacco, tree bark, wood, oak, corn whiskey, watery mouthfeel, chemical, artificial.
Finish: Almond milk, white pepper, red pepper, chili, spicy, sawdust, wood shavings, chemical, not balanced.


Silver Medal
Silver medal


ArKay Alcohol-Free Bourbon Whisky


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

ArKay Alcohol-Free Gin
(Mexico/Texas)

Nose: Lime, lemon water, bergamot, Sprite, Mountain Dew, Kool-Aid, bubblegum, nougat, licorice, mint, juniper, coriander, pepper, peat, resin, oak.
Palate: Lime, sweet gum, licorice, mint, Mentos, grass, pine needles, peppery, earth.
Finish: Lime zest, citrus, mint, menthol, pine, peppery, black pepper, talcum powder.


Bronze Medal
bronze medal



ArKay Alcohol-Free Gin


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


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


ArKay Alcohol-Free Vodka
(Mexico/Texas)

Nose: White chocolate, toffee, butter, vanilla, cotton candy, nougat, marzipan, strawberry candy, potpourri, corn, sourdough, grain, wet grain, cashew, nuts.
Palate: Diluted strawberry juice, gum, almond soap, butter, cashew, pine, touch of spice, hot pepper, capsaicin, hot, watery, metallic, no depth, not much more than bitterness.
Finish: Light grain, dry rocks, sand paper, menthol, green chili, jalapeño, hot, lingering spice.


Bronze Medal
bronze medal


ArKay Alcohol-Free Vodka


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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