15 Best Non-Alcoholic Gins: Sipping Without the Alcohol (2023)
Last Updated on October 31, 2023 by Lydia Martin
Having sampled numerous non-alcoholic spirits for professional and personal reasons, I’ve found that non-alcoholic gin stood out among others.
It’s a no-brainer that despite their advantages, there are still subpar brands in the non-alcoholic gin market with pretty expensive prices despite their quality.
So, if you’re cutting down on booze yet still yearning for a glass of gin and tonic, here’s a curated list of the best non-alcoholic gin brands worth your money.
Top 15 Non-Alcoholic Gins To Try
1. Monday Zero Alcohol Gin
Average Price: around $40 (Official site)
Nose: Fresh aroma with citrusy and juniper hints
Palate: Juniper with lemon and grapefruit notes
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Why We Like It: Monday Zero Alcohol gin offers a pleasing alcohol-free gin-like savor without the buzz. It’s hard to come by a brand that could offer the same tasting profile of gins, but Monday proves to be a worthy substitute.
Just imagine a watered-down version of gin, where the botanicals, coriander, and citrus are not that strong, but you can savor their presence.
2. NKD LDY Gin Alternative
Average Price: around $35 (Official site)
Nose: Juniper, orange, banana, and a blueberry hint
Palate: Warm with coriander and citrusy notes
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Why We Like It: NKD LDY has a juniper-forward flavor, but the citrusy notes still come through. It is something I like using in a gin-forward cocktail like Martini.
It has a piney juniper and spicy coriander savor, and among other zero-proof gin alternatives, this one does not emit that chlorine-like scent.
3. Lyre’s Dry London Non-Alcoholic Spirit
Average Price: around $36 (Official site)
Nose: Strong juniper and citrusy smell
Palate: Warm and peppery, with a long dry finish
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Why We Like It: Lyre’s Dry London is another excellent non-alcoholic gin alternative that resembles the traditional gin.
“In alcohol’s defense, I’ve done some idiotic shit sober.” – Mark Millar, Comic Book Writer
It was a bit off when I first tried it on cocktails. But eventually, if you’ve practiced more with this alcohol-free gin, it will provide you with almost the same effects as gin but without the buzz.
4. Pentire Seaward
Average Price: around $39 (Official site)
Nose: Zesty, with floral and herbaceous aroma
Palate: Refreshing herbal flavors with saline notes
Star Rating: ★★★★
Why We Like It: It is not exactly a non-alcoholic gin, but it sure captures the botanical flavors of an alcoholic gin. Pentire Seaward used key botanicals like sea rosemary, pink grapefruit, wild seaweed, and more.
I like mixing it with lemon, tonic, and spring of rosemary to make a crisp and delicious non-alcoholic cocktail. It also has saline notes and herbs that add complex flavors to the mocktail.
5. Free Spirits: The Spirit of Gin
Average Price: around $37 (Official site)
Nose: Fresh aroma of coriander, cardamom, and juniper
Palate: Bold flavors with the right bite
Star Rating: ★★★★
Why We Like It: Free Spirits: The Spirit of Gin tastes remarkably well when mixed with ginger beer, tonic, and lime. It has a playful bite and intense citrus flavors, but not overpowering, making it one of the best non-alcoholic gins.
Free Spirits: The Spirit of Gin is suitable to drink straight with just a hint of pepper in the finish. But you can also mix it with other ingredients like grapefruit juice.
6. Ceder’s Classic Distilled Non-Alcoholic
Average Price: around $25 (Official site)
Nose: Floral gin aroma
Palate: Smooth with citric, crisp juniper notes and nutty hints
Star Rating: ★★★★
Why We Like It: This one’s a light alternative to gin. It offers some of the best non-alcoholic spirits in the market, but the Classic is the closest to a gin’s flavors.
I suggest this substitute as a mixer because it has very subtle gin flavors you wouldn’t even enjoy straight.
7. Ritual Zero Proof Gin Alternative
Average Price: around $30 (Official site)
Nose: Pine and juniper aroma
Palate: Crisp and bright with cucumber hint as an aftertaste
Star Rating: ★★★★
Why We Like It: Ritual is refreshing and bright, with lively juniper flavor. It’s versatile enough as an alcohol-free gin alternative, but I can use it for tequila or vodka-based cocktails.
Additionally, it comes with a recyclable bottle, making it an ideal gift choice for someone cutting down on booze but still loves making gin and tonic.
Also Read:
- Top Non-alcoholic Rum Options
- Top Non-alcoholic Vodka Alternatives
- Top Non-alcoholic Whiskey Options
8. Sir James 101 Pink Gin Tonic
Average Price: around $15 per 4-pack of 250 ml (Better Rhodes)
Nose: Raspberry with pomegranate and juniper aroma
Palate: Refined herbs with flavors of red fruit and a light bitter finish
Star Rating: ★★★★
Why We Like It: This product is for those who prefer strong gin flavors. It is one of the best non-alcoholic gins because it resembles gin and tonic, and you might even think you’re drinking actual alcohol.
It’s perfectly fine to drink on its own, but you can still add some light mixer if you’re not into strong juniper taste.
9. ISH Non-Alcoholic Gin
Average Price: around $35 (Drizly)
Nose: Juniper aroma with hints of herbs
Palate: Botanicals, citrus and bitters
Star Rating: ★★★★
Why We Like It: ISH is one of those non-alcoholic gins that offers exactly what you are looking for in a gin. If some brands have aggressive tasting notes or overly chemicals and spice to make up for the alcohol burn, this alternative is different.
It offers a classic gin profile with subtle sweetness and a well-balanced heat at the end.
10. Dhōs Gin-Free Non-Alcoholic Spirit
Average Price: around $28 (Official site)
Nose: Fresh pine and juniper berries
Palate: Warm spices and earth-influenced flavors
Star Rating: ★★★
Why We Like It: Dhōs Gin Free offers an alcohol bite similar to the real deal. It closely resembles an alcoholic gin but with solid pepper notes.
It’s an excellent choice as a non-alcoholic gin, and I prefer to pair it with a tonic rather than drinking it straight.
11. Damrak Virgin 00 Non-Alcoholic Distilled Spirit
Average Price: around $25 (Official site)
Nose: Fresh pineapple with sweet orange hints and delicate aroma
Palate: More concentrated orange hints with a lemon touch
Star Rating: ★★★
Why We Like It: Damrak is one of the best non-alcoholic gins if you use it in cocktails. Although it delivers a gin-forward taste, I still find it watery compared to other non-alcoholic drinks.
It is slightly tart and sweet, but if you mix it in a Martini cocktail, it will have a great refreshing result.
12. Cut Above Gin
Average Price: around $35 (Official site)
Nose: Botanical burst of aroma
Palate: Light and clean with a slight burn
Star Rating: ★★★
Why We Like It: Cut Above Zero Proof Gin is a light and clean drink that is hard to mix with strong-tasting ingredients for mocktails.
Try it with a splash of tonic water and lime wedge, or drink it with ice. It also comes with an adorable bottle, suitable as a gift.
13. Bare Zero Proof Modern Classic Gin
Average Price: around $40 (Official site)
Nose: Cucumber and juniper
Palate: A balanced blend of lemon, cucumber, and juniper
Star Rating: ★★★
Why We Like It: Bare Zero Proof Gin is another excellent alcohol-free substitute for gin-based cocktails. The citrusy notes shine the most here compared to the juniper flavor.
It would suit classic gin cocktails but could get drowned if mixed with stronger ingredients.
14. CleanCo Clean G Gin Alternative
Average Price: around $30 (Official site)
Nose: Aromatic hints of herbs, spices, and juniper
Palate: Crisp and flavorful London Dry Gin profile
Star Rating: ★★★
Why We Like It: CleanCo Clean G Gin is an alcohol-free alternative that offers a delicate and approachable tasting profile. It’s an easy drink, especially if you sip it with ice.
But since it’s light, you can use it with various classic cocktail recipes with ingredients like soda water or cranberry juice.
15. Everleaf Marine Non-Alcoholic Aperitif
Average Price: around $33 per 50 ml (Official site)
Nose: Thyme, bergamot, and fresh sea air
Palate: Bold juniper taste with a clean and crisp profile
Star Rating: ★★★
Why We Like It: Among the best non-alcoholic gin alternatives, Everleaf Marine stands out for its distinctive profile, reminiscent of coastal flavors.
“Various gin styles exist from the London Dry gins as the most famous to the modern options with more approachable profiles.” – Liquor Laboratory
It’s a sophisticated, alcohol-free choice suitable for special gatherings with friends and family. You can serve it straight, but having it in a refreshing cocktail is better.
*Note: The star rating was determined based on a blind test, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. Each product was evaluated on its overall quality, complexity, smoothness, and overall enjoyment.
FAQs
Is there alcohol-free gin that tastes like gin?
Yes, various alcohol-free gins taste like gin, such as NKD LDY and Monday.
Modern gin styles are focused on herbs, citrus, and spices rather than their traditional juniper-forward flavors [1].
Is non-alcoholic gin better for you?
Yes, drinking non-alcoholic gin is better for you. Studies have shown that reducing alcohol intake results in better sleep, overall health improvement, and more money saved [2].
Alcohol-free spirits/drinks are sometimes made with the same process as alcoholic spirits but go through an extra process of removing the alcohol [3]
In Summary
Gin is known for its use of botanicals as its flavoring. Juniper berries are the primary botanical source of gin, but distillers would also add ingredients like cardamom, coriander, citrus, honey, and other flavorings [4].
Some of the best non-alcoholic gins can copy the original flavor of a traditional gin but without the alcohol burn.
In recent years, many people have been switching to alcohol-free spirits due to health concerns and to simply avoid hangovers.
That’s why, with these 15 best non-alcoholic gins, you can enjoy gatherings and celebrations without worrying about the dreaded side effects of alcoholic drinks/spirits.
References:
- https://www.thespruceeats.com/introduction-to-gin-760701
- https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/food/a41830972/non-alcoholic-beer/
- https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/jan/28/zero-proof-spirits-nonalcoholic-drinks-california
- https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/what-is-gin-made-from
