6 Non-Alcoholic Drinks That Have Found A Welcome Home At Bars

Dry January is officially over, and as we approach the innevitable Super Bowl party, some might mark the end of the month-long challenge by kicking back with a favorite drink. Others, however, may not be in such a rush to break their streak. Whether focusing on their health goals, want to save money or just generally cutting back on their drinking, more people are reevaluating their drinking habits and finding themselves “sober curious”.

Now, 21+ adults are beginning to use alcohol differently — trading cocktails for mocktails and hard seltzers for sparkling water and other non-alcoholic brews, apertifs and spirits, a market which continues to grow. Therefore, bars and restaurants can now offer a wider variety of non-alcoholic options as more people, especially Millennial and Gen Z consumers, express interest in “alcohol adjacent” products.

These days, not drinking doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a night out with friends, although sometimes it can be hard to overcome social pressure. Even the best intentions (“I’ll just have one!”) can turn into a morning headache. So to help you stay sober-committed, avoid unwanted questions or just enjoy an alcohol-free evening, here are six non-alcoholic beverages that you can order at the bar that “blend in” with their alcoholic counterparts.

Rambler Sparkling Water

Ordering water at the bar doesn’t mean settling for something bland or tasteless — Rambler Sparking Water has all the flavor with none of the bad stuff. This Texas-made mineral water contains no sugar or calories and is infused with calcium, magnesium, and potassium, thanks to Rambler’s proprietary limestone filtration system. While it’s definitely not a beer, Rambler’s carbonation levels and vintage beer can-inspired packaging make it look and drink like one, helping it achieve a cult-like status among fans.

In fact, Rambler’s story is surprisingly ale-adjacent; the idea for the sparkling mineral water was conceived at an Austin dive bar and music venue, and the first-ever Rambler was made at Austin Beerworks, one of Texas’ most successful craft breweries. The brand sold its first six packs (yes, six packs) to bars and restaurants throughout the city.

It’s deeply connected to Austin, but just like its name suggests, it can’t stay in one place. The brand has grown exponentially since its founding in 2018, making it an easy, reliable order at whatever watering hole you’re in. Plus, it’s available in six flavors: original, lemon-lime, satsuma, blackberry, grapefruit, and new wild cherry, so you can switch up your drink throughout the night without switching up your goals.

Here are a few Rambler mocktail recipes to try this weekend for the Big Game:

Alcohol-Free Paloma

Rambler Grapefruit

1.5 oz grapefruit juice

Honey

Lime wedge garnish

Sober Curious Satsuma

Rambler Satsuma

1.5 oz aperitivo (like Ghia, see below)

Simple syrup

Orange wedge garnish

Nojito

Rambler Lemon-Lime

Sugar cube and mint muddled

Lime juice

Lemon wedge and mint garnish

Best Day Brewing

Gone are the days when ordering a non-alcoholic beer meant compromising on flavor or style. Many well-known brands are launching NA versions of their beers, but if you love a good craft brew or don’t want to stick to just one style throughout the night, Northern California’s Best Day Brewing has the near-beer for you.

The brand’s permanent lineup of craft non-alcoholic beers includes a light and crisp Kölsch, a hoppy Hazy IPA, a classic West Coast IPA, and a Mexican-style Electro-Lime Cerca de Cerveza, with seasonal releases like a Galaxy Ripple double IPA available for a limited time. Best Day Brewing’s ethos is that “life is chock-full of moments that deserve a great beer, but not the booze,” making it an ideal choice for a no-alcohol evening. And with its cool, colorful can, the brand gets bonus points for blending in while standing out.

Spiritless

There are a lot of good mocktails out there, but if your go-to bar order is a spirit-forward cocktail like an old fashioned, you might think you’re out of luck when it comes to non-alcoholic options. Enter Spiritless. The female-founded brand not only offers non-alcoholic bourbon, whiskey, and tequila (Kentucky 74, Kentucky 74 Spiced, and Jalisco 55, respectively), but also a line of canned non-alcoholic cocktails. With Spiritless, you’re really free to order whatever drink you’d like, sans alcohol.

Led by three entrepreneurial women from Louisville, Spiritless is at the forefront of the no-and-low-proof cocktail movement. Kentucky 74 has been recognized as the Best Non-Alcoholic Spirit at the LA Spirits Awards and has received multiple IWSC awards for its notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak so you can be sure you’re just giving up alcohol, not flavor.

Spiritless Touchdown Mule

2 oz. Spiritless Kentucky 74

¼ oz. Lime Juice

4 oz. Owen’s Ginger Beer

Combine all ingredients in a mule mug and top with ginger beer. Gently stir and garnish with a lime wheel.

Ghia

If you’re looking for something a little more Aperol spritz-esqe, Ghia will be your go-to choice for your NA nights. Inspired by founder and CEO Melanie Masarin’s childhood summers in the Mediterranean, this non-alcoholic drink was created as an alternative to the traditional apértif. Ghia’s started out with the Original Apértif, a bright and fresh bitter apertif with flavors of Japanese yuzu, lemon balm, orange and rosemary extract, with a slightly bitter and savory finish.

With the original’s resounding success, the brand launched a large-format, bubbly beverage last September. Le Spritz sparkling apértifs are bottled in a 750ml wine bottle and sealed with a crown cap like a pet-nat. The first flavor launch was Strawberry Orange Blossom, a beverage with natural tannins from berry and citrus.

Le Spritz now also comes in cans, in flavors including Ghia Soda, Ghia Ginger, Lime and Salt, and Sumac and Chili. All are vegan, gluten-free, and caffeine-free, with no artificial flavors or added sugars, so you can be sure you won’t sabotage any health goals or sober resolutions. Poured into a glass, Ghia will definitely blend in with the other drinks on the table, but the can is so chic you just might want to show it off.

I Love Yuzu

2 oz Ghia

.5 oz simple syrup

.5 oz yuzu juice

1.5 oz sparkling water

Yuzu or shiso leaf for garnish

Mix Ghia with yuzu juice and simple syrup. Add a splash of sparkling water in a low ball glass. Stir and serve on the rocks with a yuzu leaf as garnish.

HOWDY

According to the Associated Press, a new study shows that daily cannabis use now outpaces daily drinking in the U.S. So, if you’re one of those folks who is California sober curious, say howdy to HOWDY — and yes, it’s from Texas.

The 100% hemp-derived seltzer is designed to integrate seamlessly into whatever social drinking situation you find yourself, and is available in 2.5mg and 5mg doses of delta 9-derived THC so you can find a better buzz. It comes in four “classic cowboy” flavors —ranch water, Paloma, sweet tea, and lemonade — so you can enjoy the taste of your favorite cocktail without worrying about the hangover effects of alcohol.

Its “fast-acting but not too long-lasting formula” makes it so you don’t feel left out from your group, and you can have as few or as many as you’d like. Crack open one for happy hour or sip round after round on a night out with your posse. Not only is it available in bars throughout the Lone Star State, but is also available to ship nationwide.

De Soi

Co-founded by Katy Perry and award-winning Master Distiller Morgan McLachlan (or AMASS fame), De Soi is (pronounced de swa) is a line of sparkling non-alcoholic apéritifs led by CEO Scout Brisson, who was recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30.

Crafted with all natural botanicals and adaptogens, De Soi contains no artificial colors or flavors, are gluten free and vegan, and come in ready-to-sip convenient cans. They come in four styles: Golden Hour, which is bright and bracing, with notes of warm citrus, pear, and leafy herbs ; Spritz Italiano, with sweet and bitter citrus, white grape and gentian root; Très Rosé, a crisp and refreshing sip with raspberry and rooibos; and Purple Lune, which is rich and delicate, with notes of tart cherry, blackberry nectar, vanilla oak and rose petals.

All are infused with pure extracts of functional lion’s mane and reishi mushrooms and l-theanine for extra feel good benefits. They are available at select bars and retailers, as well as online.

No matter your reason for going without alcohol, choosing one of these five options will ensure you’re just ditching the negative effects and not flavor or fun.