ANON Drinks guide to Non-Alcoholic Spirits: everything you need to know

The term ‘non-alcoholic spirit’ refers to both distilled botanicals which have been filtered to remove the alcohol, and macerated and extracted flavours and botanicals made without alcohol.

• In either case the ABV (alcohol by volume) content of a non-alcoholic spirit is below 0.5% .
• By comparison the minimum ABV of an alcoholic spirit is 15% and often rises well above 40%.

You should also bear in mind that many everyday foods also contain alcohol – you might be surprised by some of these :

• burger rolls – 1.28% ABV
• banana (very ripe with dark sections) – 0.4% ABV
• pear (ripe) – 0.04% ABV

What do non-alcoholic spirits taste and smell like?

There is a huge number of different brands in the marketplace, all of whom are trying to re-create the taste and smell of their alcohol equivalent, and many others trying to create a unique taste and flavour for their drinks. (e.g Seedlip, Everleaf, Wildjac)

With some alcoholic drinks (e.g. gin, whisky) where there are so many varieties produced it is often hard for a non-alcoholic producer to select one particular style, whereas with other drinks (e.g aperol, rum) the flavour characteristic of the alcoholic drinks can be created using natural flavourings and botanicals.

Why are they so expensive – sometimes more than their alcohol equivalent ?

To explore the costs of non-alcoholic drinks, it's important to consider all the costs that go into making the product. These including the cost of sourcing the ingredients, the glass, transportations costs, fixed overheads such as the rent on a brewery and other extras such as marketing costs. Most of these will be very similar to the costs of producing an alcoholic drink and may even be smaller when you consider economies of scale some companies can use to make savings.

The low and non-alcoholic market is full of artisan brands that are looking to make a quality product. Brands are using many different natural flavourings and extracts to add unique flavour profiles to their products. This pushes their products into the premium space and this is reflected in the price.

 
What are the best non-alcoholic cocktails?

Mocktails have been around since the 1930s. It’s believed that the Shirley Temple was one of the first non-alcoholic drinks created and you’ll probably find quite the heated debate amongst professionals over who actually made it first. It wasn’t until the ‘80s however that the term ‘mocktail’ was coined in a magazine advert and the phrase stuck!

Over the last year, mocktails have soared in popularity, with trend-spotters calling 2020 the ‘Year of the Mocktail’. And with major supermarket players like Waitrose reporting a 180% rise in the sale of non-alcoholic beverages year on year it’s easy to see why. The cause of this popularity rise is all thanks to the ‘Dry January’ challenge, a month-long sobriety challenge which prompted many to make permanent lifestyle changes as part of a longer term health and wellness movement.

Switching to Non-Alcoholic Spirits for your next cocktail party? Check out these recipes! 

Bittersweet Spritz

1. 50ml ANON Bittersweet Aperitif
2. 100ml Alc free Prosecco/Tonic/Soda water
3. Slice of orange
4. Plenty of ice

Spiced Cane cooler

1. 50ml ANON Spiced Cane
2. 100ml Lemonade
3. Fresh mint
4. Wedge of lime
5. Plenty of ice

English Garden

1. 50ml ANON English Garden
2. 100ml Lemonade
3. Slice of cucumber, orange, strawberry and mint
4. Plenty of ice

The possibilities are endless when it comes to cocktails made with non-alcoholic spirits! 

For more recipes >>

What is alcohol-free?

There is a lot of confusion about what "alcohol-free" actually means. The term can be used to describe anything from drinks that contain no alcohol whatsoever, to beverages that have been watered down so much that they contain only a tiny percentage of alcohol.

The most accurate definition is probably the one provided by the UK's Department for Transport: "a drink which contains less than 0.05% ABV (alcohol by volume)". This means that any drink with an ABV lower than 0.05% is considered alcohol-free.

A number of companies now produce non-alcoholic spirits, which are designed to replicate the taste and experience of drinking regular spirits but without the alcohol content. These products can be a great alternative for people who want to avoid alcohol for health or lifestyle reasons or those who are driving and don't want to risk getting pulled over for drink-driving.

If you're looking for an alcohol-free alternative to beer or wine, there are a number of options available. Non-alcoholic beers are becoming increasingly popular, and there are now many different brands and styles to choose from. There are also a growing number of wine producers that make alcohol-free wines, which can be enjoyed on their own or as part of a meal.