Non-alcoholic drinks

In recent years, the drinks industry has seen a remarkable shift towards low-alcohol drinks and zero-alcohol spirits, responding to a rising consumer demand for mindful, responsible drinking options as well as an eye to general wellness. The purpose is simple: to create a substitute for your favourite spirits, be it whisky, gin, rum, or what have you, but with either very little alcohol, or none at all.

Low-alcohol spirits, which typically contain less than 1.2% ABV (alcohol by volume), and zero-alcohol spirits, which contain no alcohol at all, are crafted to mimic the flavour profiles, aromas, and mouthfeel of their alcoholic counterparts. These will usually lean toward the key flavours required in specific drinks for which those spirits are best known.

For example, popular examples include zero-alcohol gin for a Gin & Tonic, or alcohol-free rum for a Cuba Libre. Despite technical advancements, crafting a zero-alcohol spirit that truly rivals the complexity, aroma, and depth of traditional spirits is a painstaking task. The use of botanicals is crucial here, utilising herbs, spices, roots, and fruits to build layers of flavour that offer a good alternative to conventional spirits.