You may have heard me say it before, but I’m a fan of creating cocktails. I like the experience of measuring out the ingredients, stirring or shaking and pouring them into vintage glassware, and serving them on a tray to my guests. So, I am typically skeptical of the idea of a cocktail in a can. But I also respect that we each enjoy the cocktail experience in different ways and have unique taste buds. So please take the time to explore the many non-alcoholic spirits and form your own opinions. But here, I offer one woman’s point of view.
When I first raise my glass of Spiritless Old Fashioned (please at least pour it into a glass!), I smell the aroma of cane. As a long-time, full-proof Old Fashioned (OF) drinker, I have a high bar when someone labels themselves as an alternative. But, the more I experiment with non-alcoholic options, the more I realize the role of alcohol in balancing taste and mouthfeel and the challenge of recreating that in a low-alcohol product. Unfortunately, this OF fell short on the mouthfeel and is best described as a watery cola. Do not worry – I merely see this as a challenge! So I go to my stash of bitters and carefully choose to doctor this up with Bittercube’s Cherry Bark Vanilla bitters. The result? Unfortunately, it didn’t help the flavor.
If you are willing to try this Old Fashioned and form your opinion, it is typically shelved at Total Wine in the States. It does not require refrigeration (although I recommend it), and it contains 45 calories and 10 grams of sugar per can. Plus, it’s labeled as zero-proof. By US guidelines, that equates to less than 0.05% ABV.
I do not give up on any brand due to one experience that doesn’t suit my palette. You may be interested in The Sober Curator’s review of Spiritless Kentucky 74 here. I am a massive fan of Spiritless Kentucky 74 Spiced (it MUST be spiced) in my whiskey sour recipe. Spiritless offers a range of other NA spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails to explore. I must also offer kudos to this women-founded company out of Kentucky, which is pushing through a male-dominated industry and giving back to support programs that foster leadership development among young women. Cheers to that!
THE HAPPY TRAVELER VINTAGE BARS: Kim Parsley met her first hoppy craft beer upon moving to Seattle 30 years ago. It was delight at first smell and love at first sip. As her palate for alcoholic beverages became more sophisticated, she spent many years experimenting with spirit-forward cocktails and grew fond of gins and whiskeys. This was all until a series of heart palpitations and dizzy spells began to impact her hiking and her hobbies. At that point, Kim sought medical help and was advised to give up alcohol. Those were very dirty words! But Kim has been leading a sober life since April 1, 2023, and still enjoys helping others elevate their cocktail experience with her bespoke travel bar curations.
Follow along with Kim in all of the digital places and social spaces:
HAPPY EVERY HOUR: Spiritless Kentucky 74 Is A Beautifully Distilled Non-Alcoholic Spirit Crafted For Bourbon Zero-Proof Cocktails
We know we mix a mean alcohol-free cocktail. HAPPY EVERY HOUR will update you on the latest and most significant trends in NA craft beers, mocktails, and zero-proof beverages.
NA Bevies brings you alcohol-free cocktail recipes, NA beverage reviews, and NA wine & spirit alternatives.
Do you love Non-Alcoholic Craft Beers and the 90s? Then you’re in for a treat! Sober Curator Contributor Justin Lamb is dedicated to tasting great (sometimes not so great) NA beers and showcasing his fantastic collection of memorabilia from the ’90s. Justin has spent countless hours reviewing over a hundred NA Beers so that you don’t have to. Below are the categories of NA Beers Justin has reviewed thus far: Amber, Blonde, Brown Ale, Cream Ale, IPA, Kolsch, Lager, Pale Ale, Pilsner, Porter, Sour, Stout, Wheat, and White Ale
TRIGGER WARNING: People in early sobriety may want to proceed with caution. Always read labels. Please hydrate responsibly … because drunk never looks good.
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