ANNAMARIE HIGLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME
Pros:
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Cool, trendy branding
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Celebrity-owned
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Fun, fancy-feeling flavor combinations
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Good for mixing with spirits or other NA sippers
Cons:
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Most expensive on the list
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Each can only contains 8 fluid ounces
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Unusual flavors that might not appeal to all
Calling all bon vivants! This bougie beverage, created by Katy Perry and co-founder Morgan McLachlan, makes you feel like you’re at a fancy cocktail lounge every time you crack a can. I preferred some flavors to others (the Très Rosé and Golden Hour varieties were my favorites), but all of them excited, tantalized—and delivered. For example, even though the Purple Lune wasn’t for me, I truly could taste the blackberry notes and vanilla oak.
These drinks are slightly more viscous than others and quite pricey for an 8-ounce can. For both these reasons, I think they’re great candidates for mixing, so keep them stocked on your bar cart. Add a splash of soda water or non-alcoholic spirits for a sophisticated happy-hour treat.
ANNAMARIE HIGLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME
Pros:
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Light, fresh and drinkable
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Flavors still shine through amidst the hops
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Readily available in stores and online
Cons:
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More akin to a seltzer than a cocktail
If you’ve been in the sober game for a while, you’re likely no stranger to Athletic Brewing Co., known for its non-alcoholic beers. Well, I’m a fan of the company’s line of hops-infused sparkling waters, too.
After trying Daypacks for myself, I was impressed by the balance of the hops, an admittedly potent ingredient, with the fruit flavors. Amidst that signature bitterness, the blood orange, mango and black cherry shined through—and complemented it. (The mango is my pick, btw!)
ANNAMARIE HIGLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME
Pros:
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Flavors mimic those of fan-favorite cocktails
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Intended to uplift, balance and de-stress
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Readily available in stores and online
Cons:
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Requires some zhuzhing for best results
Margaritas, mules, mojitos, oh my! Recess Zero Proof does them all and more. Although Recess mocktails don’t contain CBD like the brand’s other offerings, they are still designed to uplift, balance and de-stress due to the inclusion of hemp and adaptogens.
More than that, they’re also designed to mimic the flavors of classic cocktails. To me, the grapefruit paloma was the biggest success, though they were all pretty darn tasty. Because of the lack of bubbles, I’d recommend transferring these drinks from the can to a cocktail glass, adding ice and topping with complementary garnishes, like muddled mint or a salty rim.
Annamarie Higley For Taste of Home
What to Look for When Buying Non-Alcoholic Canned Cocktails
There are a few considerations when buying non-alcoholic canned cocktails. If you’re drinking NA beverages out of necessity, you might want to choose those that taste closest to the real deal, like, say, Recess Zero Proof or De Soi. If you’re opting to be alcohol-free of your own accord, any tasty, bubbly drink might do the trick. You’ll also want to factor in price, especially if you plan to crack open a can on a daily basis. Lastly, take stock of your personal preferences. Are you team fruity drinks or more unusual botanical beverages?
Why You Should Trust Us
As the shopping team’s designated expert in the food and drink space, I’ve sipped my way through dozens of beverages, both alcoholic and non, in personal and professional settings alike. I conducted the test of prebiotic and probiotic sodas for Taste of Home, as well as coordinated and partook in the test of wine delivery services. I’ve also served on the Taste of Home testing panel for rosé, light beers, alcoholic seltzers, kombucha and more. I’m well acquainted with what’s on the market, and it is my mission to identify which are the best.
How We Found the Best Non-Alcoholic Canned Cocktails
I found the best non-alcoholic cocktails by identifying top-selling brands among our audience as well as the broader public, acquiring samples (in as many flavors as possible!), and then trying them out for myself. While sampling this collection of drinks, I considered different consumer needs, preferences, tastes, prices, accessibility and more. I cut those that didn’t check one or more of these boxes, leaving me with a list that I’m confident will have something for aspiring and veteran non-drinkers alike.
FAQs
What are popular cocktails without alcohol?
Some of the most popular alcohol-free cocktails include non-alcoholic mulled wine, non-alcoholic gin and tonic and virgin piña colada.
What are the easiest non-alcoholic cocktails to make?
You can use fruit juices and sparkling water to make punches, spritzes and mojitos. You can also make or buy flavored syrups like lavender or elderflower, top with tonic water or club soda and garnish with a rosemary sprig or mint leaf.
Where can I find non-alcoholic drink recipes?
Taste of Home has a ton of non-alcoholic drink recipes. Some of our favorites are Blood Orange Punch and Watermelon Spritzer.
What are some good non-alcoholic drinks to order at a bar?
If you’re out at a bar and want to order a non-alcoholic drink, some yummy options are an Arnold Palmer (iced tea and lemonade), a Shirley Temple (sprite and grenadine syrup) and a Cinderella (club soda, grenadine, lemon juice, orange juice and pineapple juice).
Additional research contributed by Madi Koetting, former Taste of Home Product Reviews Home Editor