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BATH, ME - AUGUST 29: Non-alcoholic cocktail, The Sour Mayor, at Linden + Front in Bath. (Staff photo by Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
Hi, Hoddlers! You get me again today, I guess.
A while ago, back when I was still doing player ratings on here (they’re coming back next season, don’t worry), I did a rating to non-alcoholic beers, as I was just tipping my toes into the world of n/a drinks as I grappled with “involuntary medical sobriety.” Well, I have the same issues and I’m now “voluntarily medically sober” – haven’t had a drink since December, 2025. I do miss some things about drinking – the ritual, mostly, but I do really love whiskey – but I do like having experiences without the crutch of alcohol getting involved. Plus, alcohol is a carcinogen, and I’d really like this cancer to not get any worse if I can help it.
I’ve done beer, but I’ve also started sampling and (mostly) enjoying n/a “spirits”, and some of them are actually pretty good! Science still hasn’t managed to make a n/a whiskey that actually tastes like whisky, but there are a bunch of herbal extractions and especially Italian(ish) amaros that I’m really coming to enjoy.
Here are a few things I’ve tried lately, thanks to a membership at thezeroproof.com. Anyone else have recommendations?
The Pathfinder
This is the first n/a spirit that I really loved from the very first sip. It’s an herbal amaro, kinda? Dark, funky, herbal, slightly spicy, hemp-based with notes of wormwood, ginger, orange, and pine. I love it on ice with a slice of lemon, but it’s equally good in a highball, or neat. It’s not exactly like fernet branca, but it’s also not NOT like it, y’know? Recommended.
Lapo’s Apertivo
Looking for a non-alcoholic Campari? You’ve got plenty to choose from, but this is one I’ve enjoyed. Bitter, herbal, citrus notes. You can make a mean phony negroni with this, and it’s beautiful in a highball with a couple dashes of orange bitters.
De Soi Spritz Italiano
OK, want something in a can you can throw in the fridge or a cooler for the beach or whatever occasion you want? This n/a spritz is one of the better ones I’ve tried lately. Small bottles, craft reputation, and not exactly cheap, it’s not an “everyday can” but if you don’t want a beer but still want something portable, this is a good choice.
Lucano Amaro Zero
Another bitter herbal concoction, but this leans into a different flavor profile, with notes of myrtle, citrus, and rosemary. It’s quite nice, but hard to find in my area.
Gnista Barrelled Oak Bourbon Style
Remember how I said science hadn’t discovered how to make a n/a whisky that tastes like whisky? Well, they still haven’t. Gnista is trying to fill that gap, but it’s not especially close. You get some similar notes in a dram of this — wood, chocolate, smoke — but it’s emphatically NOT whisky. I don’t particularly enjoy it straight or even on ice. If you try this with an open mind and aren’t expecting WHISKY, you can probably find some fun n/a cocktail applications for this stuff. After trying it, I think I’ll wait for science to catch up.
Song of the Day: “Halfway to Mexico” (Abigail Lapell)
Today’s Football Links
Somehow Manchester City still hasn’t appointed Pep Guardiola’s long-lost twin brother Enzo Maresca as manager yet, but they still intend to. (BBC)
Scotland fans have left Boston and have now invaded Miami. Apparently 8k fans are attending a Marlins game tomorrow? (Miami Herald)
Rade Bogvanovich made a really offensive and racist comment on Serbian TV about black footballers, and has been forced to apologize. That’s the least he should do. (The Guardian)
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