After the year we’ve just had, 2021 needs to feel good! Locked down, or not, a new year gives us all a chance to begin a-new, create new habits and adopt new rituals. Perhaps you’re thinking about doing a dry January, maybe just cutting down on your vices, whatever your resolution, booze free no longer has to mean buzz free. Gone are the days of settling for soda or spirit imitations, there is a new breed of drinks in town, and it feels pretty good.
This trend of functional drinks started here in the UK with Three Spirit & with Kin Euphorics across the pond. However, in terms of the number of functional drinks brands, America has now managed to take a slight lead. These drinks are packed full of functional ingredients from adaptogens, nootropics, herbs and plants, they’re all designed to replicate the moods and feelings that we usually associate with booze as well as ones that we’ve never felt before.
It’s a new category within a category, and one we believe is only going to grow, but do they really work? And how do they actually make you feel? Let’s find out…
Ghia
What does it taste like?
Not unlike an Italian aperitif, Ghia’s structure is built around grapes – although, curiously, it uses the Riesling variety more widely associated with Italy’s Teutonic neighbour. But maybe this shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that vermouth is supposed to have german origins. Flavour wise, this most certainly isn’t a misstep either. Gentle notes of lush apricots and persimmon are expertly countered with spices, a gentle bitterness and the Riesling grape’s signature counterpoints of gasoline, white flowers, beeswax and lychee.
What does it feel like?
Bitter gentian calms the stomach, whilst the soothing influence of lemon balm mellows the mind. Ghia is gentle on the palate, and a great little journey.
What’s in it?
Riesling grapes, gentian root, lemon balm, yuzu, figs, elderflowers and orange peel.
Ghia embodies the flavours of an eclectic global summer, with nods to the Mediterranean, England, Germany and Japan which is reflected across its ingredients. Think of it as a deliciously modern aperitivo, minus the booze.
What does the brand itself say about its drinks?
The founder, Melanie, spent her childhood summers near the Mediterranean, where Aperitivo is a way of life.
Ghia aims to transport you to a space that’s about simple pleasures. It’s about being together. Connecting. Letting loose. Laughing. Savoring great music and even better friends.They want to make a drink that can take you to this place without numbing the night; a drink you’ll remember in the morning.
What do we say?
Ghia is early in its journey, but we like where it’s going… a lot!
Three Spirit
What does it taste like?
With three unique drinks, designed to enhance your night from start to finish, Three Spirit certainly takes you on a rollercoaster of journey into their unique flavours and feelings.
Livener:
Fierce, fiery and bursting with flavour – enjoy the intoxicating combination of watermelon, guava and ginger. You can feel the bitter notes of ginseng and floral green herbs combining for a lingering dry finish of rich tannins, hibiscus and a tongue-tingling heat.
Social Elixir:
Bittersweet, with a curious savoury bite – Social Elixir combines bright, dry spices with rich, complex dark apple and cacao notes to create a flavour you’ve never experienced and one you’ll never forget.
Nightcap:
Wrap yourself in decadence as flavours of wood, bright spices and citrus herbs give way to mellow aromatics and black pepper, before finishing with the smoothness of maple, rich vanilla and hazelnut.
What does it feel like?
Livener:
An invigorating elixir and the perfect party pick-me-up. Expect to be primed and ready to go! Energised from guayusa, guava leaf and green tea and fired up from the palate-stimulating schisandra berries, ginseng and apple cider vinegar.
Social Elixir:
Gets you feeling a little floaty and flirty from damiana, tulsi and cacao which combine to lift spirits and reduce inhibitions. After three doses, you’ll be the life and soul of the party!
Nightcap:
The relaxing influence of lemon balm, valerian and hops soothe the mind, whilst adaptogenic ashwagandha eases stress to help you unwind.
What’s in it?
Livener:
Watermelon, pomegranate molasses, hibiscus, guava leaf, schisandra berry, Siberian and Panax ginseng, Ilex guayusa, green tea including natural caffeine and L-Theanine, apple cider vinegar and black carrot.
Social Elixir:
Agave, caraway seed, damiana leaf, lion’s mane mushroom, yerba mate, passionflower, tulsi, cacao bean, green tea, coconut vinegar, blackstrap molasses, black carrot, vitamins; B3, B6, B7, B12 and C!
Nightcap:
Melon Hüll hops, robust maple sap, lemon balm, turmeric root, ashwagandha, white willow bark, vanilla, valerian, liquorice root, ginger, Himalayan salt and vitamin C!
What does the brand itself say about its drinks?
We’re on a mission to enhance the way people socialise by offering a choice where there was none. So alcohol-free doesn’t have to be pleasure-free. We’re exploring nature’s unrealised ability to free the human spirit. Feeding it. Enhancing it. Elevating it.
We’re not interested in the drunken you. Or the sober you. We believe in a third way. That opens pathways. Explores what lies beneath. Connects. Touches. Tastes. Self indulges and unashamedly remembers. Three Spirit doesn’t take away, it enriches.
What do we say?
Three Spirit believes in a third way, somewhere between drinking and not drinking. The focus is on what is in the drink not what is removed, as well as investing in scientific research of what is in their drink. Their drinks are formulated by plant scientists, bartenders and herbalists. Each drink tastes delicious on its own and also in cocktails (even if we do say so ourselves).
bonbuz
What does it taste like?
Whilst bonbuz hasn’t actually launched yet, it’s meant to pack a bitter punch, with nostalgic notes of cola and a combination of tart citrus and earthiness. It’s most definitely designed for mixing rather than slow sipping.
What does it feel like?
A clear, focused buzz. bonbuz contains clean caffeine, adaptogens and nootropics to help you feel more centred, within your moment. It also contains active compounds, amino acids and vitamins.
What’s in it?
Nootropics such as 5-htp and natural caffeine, from green tea, that provide brain boosting benefits by enhancing mental clarity, creativity and motivation. Amino acids such as l-tyrosine, used in every cell of your body to build the proteins you need to survive and sustain bountiful energy levels. It also contains adaptogens that help your mind and body to handle stress and fatigue.
What does the brand itself say about its drinks?
Drinking culture needs a radical shift and that’s where bonbuz comes in! It stimulates the mind and body, by delivering the natural power of adaptogens, nootropics and amino acids for social hype and lucid moments, without the toxic additives and hangover.
What do we say?
bonbuz calls itself “the first functional alcohol-free social spirit” but there seem to be a fair few on the market already… it’ll be interesting to see how they differentiate themselves from the competition.
Proposition
What does it taste like?
Very much the finished article, Proposition is ready to drink but benefits from a touch of ice or a little bit of time in the chiller. This whole range of drinks is made up of herbal riffs on classics, from margaritas to spritzes and mules, there really is a drink for everyone here.
What does it feel like?
Packed full of adaptogenic compounds, Proposition aims to bust stress and mellow you out.
What’s in it?
Proposition comes in three flavours:
– Bitter Blood Orange Aperitif (like a spritz)
– Smokey Margarita (like a mezcal margarita without the hangover)
– And the Turmeric Ginger Mule (a delicious herbal twist on the classic)
All of the drinks contain hemp extract for an added boost, as well as a wide range of organically sourced ingredients designed to taste good and make you feel even better.
What does the brand itself say about its drinks?
Designed to arouse the palate and titillate the senses, Proposition makes non-intoxicating social lubricants made from organically-sourced “feel good” botanicals, herbs, fruits, and spices found in modern cocktails (only with way fewer calories and no headache in the morning).
What do we say?
For sheer convenience, expert blending and sustainable sourcing – Proposition is a definite win.
Organic ingredients that nourish the mind and body definitely make these ready to drink cocktails perfect for people who fancy a little boost at any time of the day.
Aplós
What does it taste like?
Citrus led, with notes of ginger and rosemary – Aplós makes an excellent alternative to spirits, in a variety of cocktails. Bright botanicals, backed by the warming influence of ginger, are guaranteed to revitalise your spirit.
What does it feel like?
A lovely sensory experience, Aplós is more delicate in its instantaneous effect than some of the other ‘functional’ non-alcoholic spirits out there. Broad spectrum hemp is purported to bring a mellow feeling of calm, after less than half an hour of drinking Aplós.
What’s in it?
Nano emulsified hemp extract (using high-tech processes to break the hemp oil into much easier to absorb tiny particles called micelles) brings the function, alongside rosemary, ginger and citrus.
What does the brand itself say about its drinks?
Aplós was designed to replicate the ritual of drinking a spirit. With 20 mg of broad-spectrum hemp per serving, it offers a calming and uplifting effect without the negative effects of alcohol.
What do we say?
Created in collaboration with master mixologist Lynette Marerro using bio-dynamically grown hemp, from New York’s Hudson valley, it’s carefully processed to ensure maximum absorption of the active ingredients. Aplós is a perfect companion to any evening that requires an extra uplift or some much desired calm.
Sentia
What does it taste like?
Sentia is an alcohol-free Spirit, comprising GABA Labs ABI; a proprietary blend of Active Botanical Ingredients, comprised of Indian Ayurvedic, Western and Traditional Chinese botanicals. It hasn’t launched just yet but apparently it’s set to taste of sensual florals, gentian, tulsi and aronia with a long, rich bittersweet spiced berry finish.
What does it feel like?
The GABA experience is renowned for a sense of lightness, relaxation and sociability.
What’s in it?
The full list of ingredients hasn’t been announced yet but we’ll let you know when it is!
What does the brand itself say about its drinks?
There is a moment when you’re drinking where everything just ‘clicks’. Sentia was developed to capture that moment and let you hold it, without the smear of glazed eyes, and painful mornings after.
What do we say?
It’ll be interesting to see how this booze alternative pans out with GABA as its main USP, given its contentious history.
Kin
What does it taste like?
High Rhode:
Tart and herbaceous, High Rhode plays best when mixed into cocktails. The bitter notes of the nootropics are balanced by earthy florals and bright fruit notes that are mellowed by gentian root and licorice, to make a vast array of cocktails. Use it like you would any Italian aperitif, it’s surprisingly versatile and confidently sugar free.
Dream Light:
Dream Light, like it’s sibling High Rhode, is designed to be mixed. Resembling a chai in structure, punctuated by earthy notes of mushroom and sophisticated notes of oak. Think, spiced tea in a peaceful forest. Dream Light makes particularly good hot drinks, almost like chai but with the benefits of vitamins, minerals, nootropics, adaptogens and natural sleep aids!
Kin Spritz:
Our favourite of the bunch, Kin Spritz is exactly what it says on the tin. Low in sugar and led by fruit-forward floral notes from hibiscus, it boasts a pleasantly fresh lift from citrus and ginger that blends happily with Kin’s bitter, herbal backbone.
What does it feel like?
Dream Light:
Drinkers have reported having a gentle mellow feeling, and a more restful sleep – Kim attribute this to Melatonin, passionflower and a plethora of other compounds.
High Rhode & Kin Spritz:
A calm positive lift, gentle and considered. This is a real blend of your first cup of green tea and (for those who drink) the first glass of red wine.
What’s in it?
High Rhode
GABA, 5-HTP, Caffeine and tyrosine as well as liquorice, gentian, hibiscus and orange peels.
Dream Light:
Reishi mushroom, melatonin, Vitamin B6, Oak, clove, ginger, cinnamon, and chili as well as amino acids, passionflower, liquorice and saffron.
Kin Spritz:
Similar to High Rhode, the Spritz has a little more citrus and the lovely addition of ginger, for a drink much more catered for enjoying on its own.
What does the brand itself say about its drinks?
Kin Euphorics deliver a menu of mood-defining drinks, designed to elevate the spirit and relax the body, for a pleasure you won’t regret.
What do we say?
Suited for mixing, Kin does a great job of creating drinks for when you need a little boost – and equally for when you want to kick back, relax, and rest.
Artet
(we understand that Artet contains cannabis extracts and so may not be for you or legal for you to consume in your locality. We thank you for your discretion and appreciate you obeying the law 🙂)
What does it taste like
Anything as terpene heavy as Artet is bound to be supremely delicious – all the good bits of a vermouth, meets all the good bits of a gin. This is complimented by the most delicious aspects of your favourite American pale ale and your go to Cali Mary Jane.
What does it feel like?
Artet is a little different to the rest of the drinks that we’ve listed in that it contains compounds that are also intoxicating. With 2.5 mg of THC per serving, a few too many drinks of Artet work out much like any other edible cannabis product but, let’s be clear about it, Artet’s THC doses are gentle and steady as long as you stick to their recommended serving sizes. What’s more, Artet doesn’t skimp on flavour. After all, the teepees in cannabis are also dominant in other more familiar beverages – from the hops in beer to the juniper and coriander seed in gin.
Try Artet in any drink that calls for a Negroni or Spritz. Are you going to swap out the tin, the Campari or the Vermouth? That’s your call, Artet takes flavour cues from all three.
What’s in it?
A healthy dose of cannabis leads the charge, supported by 8 other botanicals a little more familiar to the world of aperitifs. We’d recommend Artet for those seeking a more traditional cannabis based high, but with a faster acting, more accommodating high than traditional edibles.
What does the brand itself say about its drinks?
Unlike traditional aperitifs, Artet is non-alcoholic and cannabis infused. Each batch is a blend of cannabis and eight botanicals, that work in harmony to make Artet delicious on the rocks, intriguing when mixed, and always enjoyed in good company.
What do we say?
Artet leads the charge in ‘grown up’ cannabis based beverages. Sophisticated, refined and more about appreciating good company and savouring alternative states than following ‘canehead’ stereotypes. Artet’s flavours and functionality are good, clean and undeniably green. Try this one in any of your favourite cocktails, it’s perfect as a mixer and a modifier!
So, there you have it. With such a wide range of feelings and flavours to choose from, it looks like not drinking just got interesting! And, with the functional market on the rise, drinking less is no longer a chore but has, instead, become an opportunity to discover new and exciting experiences. Dry January never sounded so appealing.
