Non Alcoholic ‘Spirits’

[JeannieJo]

Hi - can anyone recommend a really nice non-alcoholic drink please? I usually like gin, so anything that might be a bit like that and would go with tonic would be good, thanks!

You can get some decent alcohol free gins (I like to see what's available when I go out so I don't have to commit to a whole bottle, and also like to try out individual cans) but my favourite things to drink with tonic are Mother Root and Pentire Coastal, even though neither of them are at all like fun. Mother Root is vinegar based which sounds grim but actually works really well because the vinegar gives it a very similar mouth feel to alcohol.

A few friends have said that the Gordons AF gin is good. x

I like the Tanqueray Flor de Seville AF gin, or Pentire Adrift. The Tanqueray has a hint of orange to it, and Adrift has a herby, coastal feel to it.

Whatever you go for, use the nicest gin glass you can find, and plenty of ice. The feel and sound of a nice glass with tinkling ice cubes go a long way!

I like Mother Root a lot, also Botivo is quite nice too. You can get the latter in a can to try it without having to shell out on a bottle.

Botivo is my favourite. It’s a bitter aperitif. I like it with tonic and lemon.

I also enjoy Mother Root, though I’d probably call that more a cordial than a spirit.

Sentia Gold is also excellent and I have that with tonic or Schweppes ginger ale.

The Gordon's pink 0% is really nice and on special offer at the mo in waitrose too

Feragia and Talonmore are favourites with me, they work with tonic or ginger ale but you really only need a little splash and not the 25/50ml measure they suggest. I don’t mind Gordon’s AF but generally find the drinks that aren’t trying to be an AF version of something else work better.

Bottivo is really nice - you can buy it in Waitrose and Majestic. Tastes like orange bitters but more botanical than aperol, goes well with Mediterranean tonic. I often have it on holiday if I’m going to be driving, and it feels very summery and adult.

There’s also a non-alcoholic version of Campari, can’t remember the name but Carluccio’s sells it. Or if you are passing through Malta, their Kinnie pop is a great bitter orange flavour (not particularly child friendly).

I really like Mother Root but it’s pricey so I thought I’d have a go at making my own. Turned out pretty well and wasn’t at all difficult. There are loads of recipes if you search for ginger switchel.

https://www.nordickitchenstories.co.uk/2026/01/22/spicy-ginger-switchel-recipe/

I love Three Spirit Nightcap - woody flavour to it and gives a nice warm “burn” if you drink it over ice. Also refreshing as a long drink with tonic but I prefer it “straight” just before bed.

They also do other AF drinks which are supposed to be more “lively” but I didn’t take to them. And their wine was 🤢- but Nightcap is lush!

Another vote for Mother Root for something that feels different / special

I also like the 0 gins at Clean Co https://clean.co/products/clean-g-alcohol-free-spirit?variant=41820241920097&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22417272384&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22417272384&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4eHLBhCzARIsAJ2NZoK8eSh2eY395lHRZtISJyB0KcGqXZvGvHS8jZJqbCyYnHmLsBfvDkIaAiFxEALw_wcB

I discovered Bitterlekker from a recommendation on here - can be purchased from a. Place called the Newt in Somerset. Absolutely delicious - far superior to Pentire which I found disappointingly flavourless

Seriously, they are all pretty dire, I’m off alcohol for medical reasons and haven’t found any palatable. Far better is good quality tonic water with lime on its own, I particularly like the pink fevertree one, aromatic I think they call it, two slices of lime and ask the pub to put it in a gin glass!

Oh and for home- Lidl ginger cordial, slice of lemon and top up with sparkling water, you don’t miss the alcohol and you save £££

Thanks, I’m the same. That’s what I would usually do with tonic and sometimes have it with Robinson’s elderflower cordial which is very nice too!

I recently tried Botivo and Motherroot.

What I didn’t realise from all the descriptions of Botivo as “herbal”, “bitter” etc - all of which I like - is that it would predominantly taste of vinegar. It has lots of apple cider vinegar in it, and while it is bitter, herbal etc, it’s a bitter herbal vinegar. Should have been clear from the ingredients list but that didn’t seem to feature in the descriptions.
I was frankly quite horrified when I first tried it - really weird. Interestingly it has grown on me, I like it with the aromatic tonic water. But it’s still basically an interesting vinegar drink.

Motherroot is a bit similar but the vinegariness is not as prominent. Basically - look at the ingredients list and check for apple cider vinegar.

Is it a similar flavour profile to kombucha? I haven’t really had that before and I suspect that might be similar? Basically there’s this whole market of vinegary drinks that I’m trying to work out if I like or not!!

@Talipesmumjust a word of warning with kombuch - they are not all created equal. Some are disgusting and others are delicious so if you try it and hate it don’t write them all off. I like Holos and Leftfield. That one Johnny Wilko created that sainsbury’s sell is foul.

Thank you - tbh I’d seen kombucha around and just ignored it really, but I think I could do with finding out more! Thanks for the recommendations and warnings!

Anyone tried the Pentire one and liked it? I bought a can of pentire Paloma to try but it just tasted like grapefruit soda; there are several flavours and I’m not sure which is which.