The 7 N/A Drinks I Always Have in My House

they are great whether you drink alcohol or not.

Hello!

As someone who is not a huge drinker, but finds a lot of joy and entertainment in novelty beverages, I am very excited by this meteoric rise of nonalcoholic drinks on the market. It’s also very beneficial for anyone who wants to do a Dry January, or is generally trying to drink less.

I love seeing brands push themselves beyond super sweet sodas and “mocktails,” instead opting for thoughtful and nuanced flavors that aren’t afraid to run a little bitter, or a little sour, deeply fruity, or truly zippy — just like a great cocktail or glass of wine.

My theory when it comes to n/a drinks is similar to my theory when it comes to faux meat. Drinks that are intentionally made to be non-alcoholic are generally much better than drinks that are n/a but made to mimic alcoholic beverages. By that same token, plants that are intentionally cooked as plants and celebrated for what they are, are always better than plants made to mimic meat. (The one exception case for each: Athletic Beer and Trader Joe’s Chickenless Tenders.)

I always have several non-alcoholic beverages on hand. I love options and as someone who is highly motivated by rewards, the promise of a cold cold carbonated beverage can convince me to do many things.

And a quick aside regarding storing drinks — and this is extremely not sponsored (though I wish it was!) I cannot stop thinking about this drinks fridge from Rocco. It has different temperature zones and reversible shelves, which means you can keep bottles of wine in the same fridge as cans of seltzer. It doubles as a bar cart. And it’s truly the most gorgeous drinks fridge I’ve ever seen on the market? Drinks fridges are historically not the most aesthetically pleasing product. I have the perfect corner in my apartment for this if anyone would like to send me one.

courtesy RoccoFridge.com, I want this but in Yellow.

Okay back to the beverages:

I’ve tried so many of the options on the market, but there are a select few I like to always keep on hand — these 7 in particular. (Disclaimer: A few of these have affiliate links where noted with an *asterisk*, which helps keeps this newsletter going. I will never recommend a product I am not truly obsessed with.)

SPLURGY

There is no reason non-alcoholic drinks shouldn’t feel upscale and special.

Copenhagen Black Tea Blå (Buy Here)

First, I am obsessed with the bottle. It’s beautiful and sleek and feels high end and celebratory. It’s perfect for a New Year’s Eve party or to gift someone celebrating anything! The flavor is super nuanced, gently tannic, and not too sweet. It’s maybe the best n/a drink I’ve ever had and I can easily crush a bottle solo.

Jus De Pomme Petillant (Buy Here)

There is nothing more celebratory than being able to pop the cork off of a bottle, and this gives you that same exact satisfaction. Made from French apples, there is a great zippy tartness to the cider, which is best served super chilled.

CANNED

The easiest drinks to keep on hand, and they are single serving.

Something & Nothing Seltzer (Buy Here*)

These are probably the best seltzers on the market. Interesting and fresh flavors like cucumber, hibiscus rose, and yuzu (though the yuzu could be a bit punchier), and a strong bubble. The cans are also just very chic and fun to look at.

De La Calle Tepache (Buy Here*)

I have yet to have a mediocre flavor of tepache, a Mexican fermented pineapple drink, from this brand, though the original remains my favorite. It’s lightly carbonated and gently sweet, with a hint of cinnamon and cloves. It’s also apparently great for your gut. A good alternative to kombucha if you find it too vinegary.

Halmi (Buy Here)

I have written a whole piece for Food & Wine about why I am obsessed with Halmi, which is based on a traditional Korean drink called sujjeongwa. It’s a gentle but flavorful mix of ginger, persimmon, jujube, and cinnamon (and is also apparently quite healthy for you).

ADULT JUICE

Way more nuanced in flavor than any juice box you had growing up.

Kimino Sparkling Beverages (Buy Mikan Here*, Buy Yuzu Here*)

This Japanese company makes sparkling juices from the best Japanese fruit varietals like Yuzu (this one packs a punch) and Mikan, a type of citrus. The glass bottles are fun to drink out of, and it’s the perfect middle ground between juice and soda.

Navarro Vineyards Pinot Noir Grape Juice (Buy Here)

I first had this while eating lunch at the legendary Zuni Café in San Francisco. Until then, the only grape juice i’d ever had was from Welch’s, which is very sweet and one note in flavor. Navarro Vineyards makes grape juice from wine grapes and the result is fun and complex. I am partial to the juice made from pinot noir grapes!

Would love to hear about your favorite N/A drinks in the comments! This is the last Tap Is Fine! for 2023, but will be back next year with even more highly curated restaurant guides, product obsessions and will be launching hotel recommends, water reviews (is tap really fine?), and so much more!