Legally, this kind of non-alcoholic spirit can not be named gin or London Dry Gin. That's why producers come up with all sorts of alternative names like "strykk not gin," "Dry London Spirit," "Wonderleaf," and more.
The goal is to create a non alcoholic gin flavored with juniper berry and other classic botanicals that imitate the aroma and flavor of traditional gin. NA Gin comes in all shapes and colors. You get anything, from somewhat classic imitations of London Dry Gins with distinct juniper notes to pink-colored, flavored bottles.
Our Best Non-Alcoholic Gin Picks
From classic flavor profiles to contemporary options, we asked bartenders and spirits experts for their opinions. We then tested a selection of the most recommended bottles ourselves. These are the best alcohol-free Gin options you can buy in 2023.
- Best overall: Siegfried Wonderleaf
- Best for non-alcoholic Gin and Tonic: Lyre's Dry London Spirit
- Best for alcohol-free Martini: Salcombe Gin
- Best for Nogroni Mocktail: Seedlip Grove 42
- Best value for money: Ceder's Crisp
How Is Non-Alcoholic Gin Made?
When the beverage industry turned its attention to alcohol-free spirit offerings in the mid-2010s, a majority of the early products resembled gin. This is due to the fact that the predominant flavor in gin is not derived from alcohol itself but from the infusion of various potent botanicals like juniper berries, angelica roots, coriander seeds, cardamom, and citrus.
There are several ways to make alcohol-free gin. One method involves taking traditional gin and removing the alcohol. That is done by breaking down a distilled spirit into its parts (rectification) and then putting them back together without alcohol.
In this process, a small amount of alcohol might still be present in the final product. However, as long as this amount is below 0.5% ABV, the drink can be labeled alcohol-free.
Another approach is to distill gin as usual but drastically increase the concentration of flavors from the herbs and spices. Later, you dilute the gin with water until it has almost no alcohol content.
The other most common option is to infuse a water base with botanicals to create a 100% alcohol-free substitute for gin.
How to Drink Non-Alcoholic Gin
The best way to drink non-alcoholic is as an ingredient in mixed drinks. Like other non-alcoholic spirits, these gin substitutes are designed to work best in combination with other flavors in a Mocktail.
While classic gin is an omnipresent spirit in the world of mixology and stars in many cocktail recipes, from Martini to Negroni to Gin and Tonic, you can create alcohol-free versions from all these drinks by using a suitable gin alternative.
The Top Non Alcoholic Gin Alternatives Recommended by Bartenders & Spirits Experts
1. Siegfried Wonderleaf - Best Overall
- Origin: Germany
- Produced by: Rheinland Distillers UG
- Pros: Rich Gin-like flavor and great for mixed drinks and Mocktails
- Cons: Hard to get and a bit pricey
- Taste: Herbal, fresh, and distinct notes of juniper
- Price: $30
- Size: 500ml
Like all non-alcoholic alternatives, Siegfried Wonderleaf is not intended for neat consumption - at least not for me. I was way more convinced, though, once I tried it in an alcohol-free Gin and tonic and a Virgin Negroni.
In combination with other ingredients, Wonderleaf scores with its herbal, fresh taste. I could identify a distinct juniper note and a wonderful balance of flavors. Overall, it is currently my favorite choice for mocktails.
In total, Wonderleaf is flavored with about 18 different botanicals, most of them a secret, but juniper, coriander, and cinnamon are sure part of the mix. On top of being non-alcoholic, it's vegan, sugar-free, and only made from natural ingredients.
2. Lyre's Dry London Spirit
- Origin: Australia
- Produced by: Lyre's
- Pros: Nice citrus kick and overall pleasant flavor profile
- Cons: Lacking juniper notes
- Taste: Floral, citrusy, and hints of juniper
- Price: $30
- Size: 700ml
This non-alcoholic alternative from Lyre's often appears among the best alcohol-free options. When I tasted it in a G&T, I immediately understood why. Compared to most other zero-alcohol alternatives, Lyre's Dry London Spirit brings a very gin-like flavor to a drink.
The lack of juniper in the flavor profile is the main reason it's not on the top spot in my list. Other than that, it's an excellent alternative, especially in combination with great tonic water.
The product is also vegan but contains sugar - glucose syrup is used as a sweetener. On top, Lyre's uses an interesting ingredient to add a slightly bitter note to it - cinchona bark. This bark is typically used in tonic water to add a distinct bitter quinine flavor to the mixer. That might be why it pairs so well with tonic water.
3. Salcombe Distilling New London Light
- Origin: United Kingdom
- Produced by: Salcombe Distilling Co
- Pros: Not as sweet as other products and an intriguing flavor profile of lime and ginger
- Cons: Flavor is a bit "light" and almost too watery
- Taste: Limey citrus, ginger, and juniper
- Price: $35
- Size: 750ml
Many are skeptical about non alcoholic spirits - and so was I. Even the best ones seem to have as many haters as lovers. Salcombe New London Light, for example, is a creative take on an N/A Gin that received rave reviews from top media outlets like The Times. When reading reviews online, though, a different picture shows.
When I tasted it, I immediately got the flavors of a more or less classic Gin. Juniper can be found as well as citric lime flavors and a slight kick of ginger. Still, overall, I find the taste a bit too thin. When paired with flavorful ingredients, it's not strong enough to stand out. I like it in a low-ABV Martini with just a bit of Dry Vermouth.
If you want to pair it with tonic water, I recommend using a "light" or "sugar-free" option. That helps the non-alcoholic base to stand its ground. Garnish it with a slice of orange and a drop of orange bitters to round off the drink.
4. Ceder's Classic
- Origin: Sweden
- Produced by: Ceder's (owned by Pernod Ricard)
- Pros: Subtle and smooth with a floral flavor profile
- Cons: Taste is too subtle for our liking and easily overpowered by other ingredients
- Taste: Fresh and floral with hints of rooibos and lavender
- Price: $26
- Size: 750ml
Ceder's Classic is a unique option because the brand never promoted it as a non-alcoholic gin alternative. Instead, stores, media, and even bartenders began promoting it as an excellent alternative, so we gave it a try.
My favorite part about Ceder's is that it boasts a truly unique flavor profile, partly of classic gin botanicals and partly of modern flavors like rooibos and lavender. You can also taste them in a drink in a nice, light, and subtle way.
On the other hand, this light taste also makes it prone to being overpowered by other ingredients; -An issue many gin alternatives are facing.
5. Seedlip Grove 42
- Origin: United Kingdom
- Produced by: Seedlip (owned by Diageo)
- Pros: Nice and complex aroma and pairs well with other non-alcoholic liquor alternatives
- Cons: Extremely delicate and subtle flavors, not enough juniper notes
- Taste: Orange, blood orange, and slight notes of cucumber
- Price: $32
- Size: 700ml
Another big brand in the world of alcohol-free spirit alternatives is Seedlip. Seedlip produces some of the best non-alcoholic spirits substitutes, with Grove 42 being their go-to option when it comes to alternatives for real gin, closely followed by Seedlip Spice 94.
I can confirm, Grove 42 has a refreshing aroma of citrus fruits such as orange, blood orange, and lemon peel. However, this product lacks juniper notes and is overall too delicate. When pairing it with fresh and flavorful juices, you hardly taste it.
Yet, it shines in combination with other alcohol-free liquor alternatives. My favorite way to drink it was in a zero-proof Negroni.
6. Windspiel Alkoholfrei (alcohol-free)
- Origin: Germany
- Produced by: Windspiel Manufaktur GmbH
- Pros: Prominent juniper aroma and floral-citrusy flavor profile
- Cons: Flavor profile too lemony
- Taste: Cloves, cinnamon, and dominant citrus notes with hints of juniper
- Price: $28
- Size: 500ml
Windspiel is a renowned German gin producer. Their signature Dry Gin is distilled from their own potatoes, adding a unique touch. Lately, Windspiel also released an alcohol-free version of their gin, and the presentation alone is outstanding.
When pouring a sip into a glass, you get a strong juniper aroma alongside spicy notes from cloves and cinnamon. When tasting, the juniper notes are only noticeable in the background, and citrus flavors dominate instead.
I found picking a suitable tonic water to go with it surprisingly challenging. I tried quite a few and preferred light and sugar-free ones. In cocktails, it mainly brought citrusy notes to the drink, making it somewhat hard to use in alcohol-free takes on classic gin drinks.
7. Monday Zero Alcohol Gin
- Origin: United States
- Produced by: Drink Monday
- Pros: Nice gin-like aroma with juniper, Christmas spices, and coriander
- Cons: Too heavy in citric lime flavor, too watery
- Taste: Piney juniper, coriander, Christmas spices, lime, hints of cucumber
- Price: $40
- Size: 750ml
Monday Gin came from a simple idea: enjoying a tasty drink without the next-day hassle. The makers started with gin, then added whiskey.
The gin alternative has a secret recipe, but the label lists ingredients like natural spring water, monk fruit extract, and more. They likely distill it to capture flavors.
It looks cloudy, maybe from special stuff added. The beverage smells like juniper and cucumber with spices in the background. Taste-wise, it's bitter with bold notes of acidic lime. With ice or tonic water, the taste improves, with juniper and citrus notes coming out.
The best alcohol-free gin options compared
To sum up the information above, here's a quick comparison over the 7 best alcohol-free gin substitutes:
| Brand | Taste | Price | Bottle Size | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siegfried Wonderleaf | Herbal, juniper, fresh | $30 | 500ml | Germany |
| Lyre's Dry London Spirit | Citrus, floral, hints of juniper | $30 | 700ml | Australia |
| Salcombe New London Light | Limey citrus, ginger, juniper | $35 | 750ml | United Kingdom |
| Ceder's Classic | Fresh, floral, hints of rooibos/lavender | $26 | 750ml | Sweden |
| Seedlip Grove 42 | Orange, blood orange, slight cucumber | $32 | 700ml | United Kingdom |
| Windspiel Alkoholfrei | Citrus, cloves, cinnamon, juniper | $28 | 500ml | Germany |
| Monday Zero Alcohol Gin | Juniper, spices, coriander, citrus | $40 | 750ml | United States |
FAQs
Yes. Like their alcoholic counterparts, na gin uses botanicals to infuse the base liquid with natural flavors.
In our test, Lyre's Dry London Spirit was the best option in a Gin and tonic. Another great alternative is Siegfried Wonderleaf.
Our preferred alcohol-free alternatives are Siegfried Wonderleaf, Lyre's Dry London Spirit, and Salcombe's New London Light.
The taste is relatively thin and light. Alcohol itself is a great flavor enhancer and helps to pronounce savors and aromas.
Alcohol-free gin alternatives are best served with tonic water in a Gin and Tonic or Mocktails. It's not recommended to drink them neat.
Yes, there are all kinds of alcohol-free alternatives for rum, whiskey, and Tequila or Mezcal. The development of alcohol free beer and non alcoholic wine also shows that the current status is not the end. Soon, there'll be even more zero-alcohol spirits on the market.