What Is A Non-Alcoholic Spirit?

The definition of Non-Alcoholic Spirit

'(of a drink) not containing alcohol.'

A non-alcoholic spirit is simply any liquid that can be used in place of an alcoholic spirit. Legally, to be labelled as ‘non-alcoholic’ they must contain less than 0.5% alcohol this is in contrast to ‘alcohol-free’ products which contain 0% alcohol. They can be made in a number of ways and possess different flavours and effects but they are all designed as alternatives to traditional spirits.

FURTHER DEFINITIONS

A non-alcoholic spirit is simply any liquid that can be used in place of an alcoholic spirit. Legally, to be labelled as ‘non-alcoholic’ they must contain less than 0.5% alcohol this is in contrast to ‘alcohol-free’ products which contain 0% alcohol. They can be made in a number of ways and possess different flavours and effects but they are all designed as alternatives to traditional spirits.

Non-alcoholic spirits come in two main sub-categories; distilled and undistilled. Distilled non-alcoholic spirits resemble traditional spirits closely in appearance, texture and behaviour, they are shelf stable and are designed mostly as alternatives to specific spirits such as gin or whisky.

Undistilled non-alcoholic spirits are more nebulous, they are made in a number of ways including steeping, macerating and other extraction methods, they have no or very low sugar content, are complex in flavour and rather than being alternatives to existing spirits are unique products in their own right, simply used as you would a spirit; either mixed or sipped on their own.

DISTILLED NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS

Distilled non-alcoholic spirits are made in the same way as traditional alcoholic spirits, through distillation, this is a process involving the conversion of a liquid into vapour which is subsequently condensed back into a liquid. Distillation can be used to separate liquids from non-volatile solids, as in the separation of alcoholic liquors from fermented material, or in the separation of two or more liquids with different boiling points.

Distilled non-alcoholic spirits sometimes start with an alcoholic base, using the ethanol in the alcohol to break down heavy compounds in the botanicals and impart their flavour into the liquid before distilling multiple times to remove the alcohol.

Other distilled non-alcoholic spirits begin with something as simple as water with botanicals in it and let this steep without fermenting to create flavour without alcohol, they then distil this liquid to remove any solid compounds and be left with a flavoured liquid known as a hydrosol.

Some notable examples of distilled non-alcoholic spirits include Seedlip and Caleno.

Seedlip was started in 2016 by founder Ben Branson, after a now notorious experience at a top-tier restaurant where Ben joined friends for a multi-course tasting menu with wine and cocktail pairings but very little in the way of non-alcoholic options past juice and syrup. Inspired by this experience, Ben set out to create a sophisticated alcohol free option aimed at grown-ups who for whatever reason are choosing not to drink.

Ben went back home with a mission in mind, and began researching techniques and methods of making his vision a reality. He discovered a long-lost book called The Art of Distillation which contained various recipes for non-alcoholic distillates.

After months of experimenting with recipes and techniques Ben landed on a liquid he was happy with and Seedlip was born, beginning with one expression; Seedlip Spice 94 but soon expanding with two more, Seedlip Garden 108 and Seedlip Grove 42. Seedlip was the pioneer of the non-alcoholic spirit category and remains one of if not the most popular product in the industry. Seedlip is clear, has a similar texture to alcoholic spirits and is shelf stable allowing it to sit on a back-bar alongside its alcoholic colleagues.

Caleno was started by founder Ellie Webb after a 5 month trip spent exploring her ancestral homeland Colombia and soaking up the rich culture, sights, sounds and flavours of the South American country. Inspired by the various homemade tropical juices or ‘jugos’ sold everywhere on street corners and cafes in Colombia, Ellie created Caleno Light and Zesty, a tropical non-alcoholic spirit distilled from a fruity infusion of citrus and spices. She later expanded the range with Caleno Dark and Spicy.

NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS EXAMPLES

These are just a few notable examples amongst an ever-growing plethora of products and brands and are by no means the only ones worth trying.

Seedlip

Caleno

UNDISTILLED NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS

Lyre’s

Sprigster

Three spirit