Monday

Zero Alcohol Gin

Monday is in the style of a London dry gin, so the herbaceous juniper flavor is front and center. It also has notes of citrus, which pop in a gin and tonic, French 75, or gimlet.

Spiritless

Kentucky 74

Kentucky 74 gets infused with oak during the distillation process, so you get a depth of flavor similar to that of a good barrel-aged bourbon. We’re looking forward to using it in this spiced persimmon number this fall.

Wilfred’s

Bittersweet Aperitif

Think of this as your nonalcoholic answer to Aperol or Campari—it’s bitter yet juicy, with warm notes of clove, rosemary, rhubarb, and orange. Serve with tonic water over lots of ice for a simple spritz.

Ritual Zero Proof

Tequila Alternative

This tequila alternative has a slight smokiness to it, placing it somewhere between a tequila and mezcal. Use it in this paloma—it can stand up to the funky fermented flavor of kombucha.

Tenneyson

Black Ginger

Balanced enough to be enjoyed neat, but with ginger front and center, so it won’t get lost when mixed. Tenneyson is both warming and refreshing at the same time.

Seedlip

Garden 108

Seedlip doesn’t recommend drinking this (or its other two expressions, Spice 94 or Grove 42) neat, but rather with tonic or soda water to start. There are a lot of flavor combinations to play off of the peas, hay, and rosemary, but don’t overdo it—you want to get the subtle nuance of the vegetal notes.

ISH Spirits

GinISH & Tonic

Like Monday’s Zero Alcohol Gin, this nonalcoholic gin leans into the herbal juniper notes. It’s stronger on the nose than it is on the palate, which is a good thing. The quinine in tonic is a natural fit for these flavors, so it’s no surprise this works as well as it does.

ISH Spirits

DaiquirISH

It’s on the sweeter side, as a daiquiri should be, and the rum flavor is uncanny. This one will put you into immediate vacation mode.

St. Agrestis

Phony Negroni

Truly the most convincing dupe we tried (possibly because St. Agrestis also happens to make alcoholic negronis). It’s bitter and floral, with dark fruit notes, and they cleverly added a touch of carbonation to make up for the lack of boozy bite.

Hella Cocktail Co.

Bitters & Soda Bittersweet Spritz

If you’re new to aperitifs, this might be the one to start with because it’s got a good balance of bitter and sweetness. If you prefer less sweet, go for Hella Cocktail Co. Bitters & Soda Dry Aromatic. Both have robust spice from clove, cinnamon, anise, and peppercorn, along with bright orange peel.

Casamara Club

Alta

Casamara Club makes several aperitivo-inspired “leisure sodas,” but Alta was the clear winner. It’s sort of like a negroni but much lighter, with strong bubbles, warm spices, and the tiniest bit of sea salt on the finish. We will be sipping these all summer long.

Ghia

Ghia Le Spritz Ginger

The warm kick of ginger is what makes this spritz. It’s made of Ghia—the brand’s namesake nonalcoholic aperitif—mixed with a house-made ginger beer and a bit of fruit juice for sweetness. It’s got a bite to it, but it’s still supremely sippable.

Photo courtesy of Rikky Fernandez

Three Spirit

Livener

One of the most unique spirits we tried. It’s fruity and floral up front—think watermelon and hibiscus—and finishes with some heat. It’s got some caffeinated ingredients, like green tea and guayusa leaf, for an energizing effect. It’s definitely going to get the night started.

De Soi

Champignon Dreams

Slightly sweet, tangy, juicy, and, to borrow the frat-bro-turned-wine-aficionado’s term—totally crushable. Something about it keeps you coming back for another sip. Its main adaptogenic ingredients are green tea, passionflower, and reishi mushrooms (“champignon” is French for mushroom). Those last two are meant to help with relaxation.

Kin Euphorics

Lightwave

We’ve long been fans of Kin Euphorics High Rhode and Dream Light, but it’s Lightwave—the brand’s second entry into the canned cocktail game—that we’re currently obsessed with. It’s floral and slightly sweet, with lavender and vanilla being the most prominent flavors. The active ingredients that support a mellow mood are reishi mushrooms, L-theanine, and L-tryptophan. It makes for a lovely nightcap.