Top Non-Alcoholic Gins, As Told by The Zero Proof
2024 update: Since the original publication date in 2021, the non-alcoholic spirits market has experienced remarkable growth and innovation, particularly in the gin category. We're thrilled to have expanded our collection over the past few years.
Each new find brings a unique botanical complexity to the glass, catering to the growing demand and craving for satisfying alcohol-free spirits.
Without further ado…enjoy the new & improved list of gin alternatives.
The Non-Alcoholic Gin Roundup
If you don't drink, you've probably heard of Seedlip. It's the self-proclaimed "world's first distilled non-alcohol spirit" out of the UK that is now owned by the world's largest booze company, Diageo. Seedlip is not officially a non-alcoholic gin, but you might as well consider it one. It's great for mixing mocktails.
When we set out to find Seedlip alternatives, we realized we also wanted options for true gin replacements. Non-alcoholic favorites, like their alcoholic counterparts, often result from a mix of brand loyalty, personal taste, packaging appeal, and flavor profile. We put together a few of our favorite alcohol-free gins in hopes of helping you find a new favorite. Enjoy.
ISH London Botanical Non-Alcoholic Gin
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Founder: Morten Sørensen
ISH is one of our go-to's for a crisp, fresh take on non-alcoholic gin. Formerly known as GinISH, the London Botanical Spirit remains remarkably low in sugar (less than 1 g per serving) and calories (just 12 per serving). It bursts with botanical notes—a product of their distillation process, which involves sourcing juniper berries in Southern Europe and coriander seeds from Provence, France. Bitter orange peel, black pepper, and shells from chili seeds come into play to create a heated serve, making this a crisp contender for any gin-based recipes that could use something with a bite.
Monday Non-Alcoholic Gin
Location: San Diego, California
Founder: Chris Boyd
After two years of research and development, Monday launched a London Dry Gin with citrus aromatics and that "classic dry burn" akin to its alcoholic counterpart. It's one of our favorites with tonic water. Initially, the company raised nearly $20k via pre-orders on KickStarter, followed by over a million dollars in crowdfunding, which funded the beautiful-looking bottle and spirit.
We did a full review of this classic zero-proof serve way back when. In summary, this is a premium serve that packs a strong punch of citrus, spice, and botanicals. The bitterness leaves a lasting impression, balanced by the botanicals. We love it from start to finish.
Ritual Zero Proof Gin Alternative
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Founders: Marcus Sakey, David Crooch
Burn, baby, burn. Designed to substitute alcohol 1:1, Ritual Zero Proof Gin (read our full review) wants to give you the "burn factor" that we associate with alcoholic drinks. It's important because it causes and encourages you to sip, not gulp, which was a missing component of the early non-alcoholic spirits movement.
The founding trio claims to have worked on over 200 recipes before settling on their zero-proof gin. We’re here for the final product—it’s a fresh serve wrapped with citrus and light herbal notes. As one reviewer said, “really stellar.”
OPTIMIST Botanicals Fresh
Location: Los Angeles, California
Founders: Lisa and Tom Johnstone
OPTIMIST was the second California-based brand to launch an alcohol-free spirit akin to gin. The founders used their favorite locations in Los Angeles as their inspiration for both the nose and taste profiles of their Smokey, Bright and Fresh trio of labels. Here's our full review of the collection.
The Fresh expression is perfect for gin-lovers. Abundant and botanical, it presents with wild herbs, juniper, and anise. The spirit was made to call to mind the landscape of Topanga Canyon in all of its lush, clean glory. The classic OPTIMIST serve is 1 part OPTIMIST Fresh to 3 parts tonic water, over ice, with a sprig of Rosemary—but feel free to experiment with any and all gin recipes you like.
Although OPTIMIST spirits can't be consumed neat, each one is interesting enough that only a splash of tonic is necessary to turn them into a perfect and proper sundowner. Our tasting reminded us of the approach Pentire, a UK brand, took with their Cornwall-inspired flavors—up next.
Pentire Adrift
Location: Cornwall, United Kingdom
Founder: Alistair Frost
While Pentire Adrift doesn’t claim to be a 1:1 gin substitute, per se, its botanical, herbal nature reminds us of some version of the spirit. Hailing from the coast of England and distilled in the UK, this non-alcoholic masterpiece boasts a palate of citrus alongside sage, Rock Samphire, and sea salt—the effect is something like a breath of fresh air.
Rock samphire (a key component of the drink) is naturally high in vitamins C, E and K, iodine, carotenoids and flavonoids, along with an extra dose of antioxidants, fatty acids, and omega 3. If you’re just getting acquainted, this pungent, aromatic green plant comes from hard-to-reach stretches of coastal cliffs. Luckily for us, the creators of Pentire were on a mission to bottle the experience of coastal living.
We’re reaping the benefits in all kinds of gin-like cocktails made with Pentire—from a simple G&T to a citrus-and-bay-leaf Gimlet cocktail. We also love their sustainable stance as a B-certified corporation.
Lyre's Dry London Spirit
Location: London, UK
Founders: Mark Livings and Carl Hartmann
We’d assume that Lyre's gave Seedlip a run for their money in the NA industry liftoff. The quirky Australian brand made its home away from home in the United States in 2020. After establishing an army of a team, they worked hard to educate bartenders and consumers about their non-alcoholic options around the country.
We found their alcohol-free gin alternative, the Dry London Spirit, to hold up wonderfully in a non-alcoholic Negroni. It has one of the better bodies and mouth feels that we've tasted in this category. The makers recommend keeping it simple, as a 1:1 replacement in traditional gin cocktails.
Check out our review of their Amaretti and White Cane drinks, should you be exploring beyond gin.
For a Quick Non-Alcoholic Gin Cocktail…
If mixology isn’t your thing, you’d like ready-to-drink options for guests, or you’re packing the alcohol-free cooler and heading out, a few refreshing gin-like cocktails may do the trick. As is always our goal, we’ve more than one idea.
ISH Alcohol-Free Gin & Tonic
Citrus and woody herbs come together in a somewhat sweet, somewhat bitter shot of flavor. Enjoy over ice garnished with fresh rosemary or simply straight from the can. Magical!
Lyre's Non-Alcoholic Gin and Tonic
This mix of juniper, citrus and sparkling tonic does the trick. Simple, to the point, and crisp—like the finest of G&T’s.
ISH x Ghia La Dolce Vita Party Pack
If the ‘packing the cooler’ plan rings true, this is the bundle for you. Save 15% on 24 ready-to-drink non-alcoholic cocktails by ISH and Ghia—including a handful of their classic non-alcoholic G&T’s.
We’d love to hear from you.
Our collection of non-alcoholic gins is ever expanding. If you have favorites, reviews, or recipes to share, send us a note or say hi on Instagram. Cheers.
