The best non-alcoholic whiskey for sipping and making Old Fashioneds

First, I conducted a blind taste test to see which non-alcoholic whiskey tasted the best.

I included Big Nose Kate Western Whiskey (90 proof) as a comparison to see if it was possible to mistake non-alcoholic whiskey for the real deal. It was obvious which whiskey had alcohol. I'd take Big Nose Kate over any of the non-alcoholic brands. However, the zero-proof whiskeys were tasty.

Free Spirits The Spirit of Bourbon was my favorite. It had a nice complexity that combined anise, a pinch of citrus, and a helping of vanilla ice cream with graham cracker.

 

The second-best non-alcoholic whiskey was Monday Zero Alcohol Whiskey. It's evocative of Tootsie Rolls with a little bitterness. I felt the long, pleasant finish all over my mouth.

 

Next, Ritual Whiskey Alternative provided a strong floral taste, mild sweetness, and notes of baking spices.

Lyre's, Gnista, and Ritual weren't nearly as good as our two favorite picks, though depending on your tastes, you may prefer them. For instance, if you like floral flavoring, Ritual Whiskey Alternative is a good choice.

Gnista Barreled Oak was the sweetest of the five, but the flavor lacked depth. It reminded me of prune juice.

Yet, if you want a sweet mixer for your mocktail, you might find Gnista Barreled Oak more enjoyable than I did.

Lyre's American Malt was my least favorite. The taste was light and watery on the palate with just a hint of spice.

I had high hopes for Lyre's since I'd previously enjoyed the brand's American Malt & Cola Premix Drink, their answer to Jack and Coke.

We invited a friend with 19 years of sobriety over to help sample the non-alcoholic whiskeys in Old Fashioned cocktails.

For a fair comparison, we used a complicated system to ensure that my wife (Erin), friend (Amber), and I were all blind to which non-alcoholic whiskey was in each Old Fashioned. I chose an Old Fashioned for the comparison because it's one of the most popular whiskey cocktails.

Each Old Fashioned had the following ingredients:

• 2 ounces non-alcoholic whiskey
• 2 teaspoons homemade honey-ginger syrup
• 3 dashes Stirrings Blood Orange Cocktail Bitters (non-alcoholic)

Amber and I thought the Monday Old Fashioned was the best.

Sipping the Monday Zero-Alcohol Whiskey old-fashioned, I caught a hint of prune on the nose while Amber smelled maple, which didn't come through on the palate. Instead, she found it fruity and evocative of Jim Beam. It "would be amazing in tea," she said. 

This was Erin's second favorite; the creaminess reminded her of a cream soda. She liked the hint of spice on the tip of the tongue. I also appreciated the pleasant spice and depth of flavor.

Erin's favorite was the Free Spirits Spirit of Bourbon. It was my and Amber's second favorite.

Erin thought the Free Spirits Bourbon mocktail was similar to Monday but that the spice was stronger at the back of her throat. The flavor reminded her of chai. Amber noted that it smelled like cider but with a bite. "I think I'd like to try this one hot," she added.

With sweetness dominating, I didn't think the flavor was as complex as the Monday cocktail, but it was still delicious. I picked up gingerbread notes.

A few cocktails fell out of our top spots. The Gnista Old Fashioned was evocative of ginger ale with heavy sweetness and mild spice. None of us cared for the Ritual Zero Proof mocktail, but it may appeal to people who like floral notes in their beverages. The Lyre's Old Fashioned lacked flavor depth and reminded us of grape juice.

Since our initial testing, we've tried the Spiritless Kentucky 74, a solid option.

I don't care to drink Spiritless Kentucky 74 neat since it has a strong bitter flavor evocative of the infamously awful Malort, though not as extreme. However, it's a reasonable substitute for former drinkers who miss the "Kentucky hug" of bourbon. It sends a warm tingle as it travels down your throat, not as strong as a good whiskey, but better than most non-alcoholic whiskeys.

Where the Kentucky 74 shined for me was in a mocktail. I used it in an Old Fashioned, which reminded me of the real thing. Sweetness and bitterness were well-balanced to produce a complex drink that didn't leave me wondering where the alcohol was. 

I'd recommend this option to people who want a non-alcoholic whiskey with some kick that can serve as a suitable substitute in whiskey cocktails.

The bottom line

I wouldn't casually drink any of the non-alcoholic whiskeys on their own. Yet, I'd gladly fix myself a mocktail using Monday or Free Spirits when I feel like having a fancy drink without alcohol. These two were clearly the best. 

If my non-drinking friend Amber is any indication, the non-alcoholic whiskeys may be a good option for people who are several years into their recovery and can handle a potential flavor trigger. She said she'd like to take the remainder of my samples after I'm done. If that isn't a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is.