Best low and no alcohol spirits 2023: 9 award-winning bottles

While in the past we may have sneered at low and no alcohol spirits, it’s fair to say the market has exploded. Innovation comes in all forms for those looking to cut down on what they drink – and while past offerings were confined to nasty imitations of your favourite spirits, now, those abstaining or cutting down can choose from a whole range of non-alcoholic distillations channelling unique flavours into the glass.

Just look to Myth, a coconut white cane spirit channeling the fun of rum without any of the alcohol. It scored 96/100 at the IWSC’s 2023 low and no tastings, with judges commenting on its toasty vanilla notes and coconutty length.

Other drinks to pick up praise from judges included CleanCo’s Clean G– a non-alcoholic take on gin where the juniper and citrus notes sing.

Agave lovers were served well too, with Seven Giants Blanco Style and Cut Above Mezcal both scoring 90/100 and impressing judges with their herbaceous and smoky expressions of the plant in its distilled form.

All low and no alcohol drinks were assessed at a dedicated tasting, with judges including drinks consultant Claire Warner, author and founder of Sober Girl Society Millie Gooch and the Connaught Red Room bar manager Oscar Angeloni.

Read on to discover the best low and no alcohol spirits from the IWSC 2023.

HOW DO WE JUDGE THESE Low and no alcohol drinks?

We run a tightly structured, rigorous low and no alcohol tasting process. That means that each drink sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC low and no judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the alcohol-free drinks industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.

HOW DO WE SCORE THESE low and no alcohol drinks?

Only the best low and no alcohol drinks sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, spirits have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver winners range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.

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