Non-alcoholic spirits in Canada: gin, rum, whiskey and wine without the alcohol

Non-alcoholic spirits have come a long way: there's now a zero-proof gin, rum, tequila or whisky for almost any cocktail you like to make. Here are the bottles on our shelf, from Canadian makers like Sobrii and HP Juniper to Monday gin, plus the non-alcoholic wine worth pouring with dinner. If you're hosting friends who don't drink, driving home tonight or just love a good cocktail, this is how to pick a bottle, read the label and mix something great.

What are non-alcoholic spirits?

A non-alcoholic spirit is made to do the job of gin, rum, tequila or whisky in a drink, without the alcohol. Most are built from botanical distillates and natural extracts: juniper, citrus peel, coriander, spices, oak or agave, captured in water rather than in alcohol. Some are distilled in a copper still the traditional way, so the botanicals give the same aromas and complexity you'd expect from the real thing.

The one thing that's different is alcohol warmth, the gentle burn of a spirit. Good makers build it back with flavour: pepper, ginseng, jalapeño, ginger or a long, spicy finish. Non-alcoholic spirits really shine in cocktails, and some, like Monday's whiskey or Sobrii 0-Tequila, are good over ice too.

Reading the label: 0.0%, alcohol-free and dealcoholized

Look for the alcohol by volume (ABV) on the bottle. Many non-alcoholic spirits and some wines are 0.0%. Dealcoholized wines start as real wine and have the alcohol gently removed, often by vacuum distillation or reverse osmosis, which can leave trace amounts. If you need a drink with no alcohol at all, choose one marked 0.0%.

It's also worth reading what a product is designed for. Some spirits are made only for mixing, and a ready-to-drink can is balanced to pour straight into a glass.

Non-alcoholic spirits: Canada's own makers

Non-alcoholic spirits now come from all over the world, and some of the best are made right here. Sobrii started in 2017, when founder Bob Huitema, who grew up on a farm near Stratford, Ontario, couldn't find the alcohol-free cocktail he wanted and decided to make it. Sobrii 0-Gin was Canada's first distilled non-alcoholic gin, and it's still distilled in small batches at a Stratford craft distillery, using natural ingredients including Canadian ginseng grown in Ontario. 0-Gin has no artificial flavours, sugar, sweeteners or calories. 0-Rum is made from filtered water, natural flavours, caramel and stevia, with citric acid, and it's built for mixing. 0-Tequila is great in simple drinks like a tequila and soda, and 0-Gin holds its own in more complex cocktails.

HP Juniper is made in Québec. Its Classic gin is distilled in a copper still with juniper berry, yuzu lemon, organic cucumber, cinnamon, lemongrass, coriander seed and organic rosemary, and it's 0% alcohol and sugar-free. Its tasting notes: juniper and citrus zest on the nose, dry on the palate with a warm mouthfeel.

Monday non-alcoholic gin and whiskey

Monday makes its alcohol-free spirits by hand in small batches at a craft distillery in Southern California. Monday Gin is built in the classic London Dry style: bold and juniper-forward on the nose, with bitter lemon, grapefruit and a hint of coriander on the palate. It finishes long, with a warmth that builds the way a gin would, and it's sweetened with monk fruit extract rather than sugar.

For a martini, stir Monday Gin or Sobrii 0-Gin over plenty of ice until it's very cold, strain it into a chilled martini glass and finish with a lemon twist. Add a splash of olive brine and an olive for a dirty martini.

Monday's whiskey is matured in new white oak, with notes of butterscotch, raisin and toasted brown sugar on the nose and roasted coffee, caramel and molasses on the palate. There's also a Monday Mezcal, smoky and floral, for margaritas and palomas. Monday makes its spirits for anyone who's sober, sober-curious or simply driving tonight.

A great alcohol-free cocktail starts the same way as any other: good ice, a fresh garnish and a spirit you enjoy.

Which bottle for which drink?

A no alcohol gin and tonic, step by step

1. Fill the glass. Use a tall or balloon glass packed with ice, so the drink stays cold, bright and refreshing.
2. Pour the gin. Add 60 mL (2 oz) of non-alcoholic gin.
3. Top with tonic. Pour in 120 mL (4 oz) of good tonic, gently, to keep the bubbles.
4. Garnish. A slice of lemon or lime adds a hint of citrus to any of them; blood orange is lovely with HP Juniper Signature.

Aperitivo, limoncello and ready-to-drink

For a Negroni, an Americano or a spritz, NOA's alcohol-free Italian Bitter has a grapefruit and orange base with gentian root and quinine bark for bitterness, and the Sweet Vermouth brings caramel, grapes and a spicy blackcurrant finish. Pallini Limonzero is made with Sfusato lemons from the Amalfi Coast. Ready-to-drink cans are a great option for the cottage or a party: just chill, pop and pour over ice. Sobrii's Zero G&T is a canned gin and tonic made with 25% Sobrii 0-Gin, with zero sugar and zero calories.

Stocking a small alcohol-free bar

You don't need a full bar to make good cocktails at home. Keep one bottle of non-alcoholic gin in stock for G&Ts and martinis, one darker spirit for whiskey or rum drinks, and a bitter aperitivo for Negronis and spritzes. Add a few bottles of tonic and soda water and a bag of lemons and limes, and you've got the makings of a pleasant night in for everyone at the table, drinkers and non-drinkers alike. For guests who'd rather skip the spirit, kombucha and prebiotic soda make easy grown-up options.

Choose spirits that complement the food you like to serve: a crisp gin with strong juniper alongside seafood, a smoky mezcal with tacos, a bitter aperitivo before a big dinner. Start with a bit less mixer than the recipe calls for, taste, then top up.

Non-alcoholic wine in Canada

Non-alcoholic wine comes in two main styles. Dealcoholized wine goes through fermentation as a traditional wine first and then has the alcohol removed, so it keeps the grapes, structure and tannin of real wine. Wine-style drinks are made from the start to be alcohol-free, and taste like their own thing. Either way, non-alcoholic wine usually has fewer calories than regular wine.

Closest to home, Benjamin Bridge has made sparkling wine in Nova Scotia's Gaspereau Valley since 1999. It's a small farm winery and a Certified B Corp that supports year-round jobs in rural Nova Scotia, and we love pouring its Piquette Zero range, a crafted, alcohol-free wine-style drink. Out west, ONES makes its non-alcoholic wine from Okanagan grapes.

From further afield, these are four we pour often:

Storing open bottles

Non-alcoholic spirits don't have alcohol to preserve them, so treat an open bottle a little more like a cordial. Keep it sealed, out of the light and at a steady temperature. HP Juniper's gins are best within three months of opening. Non-alcoholic wine can lose its freshness a little faster than regular wine once opened, so recork the bottle, keep it in the fridge and enjoy it within a few days.

Questions we get a lot

Does Monday Gin have alcohol?

No. Monday Gin is an alcohol-free spirit, made in small batches in Southern California and sweetened with monk fruit extract.

Is there a non-alcoholic gin that actually tastes like gin?

Look for one that's juniper-forward. Monday Gin, Sobrii 0-Gin and HP Juniper Classic all lead with juniper, citrus and coriander, the backbone of a London Dry gin, and they shine in a gin and tonic.

What are the best non-alcoholic spirits in Canada?

The best one is the one that suits the drink you love. For Canadian-made, start with Sobrii from Stratford, Ontario, or HP Juniper from Québec. If you like a bold G&T, try a juniper-forward gin; if margaritas are your thing, try 0-Tequila.

Is there a non-alcoholic wine that tastes like wine?

Dealcoholized wines come closest, because they're made as real wine first. OddBird Blanc de Blancs is matured for 12 months before the alcohol is removed, and Luminara is made from Napa Valley wine. Wine-style drinks like Piquette Zero are a fresh take of their own.

What is the best non-alcoholic wine in Canada?

For something local, Benjamin Bridge Piquette Zero is made in Nova Scotia. For a classic red from Canadian grapes, ONES Cabernet Merlot comes from the Okanagan. Taste is personal, so a 250 mL can is a handy way to try a few.

Are there any non-alcoholic spirits that taste like alcohol?

The flavours can be very close, especially in a cocktail. What changes is the warmth, so makers add heat in other ways: jalapeño and black pepper in Sobrii 0-Tequila, a spicy finish in Monday's whiskey.

Non-alcoholic spirits and wine are sold in the drinks aisle at both stores: 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth, open seven days. Browse wine and wine alternatives, or see everything on our non-alcoholic drinks page. In HRM, order by 11 am with Luminate Express for same-day delivery, or choose pickup. Anywhere else in Canada, orders over $80 ship free.

Sources: Sobrii, About; Benjamin Bridge, Our Story; HP Juniper; product labels.