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Alcohol Free Bourbon

I've been interested in finding real world, non paid opinions on the alcohol free spirits. Sounds like it's a case by case thing.
I'm a drinker. I have a modest collection of around 15-20 unique bottles of bourbon, a handfull of different bottles of tequila, and 5 or 6 different bottles of rum for making my wife cocktails. I also keep a well stocked beer fridge. However, that beer fridge is increasingly becomign stocked with non alcoholic beers. Brew Dog makes some really good ones that are hard to distinguish from the real deal, and Brooklyn has a good bunch of NA beers as well. the Sam Adams "Just the Haze" is a solid hazy beer. It's somewhat surprising that the craft beer boom had to peak and come WAY down before they got on board with making good NA craft beverages. Where I used to put away a cocktail and 2 or 3 beers on a friday night, I'll still have the cocktail, but I'll substitute the beers for NA and get basically the same level of enjoyment, without feeling lousy the next day. Super glad those offerings are available these days.
 
klamsoss said:
I've been interested in finding real world, non paid opinions on the alcohol free spirits. Sounds like it's a case by case thing.
I'm a drinker. I have a modest collection of around 15-20 unique bottles of bourbon, a handfull of different bottles of tequila, and 5 or 6 different bottles of rum for making my wife cocktails. I also keep a well stocked beer fridge. However, that beer fridge is increasingly becomign stocked with non alcoholic beers. Brew Dog makes some really good ones that are hard to distinguish from the real deal, and Brooklyn has a good bunch of NA beers as well. the Sam Adams "Just the Haze" is a solid hazy beer. It's somewhat surprising that the craft beer boom had to peak and come WAY down before they got on board with making good NA craft beverages. Where I used to put away a cocktail and 2 or 3 beers on a friday night, I'll still have the cocktail, but I'll substitute the beers for NA and get basically the same level of enjoyment, without feeling lousy the next day. Super glad those offerings are available these days.
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That's cool! So far, I have just found this 'bourbon' and Heineken 0.0 'beer' as acceptable alternatives.

I'm rather surprised, although I guess I should not be, by all the hate I've run into when I talk about it. I suspect that people who can drink alcohol and choose to do so, do not find the alcohol-free versions very palatable. I get it; I don't think the alcohol-free 'bourbon' tastes exactly like bourbon - how could it? The alcohol bite is part of the allure of bourbon after all.

But it seems quite a few folks harbor some hostility that goes well beyond just "I didn't care for it" and well into "nobody should drink this stuff." Hey, friends, some of us choose not to drink and some of us literally cannot drink. As a person on blood thinners, alcohol is absolutely forbidden to me. But I still like the taste of bourbon. So according to these angry people, my choice is to drink anyway and die, or just go without because *they* don't care for it. I don't get that attitude.

For those who don't like alcohol-free substitutes, dude, I get it. So don't drink it. Lay off giving the rest of us the hostility, please. It's none of their concern.
 
I do not do fake beer or liquor. I was on blood thinners following a heart attack. I was never told not to drink alcohol.

I have long been off blood thinners. I would seek a second opinion.
 
I'm on Xarelto 20mg to prevent blood clots on an ongoing basis, and still drink in moderation. My physician has not cautioned against that.

Currently having "dry January 2-25" just to prove I can do it, my plan is to then limit myself to 1-2 drinks a week. The bummer is red wine, I won't be able to get through a bottle at that rate and my wife tends to drink other things. So wine may become more of an occasional indulgence.

Durring my current dry experiment, I like hop water the best; the Sam Adams hazy NA beer is "ok"; the CBD drinks like "Climbing Kites" are also "ok" but pretty pricey (about $6 a can).

My son had previously purchased some of the bourbon and rye NA booze and we both agreed, they are vile.

I think long-term, I'm just going to keep buying better-quality club soda and limes to use for non-cocktail hour as the hop water is also kind of pricey for what it is...
 
ducati_EL34 said:
I do not do fake beer or liquor. I was on blood thinners following a heart attack. I was never told not to drink alcohol.

I have long been off blood thinners. I would seek a second opinion.
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My cardiologist told me no alcohol. I'm not going to risk it. I'm definitely not going to seek a second opinion so i can have a snort. I don't need it. This doctor saved my life. He says no booze, I'm on board with that.
 
J English said:
I'm on Xarelto 20mg to prevent blood clots on an ongoing basis, and still drink in moderation. My physician has not cautioned against that.

Currently having "dry January 2-25" just to prove I can do it, my plan is to then limit myself to 1-2 drinks a week. The bummer is red wine, I won't be able to get through a bottle at that rate and my wife tends to drink other things. So wine may become more of an occasional indulgence.

Durring my current dry experiment, I like hop water the best; the Sam Adams hazy NA beer is "ok"; the CBD drinks like "Climbing Kites" are also "ok" but pretty pricey (about $6 a can).

My son had previously purchased some of the bourbon and rye NA booze and we both agreed, they are vile.

I think long-term, I'm just going to keep buying better-quality club soda and limes to use for non-cocktail hour as the hop water is also kind of pricey for what it is...
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Again, I suspect NA bourbon is not very bourbon like to current bourbon drinkers. But like how I began to like diet soda after giving up sugared soda, after some time I was fond of it.
 
Wigwam Jones said:
Again, I suspect NA bourbon is not very bourbon like to current bourbon drinkers. But like how I began to like diet soda after giving up sugared soda, after some time I was fond of it.
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I gave up diet soda a long time ago. It tastes like shite. Now I drink real Coke, bottled in Mexico (real sugar). I just don’t drink a lot of them.

As for doctors, mine never told me to stop drinking, and I haven’t. It is all about moderation.
 
ducati_EL34 said:
I gave up diet soda a long time ago. It tastes like shite. Now I drink real Coke, bottled in Mexico (real sugar). I just don’t drink a lot of them.

As for doctors, mine never told me to stop drinking, and I haven’t. It is all about moderation.
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As you wish. As I noted, I find it curious that some become so hostile to the very notion that anyone prefers what they do not. How dare I, I suppose.
 
Wigwam Jones said:
As you wish. As I noted, I find it curious that some become so hostile to the very notion that anyone prefers what they do not. How dare I, I suppose.
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That is not why I am opposed to e0 beer and alcohol, as well as diet substitutes for the real thing.

I just think it is absurd to try and replace a good libation with some nonalcoholic substitute. And yes, no should be drinking that stuff.

It is akin to paying $5000 for a high priced prostitute, and holding hands.

Now did your doctor say you would die, or did you add that on your own. He may be a recovering alcoholic himself. Of course he would tell you not to drink.
 
Happen to one who quit some things years ago in order to stay employed and raise a family due to potential testing in the early 80's. Never missed it and moved on.
Took a stent in the heart to finally make cigarettes also a thing of the past. Cold turkey again moving on with little problem.

Have not been faced with going spirit free as of today. Guess if so be it then again it will be. Near beer and Bourbonish here I come.......
 
I gave up alcohol earlier this year as a dietary choice. I collect beers, but don't drink heavily, so it wasn't too hard. Now I have a fridge full of great beers I will never drink, or I might. I thought I might just drink during the holidays, but I didn't.

I have some epic beers. I have two 25 year old Fuller's Vintage Ales I have been saving, for, well, 25 years. Drank the third to last about 20 years ago and it was spectacular. Various others of various ages are just hanging out. If we ever actually get to buy a house, we will have the craziest beer party ever. Until then, they will sit. Some getting better, some not so much.

I stopped drinking just to keep a clear focused head. Made a huge difference, and I was never a big drinker.

Anyway, that being said, I like some of the NA ciders and beers. But in the end, I keep feeling they are lacking. Some of the ciders, especially the actual 0.0 ones, are just fizzy fruit juice, says so in the ingredients. Very expensive for that. I usually do good quality club soda and cranberry juice, or iced tea and cranberry juice these days.

As an aside, look at the ingredients in the different club sodas. Some have baking soda in them, among other things. Shasta is one of those. Nasty stuff.
 
I can see it now - a cold winter night, a nice cozy fire, a glass of alcohol-free bourbon, and my favorite blow-up doll...............................:thumbsup:
 
VinylHanger said:
As an aside, look at the ingredients in the different club sodas. Some have baking soda in them, among other things. Shasta is one of those. Nasty stuff.
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Nothing wrong with Baking Soda. About a teaspoon in a glass of water is good for relieving indigestion.

As for a clear head, the only time my head is not clear, is when I am drinking. I don’t find it as a lasting effect.

Are you are saying that is what you experienced?
 
Wigwam Jones said:
...But I suspect this is a growing market. More and more of us can't drink alcohol anymore, for a variety of reasons.
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Put your "suspicion" aside, as I've been reading that the youngers are going big time into the "non-alcohol" various products available, and from I've seen in the stores, they are catering to this new population of beverages.

So, you are going with the up and come, maybe "here already crowd".

You are with the times...man!


Q
 
Quadman2 said:
Put your "suspicion" aside, as I've been reading that the youngers are going big time into the "non-alcohol" various products available, and from I've seen in the stores, they are catering to this new population of beverages.

So, you are going with the up and come, maybe "here already crowd".

You are with the times...man!


Q
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The up and comers I know, drink real liquor and in quantity.

My local grocer’s beer selection is a vast majority of real beer. Now you go into a dedicated beer or liquor store, again vast majority is real beer and liquor. None of them are running any advertising for near beer and faux liquor.

the people that shop in grocery stores for alcoholic beverages are of the casual sort. The dedicated drinkers shop at stores that has a vast selection of liquor and beer, especially if you want top shelf product.

I don’t drink like I did in HS and college. I drink better, better quality and better habits. Back then, I drank to get drunk. Now I drink because I enjoy the flavor, and I enjoy the better quality beer and liquor that was not available, back then.
 
ducati_EL34 said:
The up and comers I know, drink real liquor and in quantity...
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True, the alcohol still does flow...in rivers at times, esp with the college crowd, but also speaking with the workers in the local alcohol outlets, they've noticed an big increase in the non-alcohol drinks sold, and now there's rows of lower % offerings and non-alcohol filling the shelves.

Plus, the "news-types" are sharing the "decrease in alcohol sales". The gov't here is about to put labels on the alcohol beverages pointing out the mis-use and connection to cancer.

And, I guess to a degree, where and when this type of product is sold, has an effect on the population who makes their different choices.

Q
 
I’ve tried a few of these alcohol-free bourbons, and while some have decent flavor profiles, none quite capture the warmth and depth of the real thing.

If you're looking for alternatives, sometimes mixing a good smoky tea with a bit of vanilla and spice can mimic some of those notes.

For folks cutting back on alcohol for health reasons, Abbeycare has resources that might be helpful in making long-term changes.
 
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