Party season is approaching and Sober October feels like a good place to start looking for delicious, non-alcoholic drinks that feel special enough to take the place of booze. Here are some recent favourites:
REAL Blush Slow Fermented Sparkling Tea, £9- £10 Tesco Waitrose
As far as Champagne alternatives go, why not pick something that actually does you good rather than a de-alcoholised fizz pumped of sugar? Sparkling teas and kombuchas offer the pop of Champers and the yeasty, brioche complexity with none of the nasties - and they’re good for your gut. REAL blush is made with First Flush Darjeeling and White Peony teas, which give it a totally natural, tangy, red fruit flavour. There are lots of other flavours to try too and they also now come in cans.
Bunta Beer, £3 Wise Bartender buntabeer.com
This Indian-founded, UK-brewed non-alcoholic beer was created specifically to pair with Indian food as it’s lower in carbonation to prevent that overly bloated feeling. This one is crisp and citrusy with a refreshing orange peel note and a herbal tang. With National Curry Week happening as we speak (until 11th Oct), it’s a great time to try it too.
Wilfred’s British Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo, £22 Ocado, £30.50 Masterofmalt
More like a posher, more delicious Campari, this is a serious, British-made aperitivo that tastes like it has booze in it thanks to a moreish bitterness from the orange peel and rosemary, as well as a warmth e from cloves. It’s pricey, but with a non-alcoholic fizz, you’ll see its worth. It would make a great gift for the non-drinker in your life too.
CLUBMERA Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo, £27 for 6 x 200ml, clubmera.com
CLUBMERA sits somewhere between an Apérol Spritz and a Negroni in style and it’s a pretty-looking, plug-and-play tipple. Quite light in body with some serious spritz and dark red in colour, it looks the business in the glass - and tastes it too. There’s lots of flavour here: bitter orange peel, spice, herbs and a kick of pink pepper. A properly grown-up soft drink.
Warner’s Botanical Aperitif, £18 M&S in store
Fans of Botvio or Mother Root will love this new launch, which is now in M&S. Made on a farm in Northamptonshire, this uses raw apple cider vinegar as a base, softened by wildflower honey and combined with lavender, lovage, angelica root, chamomile, dandelion root, gentian and wormwood with orange, grapefruit peel and cardamom. It’s quirky and delicious: earthy, yet floral and bittersweet. Try it with soda water and a slice of orange.
Nirvana Alcohol-Free Stout, 0.5% £28 for 12 x 330ml nirvanabrewery.com
We all know Guinness 0.0% is the bomb, but it’s nice to change things up occasionally. Brewed in London, this is a little lighter and sweeter than the big G but with lots of gorgeous flavours like coffee bean, chocolate malt and caramel. The bitterness on the finish is softer too and the new nitro version is much better for the creaminess than it used to be.
Old Speckled Hen ZERO, £5.50 for 4x440ml cans, Morrisons
Not to be confused with the lower-alcohol version, the ‘Chicken Ale’ has a new 0.0% baby. Fans of the original should be impressed with the profile of this classic ale, which is lightly malty and gently fruity. Naturally, it doesn’t quite have the body of the 5% version but flavour-wise, it’s almost there. Refreshing and old school at the same time. Lovely jubbly.
Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild Alcohol Free IPA, 4 x 355ml, £5 Tesco
A very different animal from the malty ale and the creamy stout, this hoppy IPA is the real deal. With tons of citrussy, flavour and crunchy bitterness on the finish, this is refreshing and crisp - the perfect foil for getting through beer o’clock unscathed. At 56 calories per can too, it feels even more virtuous. Up there with Guinness when it comes to the ‘I can’t believe it’s not booze’ factor.
CHANCE Clean Cider, 300ml, £2.25 M&S
Brand new into M&S is the UK’s first dedicated, alcohol-free cider - and no, it’s not just apple juice! Made with British apples by real cider-makers, this slightly spritzy sipper is clean by name and clean by nature. With a seriously pure and crisp apple flavour, there’s an extra dimension to this that stops it just tasting like juice. A bit on the pricey side but a classy drop.
DOSE & CO Sparkling Beauty Collagen Drinks, Holland & Barrett Waitrose
The UK’s first sparkling collagen drink in a can, this novel concept ticks a lot of boxes for me in midlife. With two flavours at the moment (lime & mint and raspberry & pomegranate) you can taste the collagen a little in these but they do feel like they’re doing you good. Drink very cold and they double up as an alcohol-free, no-nasties treat and your drinkable skincare!
Water Junkie Functional Drinks, £2-£2.49 Holland & Barrett Waterjunkie.com
These functional mushroom-led drinks are a revelation - and no, they do not taste remotely mushroomy. There are three flavours to try, each with one mushroom leading the way based on its superpowers, then souped up with good-for-you additions like ginseng, ashwagandha, and magnesium. Choose DREAM with Reishi, WIDE AWAKE with Lion’s Mane or FEEL ALIVE with Chaga. The flavours are complex, fresh and delicious too. My new go-to soft drink.
Like this? See previous recommendations:
Beyond Dry January: Sober Sips to Try
The Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks of 2025
Alcohol-Free & Mid Wines: Which should I try?
Cin Cin!