Sporked’s Guide to the Best Tasting Dry January

So, you’ve decided to commit to a Dry January. Your reasonings are your own. We’re not here to judge you or to praise you. We are simply here to make sure you’re still drinking well and like an adult. Because Dry January doesn’t mean you can only drink tap water or, conversely, that you should start sucking down juice boxes. You can still sip on something that approximates the satisfaction of an alcoholic beverage—whether it’s a non-alcoholic version of some sort of booze or something else more nuanced than sugary. We’ve rounded up all of the rankings that we think will help you in your Dry January journey. 

Best Non-Alcoholic Beer

There’s a lot of non-alcoholic beer out there these days—beyond the basic O’Douls (although that one is pretty darn good if you’re looking for a standard N/A beer that tastes like a classic “beer”). Whether you’re looking for a hoppy N/A IPA or a fruity brew, we’ve got the best N/A beer for you. 

Best Non-Alcoholic White Wine

You don’t have to pair your fish with grape juice if you’re going dry. In fact, please don’t. Opt for one of these non-alcoholic white wines instead. 

Best Non-Alcoholic Red Wine

Cozy up to a glass of the best non-alcoholic red wine—one that actually tastes like wine. We found the best non-alcoholic Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, and more. 

Best Non-Alcoholic Champagne

Much like alcoholic Champagne, non-alcoholic Champagne should not be saved only for celebrations. Break out a bottle of the good (non-boozy) stuff to pair with something as humble as buttered popcorn. 

Best Non-Alcoholic Whiskey

Non-alcoholic whiskey (even really good non-alcoholic whiskey) is not quite good enough to sip straight. But you can certainly use it to mix into a mocktail like an N/A Whiskey Sour or a Whiskey Coke or mulled cider. 

Best Non-Alcoholic Gin

Non-alcoholic gin is probably the best category of non-alcoholic spirit on the market. If you mix one of our N/A gin picks with some tonic or shake it up with some good grapefruit juice, you’ll have no problem making it through Dry Jan.  

Best Non-Alcoholic Tequila

Shake one of our picks for the best non-alcoholic tequila with our top Margarita mix and your Dry Jan will be transformed into a winter beach vacay. 

Best Non-Alcoholic Vodka

Non-alcoholic vodka is weird. And we’re still not totally sure why it exists. But we did our due diligence and found the best ones, just in case you’re the target audience. 

Best Canned Mocktails

Skip the mixing and the shaking and just buy one of these canned mocktails. They’re way more complex and interesting than any soda on the market. 

Best Ginger Beer

Ginger beer may have started out as an alcoholic beverage, but it’s Dry Jan appropriate these days. It still has a good spice and kick, though, to keep you sipping slowly. 

Best Seltzer and Sparkling Water

Just looking for a more interesting water to help keep your mouth engaged? Try one of the best soft seltzers on the market. 

Best Tonic Water

Tonic water’s bittersweet flavor is a perfect cocktail stand-in. But make sure you pick one of the best tonic waters. Go ahead, splurge on one of the fancier bottles.