What are Non-Alcoholic Spirits?

For those looking to explore mindful drinking without sacrificing flavor and experience, non-alcoholic spirits have arrived as a game-changing alternative. But what exactly are these “spirits” without the alcohol? And how are they crafted to capture such remarkable flavors and essence?

Let’s pour ourselves a refreshing NA cocktail and take a deeper look at the world of non alcoholic spirits.

What are Non-Alcoholic Spirits?

At their core, non-alcoholic spirits are highly concentrated botanical distillates and extracts designed to mimic the flavors of traditional spirits like gin, whiskey, rum, etc. However, unlike their alcoholic counterparts that are produced from fermented grains or fruits, NA spirits start with a selection of intricate botanical ingredients like flowers, herbs, fruits, spices, roots, and more.

Through meticulous extraction processes that capture the essential aromatic and flavor compounds from those botanicals, distillers can carefully recreate the nuanced tasting profiles you’d expect from full-strength spirits. The key difference? These alcohol-free versions contain little to no ethanol (around 0.5% ABV or less).

So essentially, NA spirits allow you to experience the classic taste of cocktails without any of the physical effects or calories that come from alcohol itself. You’re sipping on pure botanical essences suspended in a spirit-like liquid.

The Historical Roots of Botanical Distillation

While NA spirits are a relatively new commercial product category, the artistry behind botanical extraction and distillation dates back centuries. In fact, it’s rooted in an era when alcohol was highly regulated and many people shunned it for cultural or health reasons.

As early as the 16th century, pioneering Renaissance philosophers and apothecaries began experimenting with ways to isolate the flavors, aromas, and therapeutic properties of botanicals without using alcohol as a solvent. Early rudimentary techniques involved steeping or soaking herbs in alcohol, then carefully removing or “defusing” the alcoholic portion through evaporation, condensation or chilled filtration.

This laid the foundation for “spirits” that were truly alcohol-free, yet still retained impressive botanical complexities. By the 16th and 17th centuries, varieties of non-alcoholic botanical “aqua” waters, tinctures, and tonics become revered among Europe’s aristocracy and upper classes who sought enriching indulgences without intemperance.

Production Challenges & the Advent of Modern NA Distillation

Unfortunately, the art of botanical distillation without alcohol was extremely difficult to sustain and standardize. Pre-modern distillation equipment proved wildly inconsistent, resulting in off-flavors, impurities, and short shelf-lives for these “spirits.” A lack of proper preservation methods further hampered their production.

By the early 19th century, NA botanical beverages had largely fallen out of favor as alcoholic spirits with longer shelf stability and shipping durability became widely commercialized. Their production was relegated only to small-batch herbal apothecaries used for highly specialized medicinal or culinary purposes.

It wasn’t until the late 20th century advancements in extraction technologies and distillation processes that NA spirits began re-emerging as a premium commercial product category. With refined equipment and innovative techniques, producers could finally capture precise botanical essences with pristine flavor clarity.

Let’s explore how these modern production methods work…

The Art of Modern Non-Alcoholic Spirit Production

While traditional distilled spirits use fermentation from sugars or grains to produce ethanol, NA spirits utilize purely physical separations to extract flavor compounds from botanical sources. Here are some of the primary processes used:

Botanical Distillation & Extraction The botanical ingredients (spices, herbs, fruits, etc) are distilled individually using a few main extraction techniques:

Hydro Distillation – The botanicals are submerged and heated in a still with water or steam to pull out their essential aromatic oils and flavors into a concentrated hydrosol.

Vacuum Distillation – Botanicals are heated under vacuum pressure to extract at lower temperatures, preserving delicate aromas.

Solvent Extraction – Botanicals are steeped or percolated in food-grade alcohol or other solvents like glycerol to isolate their key flavor molecules. The solvent is then removed to leave behind the concentrated extract.

Cold-Pressing – Intense pressure is applied to fresh botanical ingredients to squeeze out and capture their essential oils and juices.

Once the individual botanical extractions are complete, the distiller expertly blends them into a precisely crafted elixir to achieve the desired spirit flavor profile and mouthfeel.

Alcohol Removal & Concentration

Even if small amounts of alcohol are used as an extraction solvent initially, it must then be removed from the final botanical distillate. Several specialized processes are leveraged:

Vacuum Distillation – The liquid extract is heated under vacuum pressure conditions to vapourize and capture only the alcohol, leaving the flavorful botanical remnants behind.

Reverse Osmosis – Using selective membrane filters, the extract is pushed through with extreme pressure to separate alcohol molecules from the larger flavor molecules.

Cold-Filtering – By rapidly freezing and filtering the extract, only the alcohol remains frozen as ice crystals while the flavorful liquids drain through.

The final alcohol-free botanical extract is then often distilled again under vacuum to concentrate its intensity and viscous texture.

Proofing & Resting

At this stage, the clarified concentrate is slowly diluted and “proofed” down to its optimal drinking strength using de-mineralized water. To allow the complex botanical flavors to fully integrate and “marry”, the proofed spirit is often rested for several weeks in temperature-controlled tanks.

Depending on the producer’s specific recipes and techniques, additional botanicals, extracts, or natural essences may be blended post-proofing for a final calibration of aromas and tastes.

The spirit’s mouthfeel, clarity, and flavor profile is meticulously fine-tuned through multiple iterations before the batch is finally bottled, labeled, and prepared for distribution. The entire distillation process for a premium non-alcoholic spirit can take up to 4 months or longer from start to finish.

The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Culture

While techniques for producing alcohol-free botanical blends have ancient origins, the re-emergence of NA spirits as a premium beverage category is still relatively new. Sales of non-alcoholic distilled spirits are projected to hit $24 billion globally by 2026.

Driving this growth is increased consumer demand for mindful drinking options, led by younger sober-curious crowds who are reassessing their relationships with alcohol. An entire NA cocktail culture has blossomed with a wave of upscale bars, tasting rooms, bottleshops, and curated events and pop-ups solely dedicated to spirit-free beverages.

As more distilleries master advanced production techniques, we’re now seeing an incredible diversity of NA spirit styles flood the market — from gins, whiskeys, and amaros to aperitifs, vermouths, even booze-free “wines.” It’s an exciting new frontier where spirit enthusiasts can appreciate the full artistry of distilled botanicals without any inebriating effects.

What was originally conceived as an exploration in alcohol-free botanical extractions has blossomed into an entirely new cultural movement centered around mindful indulgence and the pure celebration of nature’s flavors.

So whether you’re temporarily embracing a sober-curious reset or have committed to an alcohol-free lifestyle for health reasons, non-alcoholic spirits offer an incredibly sophisticated and delicious way to enjoy the conviviality of a well-crafted cocktail. Savor the full botanical experience without any of the side effects.

Pour yourself an alcohol-free gin & tonic or botanical spritz with NA spirits like JUNiPRE, and experience how mindfulness has been distilled to perfection.