{"id":185050,"date":"2024-12-12T09:33:25","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T15:33:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=185050"},"modified":"2024-12-12T09:34:49","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T15:34:49","slug":"non-alcoholic-whiskey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/leisure\/food-drink\/non-alcoholic-whiskey\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the Best Zero-Proof Whiskey?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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During the past decade, more and more people have started to abstain from alcohol.<\/p>\n

Most people do it for health reasons. Alcohol is hard on the body and the mind<\/a>.  <\/p>\n

The market has responded to the rise of alcohol abstainers by creating “zero-proof\u201d alternatives that attempt to recreate the taste, aroma, and mouthfeel of popular alcoholic spirits without the alcohol. Today, you can find zero-proof tequilas, gins, and vodkas.<\/p>\n

There are also zero-proof whiskeys out there. A lot of \u2018em.<\/p>\n

Some non-alcoholic whiskeys distill the base grain as in the traditional whiskey-making process, and then remove the alcohol afterward. But most use natural flavors \u2014 botanicals and extracts derived from spices, herbs, and grains \u2014 to replicate whiskey’s smoky, woody, and caramel notes.<\/p>\n

Other ingredients are also added to simulate the taste and experience of traditional whiskey: small amounts of sugar, molasses, or caramel coloring for sweetness and color; tannins or natural acids to mimic alcoholic whiskey’s sharp, mouth-drying effect; glycerin to create its characteristic viscosity and “warming” sensation. Non-alcoholic whiskeys don\u2019t typically undergo traditional aging in barrels, but manufacturers may use wood chips, barrel staves, or oak extracts to replicate the aged flavor.<\/p>\n

To find out which zero-proof whiskeys are the best and come closest to matching the oak-aged warmth, subtle smoke, and rich complexity of traditional whiskey, I had my friend and barbell coach<\/a>, Matt Reynolds<\/a>, taste-test the whiskey alternatives on the market today.<\/p>\n

Besides hoisting weights and running a business, Matt\u2019s a whiskey aficionado who boasts a large whiskey library in his home and has led whiskey tastings for clients.<\/p>\n

Here’s Matt\u2019s take on which zero-proof whiskeys take top marks.<\/p>\n

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Cut Above<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n
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Rating: 1\/10<\/strong> Lowest Rated<\/em><\/p>\n

Cut Above does not go through a traditional distillation process and relies on botanical infusions to achieve its whiskey-esque flavor. Unfortunately, while Cut Above does offer a genuine throat burn, that whiskey-esque flavor was not at all on display; lacking in oak-iness and smoke, it was the most disappointing of the bunch and missed the mark entirely.<\/p>\n

Matt\u2019s Tasting Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n