Best Non-Alcoholic Whiskey For 2025
/Your Guide to the Best Non-Alcoholic Whiskey Alternatives for Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, Whiskey Sours and More
Looking for the best non-alcoholic whiskey or bourbon? You’re not alone. All I wanted when I stopped drinking was either a glass of wine or a jack and coke. Lucky for me, zero proof spirits have really evolved and expanded in the past few years, and even though it’s still a challenge to find something with the burn of real whiskey, there are some winners. This curated list features the best whiskey alternatives I’ve found whether you want something on the rocks or something for a mocktail!
Quick Comparison: Best Non-Alcoholic Whiskey & Bourbon of 2025
A Classic Non-Alcoholic Spirit
From small-batch producers in California to creative distillers in Quebec, the range of non-alcoholic whiskeys has grown fast. They’re getting smokier, bolder, and way more satisfying.
Below, you’ll find my top picks which I’ve evaluated on the following criteria:
- Can you sip it neat or on the rocks?
- Does it hold up in an Old Fashioned?
- Can it stand out in complex cocktails?
I’ve personally tested dozens of bottles to find the best of the best. These are the standouts for flavour, balance, and mixability, with links for where to buy everything!
Table of Contents
Alcohol-Free Whiskeys & Bourbons for 2025
BEST OVERALL //
1. NKD Distillery Whiskey
Best for: everything!
Tasting notes: Dare I say, this is one of the first n/a spirits that truly drinks like a whiskey. HP Single Malt was the first to really nail this, but NKD is quite a bit better so HP moves to second place now. It burns clean just like a Crown Royal whiskey, and it’s not just an overload of capiscum which is what so many n/a alternatives use to mimic alcohol. There’s a subtle smokiness and a touch of sweetness - almost like vanilla bean. It’s worth the investment, whether you like simple mixed drinks like jack and coke or whiskey ginger, or whether you are aiming to make a more complicated non-alcoholic cocktail.
2. HP Single Malt Scotch (Canada only)
Best for: The Scotch Whisky lover and a crackling fire
Tasting notes: This is a fantastic non-alcoholic single malt whiskey. The aroma and the taste are excellent dupes of the real thing, with a nice peaty, wood-smoke aroma and a slight burn on the tongue. It doesn’t taste watered down, but rather has that delicate balance of thin viscosity at the front that a scotch sometimes has. This bottle stands out because it’s one of the few you can sip straight on the rocks, and it stands up really well in an old-fashioned - in fact, HP Juniper is actually better on it’s own and can get lost in a multi-ingredient cocktail.
**Only available in Canada
FOR BOURBON FANS //
If the sweet oaky flavor profile of bourbon is what you're after, look no further than these options below. Many a zero proof whiskey alternative are sweeter than their full octane counterparts because of added sugar and flavor, but the options below have the oak and the heat that bourbon is best known for.
3. Free Spirits Spirit of Bourbon
Best for: Bourbon mocktails
Tasting notes:
Free Spirits non-alcoholic Spirit of Bourbon is a beautiful and elegant zero proof spirit that has all the best parts of bourbon, but no alcohol. It has lovely malty, caramel notes on the palette and a gentle burn that complements the mellow flavours. You could absolutely sip this on the rocks and have a great bourbon experience, but it also stands up really nicely in cocktails. In an old-fashioned, it’s nice and mellow and meshes nicely with the sugar and bitters without overwhelming. It packs a nutritional punch with B12 and other nutrients, so you’re getting some positive health benefits from every drink.
(Available in Canada through most online retailers)
4. Spiritless Kentucky 74
Best for: Making spirit-forward non alcoholic cocktails
Tasting notes:
Their distilled non-alcoholic bourbon is a great dupe for a Kentucky bourbon. The aroma has a nice sharp peppery bite, and on the palette you have gentle bittersweet notes mixed with a slight medicinal tang. It’s not as sippable on the rocks as some other options, but it mixes really well into cocktails like an old fashioned or a Manhattan.
(15% OFF EVERYTHING AT THE ZERO PROOF WITH THE LINK BELOW - NO CODE NEEDED)
JUST ADD GINGER ALE //
If you're looking for a straightforward non alcoholic whiskey that will work well in a simple mixed drink like a whiskey and cola, these are two great options.
5. Cut Above Whiskey
Best for: Whiskey cola and other simple mixed drinks
Tasting notes:
Cut Above Whiskey is produced right in the heart of Bourbon country. It has a nice sweet heat laced with vanilla, with a tiny hint of cherry and very laid back oak notes. This drink is a mood! It's delicious mixed with basic sodas because it adds a bite with lots of flavour to your drink. It does use potassium sorbate as a preservative, so there is a very minimal salty flavor, but it doesn't detract from the overall experience when its mixed into a drink.
6. Lyre's American Malt
Best for: Whiskey Soda or Whiskey sours
Tasting notes:
Lyre's American Malt was one of the first zero proof whiskeys on the market. It's produced in Australia, and it's an elegant and complex dupe of the real thing. It's great in a whiskey sour, or just mixed with some soda and bitters for a simple mocktail option.
SPICY & SAVOURY //
If you like a kick to your non alcoholic whiskey, these are our favourites.
7. Spiritless SPICED Kentucky 74
Best for: Autumn and holiday mocktails
Tasting notes:
Just like the classic Spiritless, this alcohol-free Kentucky 74 has a great flavour profile and texture, but has added notes of cinnamon to give this option a festive spin. It's great for sipping on ice, with the sweet heat of cinnamon combining nicely with the expected bourbon flavours of oak and caramel. This option works really well in mocktails with apple, caramel, pumpkin or other seasonal flavours. If you want to make festive holiday party mocktails, this is the bottle to buy as you can be super creative with the recipes you're trying with it.
(15% OFF EVERYTHING AT THE ZERO PROOF WITH THE LINK BELOW - NO CODE NEEDED)
8. Monday Whiskey
Best for: Cool and crisp mocktails
Tasting notes:
Monday non-alcoholic whiskey tastes unique and flavourful with an unexpected depth for a zero proof product. There are the obvious spicy notes people have come to accept as a way to replicate the ‘burn’ of alcohol, but beyond that lies a caramelized malty barrel-aged flavour reminiscent of a Tennessee whiskey filtered with sugar maple charcoal. Because of the sweet backbone, Monday non-alcoholic whiskey pairs really well with crisper and cooler flavours with no need to add simple syrup or other sweeteners
(15% OFF EVERYTHING AT THE ZERO PROOF WITH THE LINK BELOW - NO CODE NEEDED)
This guide was created by me, Sarah Kate, editor of Some Good Clean Fun and IWSC No/Low Alcohol judge, and I’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of non-alcoholic wines and spirits since 2020.
FAQs About Non-Alcoholic Whiskey & Bourbon (2025 Edition)
Can you drink non-alcoholic whiskey and bourbon straight?
Yes — many alcohol-free whiskey can be sipped neat or on the rocks. HP Single Malt is the best brand to drink on the rocks, followed by NKD Distillery.
Does non-alcoholic whiskey taste like real whiskey?
Some brands come surprisingly close! While they lack the alcohol burn, top picks like NKD Distillery and HP Single Malt offer smokey malt notes that mimic traditional whiskey distilling.
Where can I buy non-alcoholic whiskey in the U.S. and Canada?
In the U.S., you’ll find lots of options on Amazon, at at retailers like The Zero Proof and Boisson. Canadian shoppers can try Sobr Market, Dry Variety, or Well.ca. Always check if shipping is available to your region.
Is non-alcoholic whiskey good for mocktails?
Absolutely! These whiskey and bourbon options are perfect for classic mocktails like Old Fashioned or a Whiskey Sour. Look for ones with a strong smokey flavor and a clean heat so it will stand out in a mocktail with other ingredients.
Our Favourite Mocktail Recipes with Non-Alcoholic Whiskey
Making mocktails without booze can be hard. Replicating the real thing with non alcoholic spirits is coming closer to being like the real experience. Here are a few easy and simple recipes to get you started experimenting with zero proof options to see what flavours you like for your mocktails.
Recipe #1: Sober Sundays
This is a drink that helps elevate a basic cocktail with a classic non alcoholic spirit.
Ingredients:
3 oz Lyre's Spirits Co American Malt or other zero-proof alternative
1/2 oz. maple syrup (or to taste)
1/2 oz lemon juice
club soda
Preparation:
Add the first three ingredients to a shaker with minimal square ice, and shake to chill for 5-8 seconds.
Strain into a chilled Collins glass with ice.
Top with club soda and enjoy.
Recipe #2: Non-alcoholic Whiskey Highball
This is as EASY as it gets!
The trick to this drink is making sure to use extra non-alcoholic bourbon, and use ginger ale without too much heat, like Canada Dry. This helps the flavour of the bourbon shine through and combine with the gentle heat from the ginger ale.
Ingredients:
2.5 oz Free Spirits Spirit of Bourbon
3-4 oz ginger ale (any type - diet, regular, don't use ginger beer as it will over)
Ice
Preparation:
Add non-alcoholic bourbon to the bottom of the glass.
Add ice and stir to chill
Top with chilled ginger ale
Where can you buy alcohol-free whiskey?
Visit our list of Where To Buy Non-Alcoholic Drinks in the U.S.
Or for Canada, our list is at Where To Buy Alcohol-Free Drinks.
