Best Non-Alcoholic Sipping Spirits

If you have cut back on drinking but not on taste, a good non-alcoholic sipping spirit should be worth taking your time with. Here is what to look for in the glass, and how No. 86 is built for the pour.

What makes a non-alcoholic sipping spirit actually good

Four things separate a bottle worth pouring from a novelty you use once:

• Oak and depth — look for oak, vanilla, char, and a little spice.
• Warmth without fake burn — good ones give a gentle warming finish; bad ones dump in chili extract to fake the alcohol bite.
• It works neat AND in a cocktail — look for a spirit that holds its structure over ice or in an Old Fashioned.
• Not sugary — sweetness should not overwhelm the other flavors in the glass.

How No. 86 is made for the ritual

No. 86 is a small-batch non-alcoholic sipping spirit built in San Diego for people who miss the pour, not the hangover. It is oaky and smooth with a slow, warming finish — designed to be sipped neat, poured over a single large cube, or built into a zero-proof Old Fashioned. Under 0.5% ABV, the same standard as non-alcoholic beer.

Neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail

The real test of a non-alcoholic sipping spirit is versatility. No. 86 holds up three ways: neat for a quiet pour, over ice to open it up, or as a cocktail base. We have 30 zero-proof recipes built on it — from the Old Fashioned to the No. 86 Sour.

Explore flavor and finish

No. 86 is built for a slow pour, with oak, vanilla, and a warming finish. Explore flavor and finish and non-alcoholic sipping spirit tasting notes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best non-alcoholic sipping spirit?
The best non-alcoholic sipping spirit has real oak depth, a warming finish without fake burn, and works both neat and in cocktails. No. 86 is a small-batch spirit built to those standards — oaky, smooth, under 0.5% ABV.

What does No. 86 taste like?
No. 86 has oak and vanilla notes with a slow, warming finish. It is built to be sipped neat, poured over ice, or used in cocktails.

Can you drink No. 86 neat?
Yes. No. 86 is designed to be sipped neat or over a single large ice cube.

Is No. 86 completely alcohol-free?
No. 86 is labeled as containing less than 0.5% ABV. This does not mean alcohol-free or 0.0% alcohol.

Does No. 86 work in cocktails?
Yes. No. 86 holds its structure in an Old Fashioned, No. 86 Sour, Manhattan, and more.