miami-eats 12 min
How to Stock a Non-Alcoholic Bar, From Spirits to Shakers
Shopping Everything You Need to Set Up a Non-Alcoholic Bar, From Spirits to Shakers Who says a bar needs booze? By Andrea Strong December 30, 2025 This is Starter Kit , a series where our editors share the food, drink, and kitchen essentials they recommend when you’re setting up from scratch. Here, Andrea Strong writes about everything you need to set up a non-alcoholic bar for Dry January and beyond. Here’s a thought as we step into 2026: a bar doesn’t have to be stocked with booze. Certainly, with the impressive new crop of non-alcoholic wines, spirits, cocktails, and beers, it’s kind of a no-brainer to showcase them all. Whether you’re considering a more moderate or even Dry January (after a very wet December), feeling sober-curious , or just interested in exploring the burgeoning world of NA wines and spirits , we thought it might be nice to share a roadmap for how to thoughtfully and expertly curate a beautiful non-alcoholic bar at home. “What makes a nonalcoholic bar different has less to do with what’s in the glass and more to do with the mindset behind it,” says Justin Gurland, Founder of The Maze , NYC's first alcohol-free members club. For home bars, Gurland says to keep things simple and personal. “You don’t need a large collection to create a great NA bar, just a few things you enjoy and a setup that feels comfortable and welcoming. And if you prefer a Diet Coke over an NA wine, go with that. It’s less about recreating a traditional bar and more about finding what actually works for you. Start with a few products you enjoy, add some mixers or fresh citrus, and use glassware that makes the experience feel intentional.” From wine to beer, to cocktail accessories, barware, and more, we share everything you need to build your very own non-alcoholic bar at home. In this article AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron Non-alc wine Non-alc beer Non-alc spirits Non-alc canned cocktails Mixers, bitters, and syrups Glassware Barware Accessories Where to buy your non-alc booze Non-alc wine The non-alcoholic wine space has grown in the past few years from wine that essentially tasted like sour juice to a far more complex and interesting vino. There are two main types of NA wine: dealcoholized and proxies. Dealcoholized wines are regular wines that have had most or all of their alcohol removed after fermentation, retaining flavors, aromas, and complexity of traditional wine. Gurland notes that de-alcoholized wines “tend to pair better with food because they retain more of the structure, acidity, and mouthfeel people expect from wine. Styles like Oddbird , for example, pair more naturally with savory dishes or longer meals." NA sparkling wines, such as French Bloom , "are great for toasts or lighter occasions rather than food pairing," he adds. Hilary Sheinbaum, author of Going Dry: A Workbook: A Practical Guide to Drinking Less and Living More , recommends a mix of still and sparkling options. “I love a good sparkling rosé—especially if it's nonalcoholic! It's refreshing, and equally perfect for a summer day as it is during the holidays when effervescent drinks are flowing.” For still wines, nearly all experts favor Giesen 0% Wines . “It's really hard to find good nonalcoholic red wines on the market, and Giesen does a great job with theirs,” says Sheinbaum. "Giesen 0%'s red is the one I'm always recommending and serving to guests.” Wine proxies mimic wine-like flavors with fruit juices, botanicals, and teas. “Wine proxies and sparkling alternatives often shine on their own," he says. “They’re more expressive aromatically and work well as an aperitif or for social moments and celebrations.” Gurland suggests having a few bottles of each so that depending on whether you’re sitting down for dinner or simply gathering and socializing. “Having both allows the experience to feel intentional rather than restrictive,” he says. French Bloom Le Blanc Alcohol-Free Sparkling Wine $39 Boisson Mionetto Dealcoholized Prosecco $13 Total Wine Proxies Big Red $22 The Zero Proof $25 Boisson Giesen 0% Non-Alcoholic Riesling $17 The Zero Proof Freixenet Alcohol-Removed Sparkling Rosé $11 Total Wine Oddbird Low Intervention Sparkling Orange $50 The Zero Proof Non-alc beer Not everyone is a fan of wine (shocking but true), so your bar should also include a selection of beer. “I gravitate to wine, but I know that my friends love beer,” says Sheinbaum. “That said, I want them to have the best of what's out there!” Luckily, like wine, the beer category has grown up quite a bit as well, so it now includes craft-style brews like Bero and Athletic Brewing , says Gurland. “Today, there’s an entire category of carefully crafted alternatives that make it easier for people to feel included, whether they’re abstaining for a night, a month, or for life.” Athletic Brewing Company Run Wild IPA $10 Thrive Market Athletic Brewing Company Mexican-Style Copper $10 Thrive Market Best Day Brewing Non-Alcoholic West Coast IPA $12 Thrive Market Kit Non-Alc Brewery Blonde Ale $12 Thrive Market Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Golden Brew, Golden Era $12 Thrive Market Bero Kingston Non-Alcoholic Golden Pils $3 Boisson Non-alc spirits Whiskey, tequila, and vodka are all regulars on the traditional bar and should also have a place on the NA bar. Depending on your own preference, you might include a few brown and a few clear spirits. Sheinbaum loves Free Spirits , especially its nonalcoholic gin , tequila, and bourbon . “These are essential for any nonalcoholic bar. These liquids not only help add flavor and mouthfeel, but they are also low-calorie (5 calories per serving) and easy to use in classic cocktails,” she says. To make spritzes, she loves Mionetto Aperitivo Alcohol Free . “This subtly bitter spirit is a must-have for any NA bar. It's 0% ABV and can be combined with NA sparkling wine for the perfectly balanced NA cocktail. Or, it can be combined with a traditional sparkling wine for a low ABV cocktail.” Gurland, who favors Aplos , which makes spirits infused with citrus, herbal botanicals, and broad-spectrum hemp. “What excites me most isn’t any single product, it’s the shift in mindset,” he says. “People now expect thoughtful NA options in social settings. They want to feel included, respected, and part of the moment - and the growth of this category reflects that. For anyone in recovery or choosing not to drink, that’s incredibly meaningful.” Aplós Calme $48 The Zero Proof Mionetto Aperitivo Alcohol Free $20 Mionetto The Free Spirits Gin $34 $30 (12% off) Amazon Ritual Zero Proof Non-Alcoholic Spirits Bundle $145 $130 (10% off) The Zero Proof Wilfred’s Non-Alcoholic Bittersweet Aperitif $32 Boisson Almave Ambar Non-Alcoholic Blue Agave Spirit $35 $30 (14% off) Amazon Non-alc canned cocktails Zero-proof pre-made drinks require zero effort and deliver big on flavor and fun, so they are essential for simple entertaining from your at-home bar. “They're so easy to pop open and pour,” says Sheinbaum, who favors Free Spirits canned cocktails. “Whenever I'm hosting guests or having an event, the ones that go the fastest are by far the Margaritas! They also have a Kentucky Mule, an Espresso Old Fashioned, and a Negroni!” The world of booze-free cocktails runs the gamut from the OG nonalcoholic apéritif from Ghia, to the Phony Negroni , a bottled (and now also canned ) NA Negroni from Brooklyn, NY-based distillery St. Agrestis, and Curious Elixirs , which adds adaptogens to a menu of nine different booze-free cocktails in complex flavors like spicy pineapple ginger margarita ( No. 2 ), Sicilian blood-orange spritz ( No. 4 ), smoked chocolate cherry old-fashioned ( No. 5 ), and booze-free champagne with elderflower and lavender ( No. 7 ). Keep a few of each on hand to pop open and sip over ice for a breezy, easy welcome drink. Ghia Le Spritz Sumac & Chili Non-Alcoholic Apéritif $19 Thrive Market De Soi Spritz Italiano Non-Alcoholic Apéritif $15 Thrive Market Kin Euphorics Kin Spritz $11 Thrive Market Aplós Ume Spritz $18 Thrive Market $48 Aplós Parch Non-Alcoholic Agave Cocktail, Prickly Paloma $17 Thrive Market Lapos Non-Alcoholic Espresso Martini $19 Thrive Market $20 The Zero Proof St. Agrestis Phony Negroni $36 Boisson $20 The Zero Proof Curious No. 2 Curious No. 2 Nonalcoholic Spicy Pineapple Ginger Margarita $108 Curious Elixirs $49 The Zero Proof Mixers, bitters, and syrups As you would for cocktails, you’ll also want to have a roster of mixers on hand for your mocktails , says Callie Gullickson, a Peloton instructor known for her joyful brand of Bring Your Own Energy classes and the author of the newly released Mocktail Hour . “The perfect mocktail consists of a few essential ingredients—a juice, fruit, or citrus like lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit (or a combination of all), bubbles of some sort—sparkling water, coconut water, kombucha or ginger beer—and if you want to get fancy, some herbs like basil, mint, or rosemary, and sweeteners such as agave, maple syrup or honey,” she says. She also keeps a collection of syrups on hand for added flavor, favoring products that can be easily store-bought, like grenadine, lavender syrup, and elderflower syrup. When making mocktails, Gullickson is more concerned with enjoyment than perfection. “Don’t worry about making your drink perfect,” she says. “Worry about making it yours, and if you don’t have a specific ingredient, use what’s in the fridge; that’s okay! Sip, experiment, and trust yourself.” All The Bitter Alcohol-Free Aromatic Bitters NS $26 Boisson Giffard Non-Alcoholic Elderflower Liqueur $34 Boisson Q Mixers Tonic Water $4 Thrive Market Fever-Tree Ginger Beer $45 $33 (27% off) Amazon Barsmith Elderflower Simple Syrup $13 Amazon Torani Grenadine Syrup $19 Amazon Cheeky Cocktails Simple Syrup $18 Amazon HipStirs Lavender Haze Syrup $15 Amazon Glassware Don’t skimp on glassware; the sort of thoughtful attention to detail pays off. “If you want a nonalcoholic bar t
Dec 30, 2025
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