Disappointed Across the Board
Disappointed Across the Board – RITUAL Non-Alcoholic Spirits Review** As someone who genuinely enjoys the ritual of cocktail-making and has been trying to cut back on alcohol, I had high hopes for RITUAL's non-alcoholic alternatives. Unfortunately, I returned consistently disappointed after trying the tequila, whiskey, and rum versions. Let's start with the **tequila alternative** — it has a harsh, synthetic aroma and an oddly peppery aftertaste that tries to mimic alcohol burn but ends up feeling more like a chemical sting. It neither complements mixers well nor stands on its own. The **whiskey alternative** fared even worse. It lacked even the mildest whiskey's richness, depth, and oaky warmth. Instead, it tasted like watered-down vanilla with an artificial smoky essence thrown in — more like a cheap flavoring syrup than a sippable spirit. Lastly, the **rum alternative** was perhaps the most tolerable, but still disappointing. Instead of a molasses-forward or spiced complexity, it tasted flat, overly sweet, and thin-bodied. There was no real character to it. In all cases, I felt like I was drinking something trying *too hard* to pretend to be something it's not. I suggest looking elsewhere if you're looking for a satisfying zero-proof spirit. There are better-crafted alternatives on the market.