Happiest Hour

With juniper, sage, saffron, orange peel extracts, and oils, this hemp-based blend of bitter and sweet is a bit like an amaro. The label says it lifts “malaise and ennui, cold feet and hot tempers.” In other words, just what the doctor ordered.

I’m usually not a fan of Rieslings, but I found true love in a nonalcoholic one at Mezzatorre Hotel in Ischia. That one isn’t sold in the U.S., but the Giesen gives me that rounded, crisp flavor—and it’s so much more appealing with a meal than an overly sweet mocktail.

The slightly bitter quality of this mix of yuzu and florals, along with its deep berry color, feels like a party. It also looks jaunty on a bar cart. Try some with sparkling water, a squeeze of lemon, and a sprig of rosemary.

With ginger, white tea, and white cranberry, this has just the right amount of sweetness and fizz. I first tried a glass at Wildair in the East Village and immediately ordered some for home.

This artisanal spirit-free spirit functions a bit like gin. It’s a fresh, light blend of orange, lemon peel, lemongrass, ginger, blood orange, and bitter orange. I like it with a good tonic and a lot of lime or stirred with orange and cranberry juice and topped with sparkling water.

Made by negroni aficionados, this award-winning cocktail might not fool Stanley Tucci, but it’s a worthy alcohol-free substitute made with organic juniper, herbs, a touch of sugar, and a little carbonation.

There’s nothing subtle about this bittersweet, alcohol-free cocktail. It resembles an Italian aperitivo with juniper berries, red currant, allspice, kola beans, and a sprinkle of sugar. It comes in groovy-looking cans.

A sugar-free, alcohol-free spirit made of juniper, cucumber, birch, and yuzu, this also has lion’s mane, a non-psychoactive mushroom that’s believed to enhance creativity and mental focus. I tried it with tonic and feel smarter already.

I drank this on New Year’s Eve and woke up the next morning annoyingly energized. It’s a French de-alcoholized sparkling wine from Constance Jablonski, the model, and Maggie Frèrejean-Tattinger of that Tattinger family.

This takes the alcohol-free idea to a new level of refinement. It’s made with organic French Chardonnay grapes and has actual richness and depth.

The Brits love their gin, and this one might appeal to their sober side. It’s made in England, loaded with juniper, and tastes refreshing with tonic, lots of lime, and, if you’re feeling fancy, a sprig of mint.

Mix a batch of ersatz negronis or alcohol-free margaritas in a pitcher and serve them at your next cocktail party. It puts some festivity in a sober situation.

These cheerful mismatched tumblers of Murano glass elevate any cocktail, especially one that’s otherwise spirit-free.

Made of hand-blown glass from Japan, these striped tumblers are sophisticated vessels that would glamorize even an Athletic N/A beer.

This handsome bar cart of black lacquered wood and chrome with Italian horn handles has clean lines and clever wheels. It looks like something Halston and Elsa Perretti would’ve loved, although they probably wouldn’t have stocked it with alcohol-free bottles.

Perhaps this 1960s bar cart could do double duty as a gardening trolley, but I prefer to keep it pristine. It’s made of lacquered goatskin and walnut with brass wheels, like the world’s most stylish wheelbarrow.