In the world of wines and spirits exist a culture around flavors, aromas and how to achieve those in balance with production methods but there is not really a culture surrounding what kind of "buzz"’ you get from a wine, a beer, or a spirit – at least not officially.

The industry of non-alcoholic drinks is growing rapidly, and expected to grow 31 percent by 2024, according to the IWSR. The reasons behind it are many, but you do have to wonder what happens to the consumer looking for that buzz. There is no doubt that alcoholic beverages are complex drinks with different appeals to different consumers, but it is undeniable that the effects of alcohol (for good and bad) are attached to humankind culturally.

There have been many opportunities where I wish I could enjoy the effects of alcoholic beverages without the consequences. Imagine enjoying the relaxing effects of alcohol on a date but without waking up with a hangover the next day, or to go to a party without feeling the odd one out because of your beverage choice. When looking to shop for a beverage without alcohol, it seems that most products on the market offer a version of the taste of classic spirits or cocktails, but leave the fun out of the party. Here is where a new niche of non-alcoholic beverages comes in.

A new style of drinks has emerged, displaying words such as "nootropic", "adaptogen", "plant-based" and "botanical", which I would expect to find in wholefoods and herbal medicine rather than a cocktail. But, according to brands such as Three Spirit and Kin Euphorics, these are the key to enhance your night.

The big question is: do they live up to the claim? I've taken that bullet for you, and here are the results.

Kin Euphorics

This New York-based company aims to replace alcohol with a range of products containing nootropics – a combination of natural and manmade compounds, claimed to improve cognitive function.

Currently available only in the US, the range consists of two main "spirits" and two similar ready-to-drink versions – so we could say there are two main approaches to providing a specific function like lifting your mind or relaxing your body as an after-party/dinner drink.

I managed to get a hold of the High Rhode (the one that "awakens your mind and boosts your mood", according to the website). It comes in a bright yellow box containing a nicely designed bottle (it doesn't look cheap – and it isn't). For the sake of tasting purposes, I poured it over ice to have an initial assessment and I have to say it tasted very medicinal with a bitter aftertaste – not what I would call easy drinking.

I decided to give it another shot and mixed it with citrus soda – after all is advertised on their website with recipes to make cocktails, so I tried my own version of a mixed drink.The flavor does improve, so if you are trying it, I strongly suggest mixing it. Now how about the buzz? Honestly, it did pick me up a bit and it does contain some caffeine. I guess I could say I felt that but nothing I could remotely relate to alcohol. There are several reviews online and it does seem to work differently to everyone.

Three Spirit

Based in the UK, this company has a more detailed approach to its ingredients, sourcing them from different plants from all over the world, and focusing on drink functionality and "wellness".

I got the chance to have a chat with them, in order to understand the philosophy behind the drinks. "The goal was to learn about the positives effect of alcohol, and we did a lot of research and a lot of thinking around what alcohol does to us at a biological and biochemical level, and trying to look and find plants that have the potential to enact similar feelings to alcohol."

All the ingredients are plant-based and there has been extensive research on how the ingredients interact with each other in balance with their flavor and their effects. Different to its US counterpart, there isn't a contraindication to mix it with alcohol (but both producers have recommended doses and health recommendations to be aware of), so the freedom to experiment with these drinks exist and is not limited to an alcohol-free consumer.

Three different products are available with the aim for the whole range to be a companion through the night: The Livener (uplifting), The Social Elixir (self-explanatory) and The Night Cap (the relaxing after drink). I got to try all three of them.

The Livener

This is the party starter, and it comes in a very smart-looking dark glass 500ml bottle. I tried two shots of 25ml, which, if I remember correctly, is double the dose. On the palate has a very gingery taste with some spiciness and fruitiness thanks to the Schisandra berry. It reminds me of beetroot and ginger juice. It is like its US counterpart, but lighter in color and without the bitter finish.

After a few minutes it does give an uplifting feeling, which is due to being high on caffeine (from green tea), but it is not a sudden kick and I did feel more euphoric; it was different to coffee, different to an energy drink, but not like alcohol. The effects are not long lasting, though, and I would not compare its potency to that of alcohol.

Social Elixir

This is the one that is supposed to set you in the mood and "connect". Is darker in color, more like the Kin Euphorics drink. It is also bittersweet, but not herbaceous; it is more pleasant in palate than appearance and has a flavor that could be described as like mulled wine. After a couple of drinks mixed with Social Elixir it does give you that loose feeling – like alcohol, but on a mild scale.

Nightcap

This one is meant to help you wind down after a long day, and it aims to emulate having an aged spirit. In flavor profile it does seem to try to reproduce the woody flavor of spirits like whisky, but with a certain amount of sweetness. Its effects? Personally, this is the one that worked the best and it might be attributed to its valerian root content. It's very pleasant on the rocks.

In conclusion these kinds of drinks have very different effects on everyone, and I would not consider any of them a direct replacement of alcohol. All things considered, if you have an open mind and no frenetic desire to just get intoxicated, these drinks can provide a lot of fun – if you manage to get the mix of their flavors right.

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