A friend recently told me about Ritual, another company making non-alcoholic spirits. Unlike Seedlip, whose spirits are described by their flavor profile and not as a replacement for any particular liquor, Ritual is trying to make zero-proof versions of liquor. Ritual makes a “whiskey alternative” and a “gin alternative.” I decided to try the whiskey first.

Before settling on a cocktail recipe, I tasted the whiskey on its own. First, I tried it neat. I do not recommend this. Next, I tried it with a couple of rocks and a squeeze of meyer lemon (which is how I like my bourbon). Better, but still not highly recommended. . . . Why do I say this? This whiskey really should be mixed in a cocktail. Ritual’s whiskey alternative contains a long list of botanicals and spices that are supposed to mimic the taste of the real thing. And it does a passable job. But to get the “burn” of liquor, the Ritual whiskey uses some sort of hot pepper, and in my opinion, it’s just too intense to drink on its own.

So for a cocktail, I tried one of the simplest–a Manhattan, on the rocks. I thought this would allow the taste of the Ritual to come through, but mellow out some of its heat. Caveat: This recipe calls for sweet vermouth, so there’s a small amount of alcohol in the drink. If you are 100% non-alcohol, skip this one.

My thoughts on this cocktail? Tasty! But definitely stir (or shake) well over ice to get some dilution. That’s key to toning down the heat of the whiskey and making a mellow sipping drink.

Ritual Manhattan

• 2 oz. Ritual whiskey alternative
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes bitters
• Orange and cherry 

Combine Ritual, vermouth, and bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice. Stir or shake gently until icy cold. Serve in an old fashioned glass over ice, garnished with a cherry and an orange slice.

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