College life is typically associated with partying and alcohol, but Generation Z is trying a sobering new approach. A recent Gallup study reported that the percentage of adults under 35 who drink has dropped 13% in the past three years — enter the world of sober bars and mocktails, with many in the beverage industry capitalizing on growing demand for all things zero-proof.

As a teetotaler myself, it’s nice to have more nonalcoholic drink options — both at bars and in stores. But not all mocktails deliver. Too often, I’ve tried ones that just taste like juice or sparkling water. While not as expensive as their spiked counterparts, mocktails tend to be more expensive than soda or seltzer — but if I wanted any old sweet drink, I would just get a juice box. 

Good mocktails make up in flavor and fun what they lack in buzz: They should not only stand out from ordinary drinks, but still give you a feeling of refreshing satisfaction. After trying a few different store-bought mocktails, I’ve compiled together the best of the bunch and which ones to skip. If you’re not drinking for religious observance, health reasons or just because you have an early class the next day, this guide will help you pick out a nice beverage that won’t make you feel like you’re missing out on a good time.

5. Kin’s Luna Morada and Actual Sunshine

Bella Hadid’s Kin Euphorics labels its drinks as just that: euphoric. Cofounder Jen Batchelor describes the drinks as “a new category of adult beverage intended to bring conscious connection to the bar” — though to me, that just sounds like a mocktail. While Kin Euphorics advertises that its nonalcoholic, functional beverages will enhance your mood, their awful taste will ruin your day. Kin’s latest Luna Morada flavor tastes like watered-down banana seltzer, and the health benefits of its ingredients, like wormwood and milk thistle, are questionable. Meanwhile, Kin’s Actual Sunshine flavor did not remind me of a “thirst-quenching mimosa” as advertised, but more like a flat orange drink. If Actual Sunshine does improve your mood, that’s probably from its caffeine, rather than the adaptogens and nootropics it proudly boasts. A can costs $4.49 at Westside Market, across the street from NYU’s Third Avenue North, making it the cheapest beverage on this list, though it still isn’t even worth the price. Kin’s drinks are nothing more than gimmicky beverages with savvy marketing terms, rather than an apt substitute for a cocktail.

4. Pari’s Slice of Spice

Named after the Italian word for “equal,” Pari promises the same flavor and experience of drinking alcohol, without the negative side effects. While a good mocktail captures the botanical flavor of real spirits, the herbiness of Pari’s Slice of Spice verges on medicinal. Although the can says to expect rosemary and yuzu, the beverage tastes more like cough syrup. Slice of Spice also features several spicy ingredients like black pepper, chili extracts and horseradish. But instead of mimicking the burn of alcohol, the spices just leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth. To make things even worse, each can is $7.99 at Westside Market, making this one of the more expensive drinks on this list.

3. Ghia-Ginger

Inspired by Mediterranean aperitivo culture, Ghia creates nonalcoholic aperitifs and spritzes and has become a popular brand in the non-alcoholic space. However, I think there are far better options out there — I’m an avid ginger ale fan, and one of the drinks I miss the most since going sober is a good Moscow mule. However, the Ghia-Ginger is too aggressive, reminiscent of a ginger ale that has gone bad. The mocktail punches you in the face with ginger without having any other nuances in flavor. Ghia’s other spritzes, such as the Ghia-Soda and the Sumac & Chili, are better, but nothing special. A can costs $4.99 at Westside, but your money would be better spent buying a La Croix.

2. Ish Spirits’ Paloma

Danish company Ish Spirits makes a host of different nonalcoholic drinks, such as beers, wines and spirits, but I tend to lean towards its canned mocktails, which cost $6.99 at Westside Market. While not all of the brand’s drinks are a hit — the nonalcoholic gin and tonic, for example, is atrocious — Ish’s fruity beverages like the Mojito, Daiquiri and Paloma are great options. The first time I tried the Paloma, I was scared I had purchased a real cocktail by accident because of how close it tastes to the real thing. Ish’s mocktails actually have less than 0.5% ABV — meaning they still go through a fermentation process, resulting in an alcoholic taste, but the amount of alcohol is so minuscule that they are still considered nonalcoholic. The Paloma is citrusy and not too sweet, mirroring a fresh sangria.

1. St. Agrestis’ Phony Negroni

This beverage not only has a perfect name, but is also better than most mocktails mixed by a bartender. Brooklyn-based distillery St. Agrestis got its start in 2014, producing amaro, an herbal Italian liqueur, but the Phony Negroni is so good that it has become more known for its nonalcoholic drinks. The company also produces a Mezcal Negroni and a White Negroni, but my favorite is still the classic flavor. It has all the herbaceousness and complexity of a real Negroni, with a smooth, bittersweet finish that mimics the taste of alcohol — the notes of juniper in particular evolve the flavor of a high-quality gin.

You can find the Phony Negroni at specialty stores or online, where 12 bottles cost $62, not including shipping. I’ve even seen it on the menu at upscale restaurants, like at Gus’s Chop House, where it’s priced at a staggering $14. While it is a little pricey, I’m willing to occasionally splurge on a Phony Negroni, since it feels as elegant as a craft cocktail and is the perfect complement to a sophisticated night out.

Contact Ella Sabrina Malabanan at [email protected].