The best nonalcoholic wine, beer and spirits for Dry January

With the end of a year comes resolutions, be it finally indulging a longtime curiosity or trying to improve a new facet of your life. For many, the start of 2023 may mark Dry January and the commitment to a month free of alcohol — or beyond. 

It's becoming more popular to participate in this non-drinking holiday of sorts. About 35% of United States consumers participated in Dry January last year — a bump from about 21% in 2020, according to CGA food and drink data agency

I've been sipping my way through nonalcoholic beer, wine and spirits since I got sober, discovering a burgeoning marketplace with what seems like a new slate of offerings every month. From sparkling wine substitutes to no-calorie beers (not to mention drinks from celebrities including Katy Perry, Bella Hadid and Blake Lively), there’s never been a better time to try a mocktail or a booze-free beverage. 

With that in mind, here are some of my favorites for your 2023 challenge — though, in my humble opinion, they deserve to be sipped all year long. 

• Best New Year's Champagne substitute: Thomson & Scott Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay

• Best nonalcoholic sparkling wine: Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Sparkling Riesling 

• Best if you love moscato: TÖST Sparkling White Tea, Cranberry & Ginger

• Best zero-proof rosé: Giesen Nonalcoholic Rosé

• Best beer if you like hefeweizen: Athletic Brewing Co. Nonalcoholic Golden Upside Dawn

• Best no-calorie "beer": Hoplark Citra Bomb One

• Best light beer-like sip: Lagunitas Brewing Hoppy Refresher

• Best spritz mixer: Wilderton Bittersweet Aperitivo

• Best nonalcoholic mezcal: Optimist Drinks Smokey

• Best margarita mixer: Betty Buzz Variety Pack

• Best drink before bed: Kin Euphorics Dream Light

Best New Year's Champagne substitute: Thomson & Scott Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay

This sparkling Chardonnay from London-based maker Thompson & Scott is the best option for an affordable yet celebratory sip – plus it’s available via Amazon Prime one-day delivery for all the last-minute party planners out there. That’ll run you $27, or you can grab a discount at Boisson, which is offering 15% off sparkling wine this holiday season. 

Best nonalcoholic sparkling wine: Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Sparkling Riesling 

I haven’t found a better sparkling wine in terms of a well-rounded profile that makes me want to drink an entire bottle in one sitting. Seriously, these bubbles may be a bit on the sweet side but that’s exactly how I like them: effervescent with notes of citrus, and worthy of raising a glass (or three). 

Best if you love moscato: TÖST Sparkling White Tea, Cranberry & Ginger

If your palate is more inclined toward the likes of sweet wines like moscato, you’ll probably enjoy sipping this bottle of bubbly. It’s really in a category of its own – more like a carbonated apéritif than wine — but sometimes going one-of-a-kind is the best approach.

Best zero-proof rosé: Giesen Nonalcoholic Rosé 

This rosé sips smooth and sweet, more than just a booze-free imitation. It can be picked up at your local Whole Foods when you order ahead on Amazon.

Best beer if you like hefeweizen: Athletic Brewing Co. Golden Upside Dawn

All my roommate got me for Christmas this year was Athletic Brewing Co. That’s because it’s some of the best nonalcoholic beer out there for folks craving hops. They say imitation is the best form of flattery, and this gem is ideal for lovers of goldens, Hefeweizens and hazy IPAs. 

Best no-calorie "beer": Hoplark Citra Bomb One

So, this isn’t technically a beer but Hoplark hops up its teas so they taste almost like the real thing. The best part? Each can has absolutely zero calories. 

Best light beer-like sip: Lagunitas Brewing Hoppy Refresher

You can find these bottles at your local Trader Joe’s, or they’re available for a Whole Foods delivery order on Amazon. They drink like water, taste a bit like a super light beer, and offer an overall refreshing complement to a meal.

Best spritz mixer: Wilderton Bittersweet Aperitivo

The latest offering from Wilderton, a Portland-based brand behind some of the best botanical spirits out there, is this aperitivo — an amaro-like sip that's begging to be added to spritzes (or your run-of-the mill Spindrift and slice of lemon).

Best nonalcoholic mezcal: Optimist Drinks Smokey

Los Angeles is the inspiration behind the Optimist Drinks lineup, and the brand's Smokey is the closest (and best) thing to mezcal I can find. Still, this is a botanical spirit that also deserves compliments all its own, thanks to a heady combination of clove and jasmine.

Best margarita mixer: Betty Buzz Variety Pack

Blake Lively spent years crafting these fizzy drinks that range in flavor from lemon-lime to grapefruit. I tried the former in Lively's recipe for a faux margarita, rimmed with tajin and mixed with jalapeno and lime, and I can say it’s one of the better combinations I've paired with homemade Mexican dishes. 

Best drink before bed: Kin Euphorics Dream Light

Supermodel Bella Hadid turned heads upon joining this brand, which is part of a steadily growing category that utilizes ingredients billed as being able to improve your mood, decrease stress and more. Dream Light is Kin's sleepytime solution, with a properietary blend of reishi mushroom and melatonin said to “quiet your mind." Pair with a splash of oat milk and a cinnamon stick, per the bottle.