“There is also another reason why gin substitutes are so common in non-alcoholic spirits, they almost always are enjoyed mixed. If you love drinking straight gin, do you — but the vast majority of people usually throw in at least a bit of tonic water to their gin before enjoying it. Most non-alcoholic spirits are designed to really shine when mixed into a cocktail, and some producers go so far as to actively discourage people from drinking it straight. Cocktail making is a great showcase for a spirit by highlighting the favorable elements of any given ingredient while smoothing out possible shortcomings, and gin is one of the most widely mixed spirits in the world, so it is entirely unsurprising that gin is the largest category within non-alcoholic spirits right now.
So if you’re curious about the world of non-alcoholic spirits for whatever reason: dry January (dry life), culture, religion, health or if you’re simply just looking to expand your horizons, these picks are a great place to start your voyage.”