Alcohol-Free Gin Taste Test - Can it Really Fool Your Tastebuds?

Hi, Friends of Cocktails! Can a zero-proof gin really fool your taste buds? Today I’m testing that with Beefeater 0.0. I’ll put it side by side with the classic London Dry Gin in a couple of blind taste tests, and even use it to create an alcohol-free version of a popular classic.

But before we find out if Beefeater 0.0 is the real thing or just fake flavor, I have to admit I’ve never been the biggest fan of store-bought “alcohol-free” spirits. It’s nearly impossible to replicate the flavor and the signature burn you get with true spirits. That also means you usually have to use more of it to make up for the weaker flavor and the lack of dilution from alcohol melting the ice.

On top of that, alcohol-free spirits aren’t shelf stable, and let’s be honest, they’re overpriced, sometimes costing even more than the actual spirits they’re replacing. But this one caught my attention, so I thought I’d give it a fair try.

To start off, Beefeater 0.0 costs around 13 euros here in Slovenia. That’s already a big difference and made me think this could be a fun test. Classic Beefeater is a real workhorse gin with a great price-to-performance ratio, and it works in almost any gin cocktail.

For their alcohol-free version, Beefeater promises tons of flavor, a juniper-forward profile, and their trademark citrus notes of oranges and lemons–plus the classic marketing catchphrase of: “0% alcohol and 100% of the fun.”

If we look at some actual numbers, according to Pernod Ricard, 60% of UK adults are turning to something called “zebra striping.” That means they’re switching between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during the same occasion. So we’ll probably see a lot more companies following in Beefeater’s footsteps. But if their 0.0 version can really come close to the original, it could make adding gin mocktails to your menus much easier.

The best way to test that out is with a blind tasting. For this comparison of classic vs. zero, I’ll have the help of the Cocktail Time Crew, starting with Robi. He’s what you’d call a home mixologist, making drinks for friends, family, and coworkers.

We also have Sašo to help us out. He likes to treat his weekend D&D group with the cocktails we make during Cocktail Time filming. We’ll all bring our expertise together to see how Beefeater 0.0 holds up in a Gin & Tonic, then the Gin Basil Smash, and finally a non-alcoholic version of the Last Word. So let’s get started by making two cocktails, side by side–it’s Cocktail Time!

Gin & Tonic (Regular and Alcohol-free)

● 45mL · 1.5oz Gin

● 90mL · 3oz Tonic Water

● 2 drops 20% Saline Solution

● Lime Wedge Garnish

For our two G&Ts, I’m using the exact same recipe, only changing the gin between Beefeater and Beefeater 0.0. So into a chilled glass with ice, add the ingredients, give the cocktail a gentle stir with a barspoon, and then add a lime wedge for garnish.

Now it’s time for the taste test, and if you want to see how that turned out, check out the full episode at the bottom of this post. And if you want to learn even more about the Gin & Tonic, you can also check out this post covering the history of this classic cocktail–it’s an interesting read, if I can say so myself.

Now for the Gin Basil Smash: since this cocktail is shaken, you’ll want to add more of the non-alcoholic gin to account for the effects of dilution. So let’s see if the 0.0 version can come close to the original, which was created by the Hamburg bartending legend and Wall-of-Fame Patron of Cocktail Time, Joerg Meyer.

Gin Basil Smash

● 60mL · 2oz Gin

● 22.5mL · 0.75oz Lemon Juice

● 15mL · 0.5oz Gum Syrup

● 1 Handful of Basil

● 2 drops 20% Saline Solution

● Basil Leaf Garnish

Alcohol-free Gin Basil Smash

● 75mL · 2.5oz Beefeater 0.0

● 22.5mL · 0.75oz Lemon Juice

● 15mL · 0.5oz Gum Syrup

● 1 Handful of Basil

● 2 drops 20% Saline Solution

● Basil Leaf Garnish

Into a chilled shaker, add the gin, lemon juice, gum syrup, saline solution, and basil. Then give the basil a good muddle before filling your shaker with ice and shaking hard to extract even more herbal flavors. But we don’t want any of the small bits, so double strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with a basil leaf that you smack on the side of the glass first.

Same as before, we’ll all give it a try, and you can watch our full reaction in the video below–but I have to say, this cocktail is a really surprising one. I wonder what Joerg would think about this NA take on his recipe. And before I give you my final thoughts on using Beefeater 0.0, I’ll also prepare a mocktail I thought might work well. I’m calling it “Zero Last Words.”

It’s a non-alcoholic riff on the Last Word, a classic equal-parts cocktail from the pre-Prohibition era, lost to history, but revived by Murray Stenson during the cocktail renaissance at the Zig Zag Café in Seattle. The Last Word, most likely created by the Detroit Athletic Club, was made with gin, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice.

That means here you’re not just replacing gin, but also Chartreuse and maraschino liqueur–so you’ll need to mimic several different flavors, which we’re doing with herbs, spices, syrup, and extract. I hope this recipe gives you ideas on how to use something like this while still creating a completely unique mocktail for your bar or cocktail party.

Zero Last Words

● 75mL · 2.5oz Beefeater 0.0

● 22.5mL · 0.75oz Lime Super Juice

● 15mL · 0.5oz Peach Syrup

● 6 drops Almond Extract

● 2 drops 20% Saline Solution

● 9 Mint Leaves

● 6 Basil Leaves

● 2 Thyme Sprigs

● 0.5 Star Anise

● Maraschino Cherry Garnish

Into a chilled shaker, we’ll add everything except the maraschino cherry. The botanicals and spices will contribute to the herbal flavor of Chartreuse, while peach syrup will mimic the fruity and nutty notes of maraschino liqueur. I’ll also pair that with almond extract for that nutty sweetness.

Now it’s the same as before: shake hard with ice, double strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass, and add the classic Last Word garnish—a maraschino cherry. Then it’s time to give it the most important thing: a taste. Cheers!

It’s herbal, dry, citrusy, and bright. You don’t get the peach flavor, just a nutty sweetness that pairs perfectly with the juniper and other botanical notes. I’m quite proud of this one. And as someone who’s been drinking more low-ABV and zero-proof drinks lately, I think it’s nice to finally have a juniper-forward option that doesn’t break the bank for a few mocktails.

Would I use it every time? No. But it’s affordable, versatile, and opens the door for more creative zero-proof drinks. If you’d like to see if you can improve on this non-alcoholic gin too, check out this post where I make my own.

And if you’d like to have a say in what we cover next, head over to our Patreon page for the patron-only polls. You can also join our Wall of Fame inside the Cocktail Time clock, just like Yannick Brunot did by becoming our top-tier supporter. Thank you for the support, and welcome to the Cocktail Time set. I’ll see you next time, cheers!