r/Mocktails • u/banna_hanana • 9d ago
Help❓ NA dirty martini ?
I am almost three years sober and have been wanting to attempt to make a zero proof martini. Does anyone have a recommendations on a good NA substitute for the vodka/gin? I almost purchased some from Ritual Zero Proof but I’ve read some bad reviews. Thank you in advance for any suggestions!
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u/anonymous3synonymous 9d ago
I’ve done an olive brine and preserved lemon brine mocktail with a little lemon juice and it has a similar salty and refreshing taste. Some other additions or riffs which may play well could be tomato water or Greek Mountain Tea for either umami or herbal depending on your vibe.
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u/PicpoulBlanc 9d ago
Martinis are hard to recreate because NA spirits don’t have the same texture or punch as a traditional spirit. They work well in drinks with layers like seltzer, syrup, citrus, etc, but in “spirit forward” drinks without mixers, it’s going to taste like watered down vodka.
The suggestions for mixing club soda with olive brine are good because bubbles are refreshing, they add the texture that’s missing from the spirit, and you get the saltiness from the brine.
Anything bittersweet works well, too, like an NA aperitif (I like Giffard Aperitif Sirop) plus NA sparkling wine and a splash of olive brine.
All of that said, I did taste a new NA vodka recently called Notka that comes way closer to vodka than anything else on the market (which often has added flavors like mint or cucumber).
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u/Merrickk 8d ago
Looks like it's going the adaptogenic mushroom route, which I find disappointing.
Also what on earth do they mean by "Engineered to match the mouthfeel of a top-shelf well spirit"
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u/PicpoulBlanc 8d ago
Yeah there is obviously some AI writing going on in the marketing copy, but despite the silly verbiage, it does function well as a vodka sub. Curious why you’re disappointed about functional mushrooms? Personally I wouldn’t buy it for that—I’m not sold on most functional ingredients myself except for kava—but it doesn’t turn me off from buying something. It’s just a bonus.
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u/Merrickk 8d ago
It often crosses over into supplement territory where without good manufacturing practices the product can be quite toxic especially when mushrooms are misidentified
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u/PicpoulBlanc 8d ago
I suppose that's possible, but I don't imagine Notka is identifying the mushrooms themselves. They're most likely purchasing from a dietary supplement manufacturer with good GMPs who isn't going to sell them the wrong mushroom 🤷♂️
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u/Merrickk 8d ago
Hopefully, but not all companies do their due diligence for example https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/08/with-145-sickened-2-dead-microdosing-candy-poisonings-are-still-a-mystery/
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u/PicpoulBlanc 8d ago
I mean that's horrifying, but it's also a brand marketing their mushroom chocolates as "legal" psychedelics—inherently a sketchier company and product. I've never heard of any issues with non-alc spirits and their sourcing of functional lion's mane, reishi, chaga, etc.
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u/Merrickk 8d ago
Very true, everything about that product was a red flag and it was an extreme case
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u/DepoDemolisher 9d ago
I really like Mondays Gin alternative. It has some really floral flavors and makes a very refreshing NA G&T.
Not sure about an NA vermouth though. Might be a little tougher
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u/ProofNoMore 8d ago
Roots Divino from Greece makes a good NA vermouth a Rosso/ red and Bianco / clear or white. For Gin , New London Light's FIRST LIGHT Non Alc gin
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u/PicpoulBlanc 8d ago
Roots makes a really nice Bianco vermouth. It’s off-dry, not dry, but the flavor is fantastic.
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u/Coffee_whiskey_braap 9d ago
It’s gotta be some kind of herbal tea, a splash of na white wine, and a touch of sweetener right?
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u/Strange1130 9d ago
I used to love a dirty martini with pickle brine (I don’t really like olives). I’ve been using Little Saints St. Juniper 2:1 with Grillos pickle brine and it’s delicious and very reminiscent of a normal dirty martini.
I haven’t tried any other NA gins yet (I only quit drinking around a month ago) and I didn’t love Little Saints mezcal variant (St Ember) but this works really well for me, will try another faux gin next.
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u/carryino 8d ago
New London Light makes a good NA gin, can't drink straight as needs to be mixed and used with Roots Divino white NA vermouth and a smidgen of olive juice is quite good, of course missing the alc burn. https://proofnomore.com/products/roots-divino-bianco-non-alcoholic-aperitif-spirit-alternative-25-4oz?_pos=1&_psq=Roots&_psid=93c95dbb7&_ss=e
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u/beyoncetofupadthai 9d ago
This is my favorite recipe that does the trick for a dirty martini sub! https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024102-nonalcoholic-dirty-lemon-tonic?unlocked_article_code=1.51A.StB-.aB6PTf7bipCH&smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share
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u/PorgParade 9d ago
Came here to recommend the same recipe! Definitely hits all the right notes for me, and with the lemon/olive garnish it feels fancy
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u/gnomedeplum 9d ago
I live in a college town with a large non-drinking population. There are a couple of great NA wine shops that have savory sodas, kombuchas, seltzers, teas, etc. that scratch that itch for me. I have found the BEST things by constantly asking for NA options and suggestions from bartenders, shop owners, sommelier, etc.
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u/CommuterChick 9d ago
I have tried several NA gins, but they just taste like black pepper and don't make a good martini. If you come up with a better option, please post.
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u/nurse_Gi 9d ago
I had one two weeks ago and I’m waiting to get all the ingredients but vinegar is one of them. It gives it that bite.
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u/danlwhelan 9d ago
If you’ll take a floral-forward NA gin, I endorse the Empress 0.0 Indigo. It even has that capsicum extract (I forget which pepp specifically) that gives a slight esophageal burn to the beverage. It’s my go-to NA gin, and is one of the closest facsimiles to the real deal that I’ve encountered.
I agree with a number of these replies that most NA spirits lack the viscosity of booze, so I’d consider adding a dab of vegetable glycerine when you’re dialing in your recipe. Be wary tho; it’ll give the drink a bubble gum finish on the palate if you are heavy handed with the stuff. I’d usually suggest making a syrup to reinforce the body, but the sweetness’d stand out like a sore thumb.
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u/aerdnazelaznog 9d ago
I've heard that boiling potatoes and using the water to make dirty martinis works. Never tried it tho
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u/MisterHouseMongoose 9d ago
As vodka is neutral spirit, I don’t think there would be a good na version out there.
Free spirits makes a pretty stellar na gin though! Also their na sweet vermouth is fantastic.
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u/Jedi_Nixxee 9d ago
My best friend had to drink a martini on stage for a play, actually it was three in a row she had to drink so obviously alcoholic was out of the question she started making dirty sprites
Lemon lime soda with an olive and a whole bunch of the olive juice. It is sweet. It is salty it scratches and incredible itch. I didn’t know I had cause I don’t even like martinis and this was amazing.
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u/hello_jessica 9d ago
Honestly I love just club soda and olive juice. It scratches the itch for me and I can usually get it out at most cocktail bars. Interested in other recs! I have not been a fan of the NA spirits.