This review of Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative includes brand recommended mocktails that have been taste tested, in addition to more non-alcoholic cocktails. It is my hope that after reading the review, you will have a good idea of which mocktails you want to try with Ritual Tequila Alternative, because you will want to try them.
The company was founded by three friends in Chicago who are passionate about quality food and beverage, who wanted to add a new [non-alcoholic] tool to their cocktail kits.
Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative has proven, through many mocktail tests, to be a quality substitute in mezcal and tequila cocktails, and a great addition to your home bar. (check price)
Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative is golden in color, suggesting it might be an alternative to reposado tequila. Interestingly, it smells smoky, reminiscent of mezcal or charred wood with a hint of agave. Sipped neat, it tastes sweet and smoky with a spicy finish.
Tequila Alternative blends especially well in beverages with spice, in mules, and of course, margaritas. In addition, check out all variations for a perfect non-alcoholic margarita with Ritual Tequila Alternative. It’s one impressive non-alcoholic spirit.
Keep reading below to discover how it has been tested, and what the taste results are from those experiments.
Best enjoyed in: Non-Alcoholic Mezcal Mule
Ingredients, Nutrition, and Storage
In order to thoughtfully review a product, it must be tested. Here’s the method used for taste testing all non-alcoholic drinks.
What does Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative taste like…
- Neat
- On ice
- On ice with tonic or appropriate single mixer
- Brand recommended mocktails
- Get creative
#1 Neat:
It’s color is golden, and looks most like a reposado tequila. Tequila Alternative smells smoky, reminiscent of mezcal or charred wood and has a hint agave. Sipped neat, it tastes sweet and smoky with a spicy finish. Impressive faux tequila!
#2 On Ice:
The flavor is brighter on ice. Lightly sweet, with a peppery spice finish that punches through. It tastes nice cold.
#3 On Ice with Tonic
Something about these flavors did not blend well using Fever Tree tonic water. The bitterness in the quinine seems to cancel out the flavors that help Tequila Alternative mimic tequila or mezcal.
It did not taste like tequila was in this beverage and was not enjoyable.
#4 Brand Recommended Mocktails Featuring Tequila Alternative
The following are a few mocktails Ritual Zero Proof features on their website for this faux tequila. One might assume that the recipes they list are the best representation of how to use Tequila Alternative. Here they are and what they actually taste like:
Heat Wave (Spicy Margarita)
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Ritual Tequila Alternative
- 1 oz. fresh lime juice
- 1 oz. triple sec
- ½ oz. agave nectar
- ½ jalapeño pepper
- Basil Leaf
- Tajin or Valentina Seasoning (for rim)
Directions:
Pour Tequila Alternative over jalapeño and basil, sliced lengthwise, in a cocktail shaker. Let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes. The longer, the spicier. Add lime, triple sec, agave and ice. Shake shake shake. Pour over ice into a Tajin-rimmed glass. Garnish with jalapeño slices and basil.
Verdict: Very tasty! Even though I soaked the jalapeño for 15 min, it was hard to tell if that added much spiciness since Tequila Alternative already has a quite a bit of spice. The basil is a really nice touch, and it brightens up the beverage. Ritual’s version of a non alcoholic spicy margarita is a well balanced and very tasty margarita mocktail.
Paloma
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Ritual Tequila Alternative
- ½ oz. lime juice
- 4 oz. grapefruit soda
Directions:
Pour Ritual Tequila Alternative and lime juice into a glass with ice. Top with grapefruit soda and garnish with lime.
Verdict: Ritual’s alcohol free Paloma is refreshing, but not the best mocktail Tequila Alternative has made. If you’re craving a Paloma, this will do for a substitute. It really seemed to be missing something…maybe the alcohol? A quality grapefruit soda is a must in this beverage, and you might even consider making your own with fresh grapefruit juice and soda water.
All Day Margarita
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Ritual Tequila Alternative
- 1 oz. orange juice
- 1 oz. fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz. simple syrup
- Lime slice or wedge
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, shake, shake. Pour into a cocktail glass, garnish with a lime slice or wedge.
Verdict: Since the orange juice brings some depth to the beverage, this should really be served on ice. This might be a good candidate for a non alcoholic margarita punch. Ultimately, it’s a less impressive margarita option for this spirit.
Try a virgin margarita instead.
#5 Get Creative with Ritual Tequila Alternative
Ritual Zero Proof has previously been put to the margarita test. If you want to know how it performed in multiple variations of margarita mocktails, read here: Margarita Mocktail Success: In-Depth Tasting and Recipes. To test its versatility further, it had to be tested in a mezcal mule mocktail. Here is the recipe and tasting results:
Non-Alcoholic Mezcal Mule
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz. Ritual Tequila Alternative
- 1 oz. ginger beer
- .75oz. lime juice
- .5oz. agave nectar
- 4 slices of cucumber (1 used for garnish)
Directions:
Muddle 3 slices of cucumber with agave nectar in a cocktail shaker. Add lime juice and Tequila Alternative with ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Top with ginger beer, and lightly stir. Garnish with a slice of cucumber and a dash of cayenne pepper.
Verdict: Yum! This mezcal mule mocktail is one of the best mocktails featured in the recipe collection.
Why is Ritual the Best Non-Alcoholic Tequila?
Time and time again, Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative made excellent mocktails, proving itself as a quality non-alcoholic tequila and mezcal substitute.
Where to Buy Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative
Click here for the best available price for Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative on Amazon.
Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Nutrition Facts
Ingredients: Water, Natural flavors, cane sugar, citric acid, xanthan gum, salt, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, caramel color; PEANUT AND TREE NUT FREE, GLUTEN FREE
Botanicals listed:
Blue agave flower, Mexican Lime, tropical guava, cracked sea salt, charred oak, mesquite smoke, black peppercorn, capsicum fruit, prickly ash, green bell pepper
Nutrition: Serving size: 1.5oz | 0 Calories; Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 1g; Sugar <1g; Sodium 20mg; Protein 0g*
Storage: Refrigeration not necessary. Consume within 6 months of opening.
*Nutrition information was found on the bottle and might be subject to change.
