Curious Elixirs is a brand new firm pushing booze-free, bottled (and canned) cocktails, largely impressed by basic choices and significantly heavy on contemporary juices. The corporate has a rotating assortment of recipes denoted completely by quantity. The corporate’s as much as 8 now, with extra absolutely on the best way — although observe that recipes do promote out. (A month-to-month, rotating subscription can be out there.)
We obtained six of the present eight-product lineup to evaluation, so let’s dive in!
Curious Elixirs No. 1 – “A bitter booze-free pomegranate cocktail impressed by the Negroni Sbagliato, infused with rhodiola to elevate you up.” The muddy crimson cocktail instantly surprises with an enormous nostril of fennel, adopted by cardamom and clove notes, making for an odd begin to a drink that originally feels negroni adjoining at greatest. Tart cranberry-rhubarb notes on the physique make for an much more uncommon however not unappealing character, with ample clove on the end giving issues a Thanksgiving feeling. 2 servings/bottle. B+
Curious Elixirs No. 2 – “A spicy pineapple margarita meets the smoldering ginger and lime Darkish and Stormy, infused with damiana that will help you unwind.” A difficult description: Think about ginger beer, reasonably sweetened, with a wholesome dose of pineapple and also you’re heading in the right direction. There’s positively some purple pepper character right here, plus a lime leaf high quality, however far and away the chew of that ginger is what dominates all through. 2 servings/bottle. A-
Curious Elixirs No. 3 – “An exquisite booze-free mix of lemon, cucumber, alpine flowers, herbs, and ashwagandha that will help you de-stress.” Meant to meld a French 75 and Tom Collins, the drink does a greater job of mimicking the previous, however there’s a daring gingery character right here that tends to dominate. (Curiously, ginger doesn’t seem within the ingredient record.) The evenly fizzy concoction folds in gentle floral notes after which lemongrass earlier than detouring towards a extra orange-like citrus observe on the end. Finally it’s acquired so much in widespread with No. 2, although the pineapple makes that drink much more enjoyable. 2 servings/bottle. B+
Curious Elixirs No. 4 – A blood orange spritz made with American ginseng, non-alcoholic Prosecco, holy basil, and turmeric. There’s a major vegetal-carrot aroma right here, heightened by the racy basil observe. Carbonation may be very restrained, which additional downplays the “spritziness” of the drink. Innocent and solely gently orangey, the completed product comes off a bit too near a kids’s drink, which, contemplating it’s non-alcoholic, would after all be nice. 2 servings/bottle. B
Curious Elixirs No. 6 – Maybe essentially the most surprising choice within the lineup, that is an NA Painkiller “that infuses cream of coconut, pineapple, citrus, oat milk, and chicory root with lemon balm and nutmeg that will help you unwind, plus aloe for a magnificence enhance.” The coconut and pineapple are instantly sturdy with this one, and there’s a fast burst of nutmeg that fades with time in glass. It’s a wild expertise that isn’t precisely cocktail-like however extra like one thing you’d serve the household at a Hawaiian brunch, however I’m not complaining, because the completed product is interesting and enjoyable. The muddy brown colour, much less so. 2 servings/12 ouncescan. B+
Curious Elixirs No. 8 – A restricted version amaro, with 8888 bottles out there. “A nonalcoholic spirit from outer house. Our booze-free Black & Blue Amaro blends blackberry, blueberry, fig, herbs, roots, and spices to scintillate your senses.” Smells like contemporary berries, tastes like a punchy gentian-driven amaro. The shift from shiny fruit to earthy, pungent amaro is swift, with solely minor detours to notes of contemporary ginger, and rhubarb alongside the best way. One of many higher NA amari I’ve tried. 6 servings/bottle. Wants a greater closure than a twist-off crown cap, although. A-
every $5 per 12 oz. bottle or can / curiouselixirs.com
Curious Elixirs No. 1
$5
