Before becoming sober-curious and eventually replacing most of my alcohol with non-alcoholic options, I used to be a huge spirits drinker – namely, an embarrassing amount of tequila and vodka shots.
When I decided to mostly give up alcohol, I was sure I would hardly (or probably, never) get to enjoy my tequila and vodka again. When I discovered Optimist Botanicals non-alcoholic spirits, I knew I had to try them.
Below, I share my honest Optimist Botanicals review as I review each of the three flavors: Bright, Fresh, and Smokey, and where to buy them.
What is Optimist Botanicals?
Optimist Botanicals creates non-alcoholic spirits, each inspired by the varied landscapes of Los Angeles. Bright, the gin-alternative, is inspired by Venice Beach, summer sunshine, and stepping under a cool outdoor shower by a lemon tree.
Fresh is an alcohol-free gin inspired by Topanga Canyon after a downpour, when the sun breaks through and clear, clean air rises up from nature. Finally, Smokey is an alcohol-free tequila inspired by High Desert, Yucca. The result is a non-alcoholic spirit that is lively, warm, and intense.
These non-alcoholic spirits use several distillation and extraction techniques without ever involving the creation of alcohol. Each flavor has between ten and fifteen botanicals and have zero alcohol, sugar, calories, or additives.
To add the final garnish (see what I did there?), the company gives 2% of their sales to help underprivileged Los Angeles youth with access to mental health services.
Optimist Botanicals Review
Aroma
Optimist Botanicals Smokey: I used to be such a huge Tequila shots fan, finding this alcohol-free tequila was like a dream come true. On the nose, I can smell burnt wood that reminds me of a fireplace, spices such as sage, cinnamon, oregano, and lots of orange.
Optimist Botanicals Fresh: The aroma of this non-alcoholic gin reminds me of the herb aisle in the supermarket. There are so many aroma notes to enjoy, from basil and oregano, to lime and citrus. I can smell that it is going to feel fresh and herby.
Optimist Botanicals Bright: This alcohol-free vodka is a lot more aromatic than a regular vodka. The aroma is heavy on the citrus, botanical herbs, and a note of jasmine flower.
Taste
Since I like my spirits neat, I had them on the rocks first, then mixed with tonic water.
As you would expect from a non-alcoholic spirit, there isn’t the familiar back-of-the-throat burn you get from drinking vodka, gin, or tequila. Instead, what I loved about all three Optimist Botanicals are the unique aromas from the herbs and botanicals.
Fresh, the gin-alternative, pairs very well with tonic and a splash of lime. On its own, the flavors are bold, with strong cilantro and basil notes. The strong flavors come through even after it is mixed with tonic water.
Vodka-like Bright is full of citrus, mint, and herbs and tastes mildly bitter. There is a minty finish, presumably to replace that alcohol burn feeling. It lost some of its flavors once it was mixed with tonic water. I would say that Bright has the lightest flavor of the three.
Lastly, tequila-alternative Smokey stays true to its name – the flavor profile is smokey with lots of orange. There’s also a minty aftertaste, as well as notes of spice. When mixed with tonic water, the flavors remain pronounced, adding a delicious depth to the drink.
Verdict – Is Optimist Botanicals Worth It?
I really enjoyed all three Optimist Botanicals, even if there weren’t exact replicas of an alcoholic vodka, gin, or tequila. But for me, that is the beauty of non-alcoholic spirits. Alcoholic spirits rely heavily on the alcohol for the taste; stripping the alcohol away and the flavor profile becomes the main attraction.
That is where Optimist Botanicals shines. With their strong herb aroma and flavor notes, they add depth to simple tonic water. I can’t imagine the flavors they can create when mixed with other concoctions to create mocktails!
My favorite of the three flavors was Smokey because it stood out the most with its smokey and orange notes. Overall, all three flavors offer a complex touch to non-alcoholic spirits, even if it lacks the full-bodied mouthfeel of alcohol.
For $35 a bottle, it might seem like a high price to pay for non-alcoholic spirits. However, since you’re only supposed to use just an ounce for each drink (yes, the taste is that strong), that bottle will go a long way. So don’t let the price tag fool you.
Where to buy Optimist Botanicals
If you’re in the United States, you can order Optimist Botanicals directly from their website. They also sell Fever-Tree tonic waters for one-stop shopping. Flat rate for shipping is $6 for a single bottle (free shipping for two bottles or more).
Optimist Botanicals Recipes
Since we aren’t mixologists (hopefully one day!), here are some Optimist Botanicals recipes from the brand themselves to inspire you!
1. Smoke & Sour (by Part Time Mixologist)
Ingredients
1½ oz Optimist Smokey
1 oz fresh lemon juice
¾ oz simple syrup (1:1 water and sugar)
1 large egg white
1 cucumber slice
A pinch of Salt
Angostura Bitters
Instructions:
1. Add cucumber slice and a pinch of salt to a shaking tin and muddle.
2. Add all remaining ingredients (except egg) to the shaking tin, then add ice.
3. Shake well and discard ice from shaker.
4. Add egg and shake again, without ice.
5. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
6. Garnish with 5 drops of Angostura Bitters.
2. Good Day Sunshine (by House Poured)
Ingredients
2 oz Optimist Bright
.75 oz Pineapple shrub
.5 oz coconut water syrup (1:1)
Ginger Beer
Instructions:
1. Shake everything except for the ginger beer.
2. Pour into a Collins glass with an ice spear.
3. Top with ginger beer.
4. Garnish with a slice of grilled pineapple.
We hope you enjoyed our Optimist Botanicals review. If you’re craving even more non-alcoholic spirits reviews, click below:
While not exact replicas of the original spirits, each Optimist Botanicals spirit has a depth to its flavor and strong aroma.