Gin Alternative

Juniper leads, which is the only real test for a gin substitute. Ritual pushes juniper, cucumber and angelica root forward, then finishes on bitter lemon and grapefruit with a hint of coriander. The Beverage Testing Institute scored it 90 out of 100 and gave it a Gold rating. The bottle is designed to pour one for one wherever gin goes, so a gin and tonic, a gimlet or a cosmopolitan comes together the way you already know it. What it will not do is stand alone. The label lists filtered water, natural flavors, cane sugar, xanthan gum and citric acid, meaning the warming burn of a real gin is approximated rather than distilled, and it needs tonic or citrus to make sense. Zero calories and under a gram of sugar. Keep it cold, pour long, finish with a lemon twist.