The Loop
Julianne Beffa
The Drink Without the Drama: How Ritual Became the Star of My Sober Summer
- By: Julianne Elise Beffa
Hangover-Free Happiness…
I was never a “mocktail girl.” That is, until I found myself in aisle 12 of Target, clutching a bottle that would change everything about how I party.
It all started earlier this year when I decided to take on 75 Hard, the internet-famous wellness challenge that asks you to commit to clean eating, no alcohol, two workouts a day, 10 pages of personal development reading, and a gallon of water… every day… for 75 days straight. Fun!
Week one, I felt like a glowing wellness goddess. Week two, I was grumpy and irrationally angry at people who posted cocktails on Instagram. Week three, I would have traded my left Prada shoe for an Old Fashioned.
But I didn’t cave.
Instead, I started looking for alternatives. I mean seriously looking. I prowled the aisles at BevMo, and Total Wine like I was preparing for a sober version of Chopped. I tried canned mocktails that tasted like melted popsicles, bitters in seltzer water, fancy NA wines, and even DIY concoctions with cucumber juice and hope.
Some were decent. Some were depressing. None of them scratched the itch.
Until one Saturday afternoon, I spotted a bottle that practically winked at me from the shelf. The branding was bold. The design was sleek. The word WHISKEY glinted in all caps. It was called Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative, and it had the kind of confident packaging that said, I know exactly who I am.
I ran, and I mean full-on jogged, to the checkout line.
That night, I poured a double over ice, garnished it with an orange peel, and topped it with a splash of ginger. I took a sip and paused. Then I took another. And another.
I wasn’t drinking whiskey, but I wasn’t not drinking whiskey either. It had the heat, the caramel, the smoke, the kind of complex flavor profile that made me forget it had zero alcohol. It was everything I had been missing without realizing it.
$27.99
Sober Curious, But Make It Sexy
I started bringing Ritual to everything. Friend’s dinner parties? Check. DJ sets in DTLA? Check. Low-key date nights where I didn’t want to drink, but also didn’t want to look like I was ordering a juice box? Check.
It became my signature bottle. My plus one. My “yes, I’m not drinking but I’m still fun” accessory.
And as I got deeper into this sober-curious era, I noticed I wasn’t alone.
“I’ll take whatever she’s having” started becoming a thing when I ordered a mocktail made with Ritual. Bartenders, once hesitant, started getting excited to make it. And friends who swore they’d never give up tequila suddenly wanted to borrow a splash of Ritual’s Tequila Alternative, now known as Agave Spirit Alternative, for their next pool day.
That’s the magic of it. Ritual didn’t just taste good. It made not drinking feel like a choice, not a punishment.
Ritual Zero Proof Non-Alcoholic Agave Spirit
$27.99
The Industry Is Catching On
According to David Crooch, General Manager of Non-Alcoholic Beverages at DIAGEO North America, Ritual is more than a trendy brand, it’s part of a cultural shift. “The future of the non-alcoholic beverage industry is all about growth, normalization, and availability at every place you’d find a cocktail,” Crooch tells LOOP.
Ritual Zero Proof is leading that movement, offering spirit alternatives to allow anyone over legal drinking age to enjoy the cocktails they love, without compromise.
And it’s not just about sipping something that feels like a drink. It’s about inclusion, being part of the experience without needing to opt out just because you’re not drinking alcohol.
“We’ve built our products to work seamlessly in any cocktail recipe- a true 1:1 swap,” Crooch explains. “That simplicity is key to making non-alcoholic cocktails more accessible.”
Whether you’re at a bar or making a cocktail on your couch, Ritual plays nicely with whatever glassware and playlist you’re working with. It doesn’t ask you to learn a new way to drink, just gives you a better option for the same ritual.
Why Ritual Works
Let’s be honest. A lot of mocktails taste like soda with a college degree. Cute, but not exactly… complex. Ritual’s line of zero-proof spirits stands out because it delivers on flavor, not just function.
Here’s what makes it a game-changer:
- 1:1 Classic Cocktail Compatibility
No re-learning drink recipes. Ritual is built to be swapped directly into your favorite classics, from Negronis to Whiskey Sours, without compromising taste. - Grown-Up Flavor Without the Burnout
Ritual’s spirits taste bold, layered, and intentional. This isn’t LaCroix in a tuxedo. It’s deeply thought out and crafted with cocktail lovers in mind. - No Hangover, No Pressure, No Regrets
You still get to hold a glass, clink it at midnight, and toast to your life, without waking up the next day filled with regret (or Advil).
The Bigger Picture
The rise of non-alcoholic spirits isn’t a niche wellness trend. It’s a full-blown cultural movement.
More restaurants and bars are introducing zero-proof menus. More influencers are sharing NA pairings and mocktail recipes. And more people, from celebs to CEOs, are proudly choosing to go dry, at least some of the time.
It’s not about reinventing the ritual of drinking, It’s about offering a new way to be part of it.
That’s what Ritual taps into: the feeling that you can still belong. You can still sip something that tastes special. You can still participate, even if you’re the designated driver, doing 75 Hard, or just want to wake up without brain fog.
And as demand rises, Ritual is making itself more available. You’ll spot it at places like Target, Total Wine, Ralphs, and Whole Foods, as well as your favorite online delivery apps. And yes, you’ll start to see it behind the bar at all the cool places, if you haven’t already.
Related | Sober Curious & Still Going Out in LA
What’s Next for My Mocktail Era?
75 Hard ends soon, but my love affair with Ritual won’t. I now keep the whiskey alternative stocked at home, the tequila alternative in my beach bag, and the gin alternative ready for rooftop hangs.
Will I still drink alcohol occasionally? Sure. But Ritual gave me back the option to not drink, and still feel like the life of the party.
It’s about choice. Confidence. Community. And a future where we all raise a glass to something, whatever’s inside of it.
Shop the rest of the Ritual zero proof line below!
Ritual Zero Proof Non-Alcoholic Gin
$28.99
Ritual Non-Alcoholic Aperitif Alternative
$29.95
Ritual Non-Alcoholic Rum Alternative
$29.95
Read More
