Ritual Zero Proof Review: Tequila, Gin, Whiskey, Rum and Aperitif Compared
How Ritual's five spirit alternatives compare on taste, calories and alcohol, which cocktails each is made for, and which to buy first.
Ritual Zero Proof makes five spirit alternatives (tequila, gin, whiskey, rum and an aperitif) built to swap 1:1 into the cocktails you already make. They are under 0.5% alcohol, with 0 to 5 calories a pour. None is meant for sipping neat. Here is how the five compare, what each is best in, and which to buy first. We sell all of them.
The range at a glance
| Ritual | Calories, 1.5 oz | Make it into |
|---|---|---|
| Tequila | 0 | Margarita, Paloma |
| Gin | 0 | Gin and tonic |
| Whiskey | 5 | Whiskey sour, Manhattan |
| Rum | 5 | Mojito, rum and cola |
| Aperitif | 0 | Spritz, Negroni-style |
Calories from each bottle’s label; every one is labeled under 0.5% alcohol. Taste notes for each are in the picks below.
Tequila
The best seller: smoky and peppery, made for margaritas.
Whiskey
Vanilla and oak for a sour or a highball.
Aperitif
Bitter orange for a spritz or a Negroni-style drink.
All five
The sampler: one of each, to find your favorite.
How Ritual tastes like a spirit
Heat without alcohol
Alcohol brings a warm bite. Ritual gets a similar burn from spice, which is why a sip on its own can feel peppery and thin, and why it comes alive in a mixed drink.
Built for a 1:1 swap
Pour it where the recipe says tequila, gin or whiskey, at the same measure. Ritual’s bottles are designed for that, so you don’t need new recipes.
A trace, not zero
Every Ritual bottle is labeled under 0.5% alcohol, the US line for non-alcoholic, rather than 0.0%. If you need a true zero, Seedlip is labeled 0.0%.
Light on calories
0 to 5 calories in a 1.5 oz pour, from a little cane sugar. A regular 80-proof spirit has about 97 in the same pour (USDA).
How Ritual Tequila compares
Ritual Tequila is the most searched of the five. Against other agave alternatives, it is the spicy, smoky one: pick it if you miss the burn of tequila more than the agave. If you want a cleaner agave taste, or a bottle labeled 0.0%, see non-alcoholic tequilas compared, or browse the tequila shelf.
Ritual is the spicy one: pick it if you miss the burn more than the agave.
Which to buy
Start with the drink you make most. The numbers aren’t a ranking.
- 01The one to start withRitual Zero Proof Tequila
- 02Sours and highballsRitual Zero Proof Whiskey
- 03Long, cold drinksRitual Zero Proof Gin
- 04Bitter, before dinnerRitual Zero Proof Aperitif
- 05Mojitos and tikiRitual Zero Proof Rum
Ritual Zero Proof Tequila
- <0.5%
- Never Alcoholized
- United States
Lime, guava and mesquite smoke. Shake 2 oz with lime and agave over ice, with a salt rim. Also sold by the case of six.
Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey
- <0.5%
- Never Alcoholized
- United States
Best with citrus or ginger ale; thin when sipped on its own.
Ritual Zero Proof Gin
- <0.5%
- Never Alcoholized
- United States
Pour over plenty of ice with a premium tonic and a wedge of lime.
Ritual Zero Proof Aperitif
- <0.5%
- Never Alcoholized
- United States
Top with sparkling non-alcoholic wine and soda for a spritz.
Ritual Zero Proof Rum
- <0.5%
- Never Alcoholized
- United States
Best in drinks with lime and mint, or a tropical punch.
Want them all?
Where to buy Ritual Zero Proof
All five are on our Ritual Zero Proof page, in single bottles and, for the tequila, gin, whiskey and aperitif, cases of six. Shipping is free across the contiguous US, with no minimum, and the rest of our spirit alternatives are a click away.
Common questions
What is Ritual zero proof tequila?
A non-alcoholic tequila alternative from Ritual Zero Proof, a US brand founded in 2019. It is made from water, natural flavors and a little cane sugar, tastes of lime, guava, mesquite smoke and pepper, and is meant to replace tequila 1:1 in margaritas and palomas.
Does zero proof tequila have alcohol?
Ritual's is labeled under 0.5% alcohol, the US limit for non-alcoholic drinks, so it may hold a trace; that is not enough to feel. If you need a true zero, choose a bottle labeled 0.0%, such as Seedlip Notas de Agave.
Is Ritual zero proof safe during pregnancy?
It is labeled under 0.5% alcohol, not 0.0%, so it can contain a trace. Many people choose 0.0% drinks in pregnancy to avoid alcohol entirely. Ask your doctor or midwife, and see our guide to non-alcoholic drinks in pregnancy.
Can you drink Ritual zero proof neat?
You can, but it is made for mixing. On its own it tastes thinner and spicier than the spirit it replaces; with citrus, tonic or soda, the flavors come together. Serve it cold, over ice.
