The sober curious movement has gone mainstream — and the drinks have finally caught up. Whether you're doing a dry month, cutting back permanently, or just exploring what life feels like without alcohol, this starter pack covers the eight drinks that make the alcohol-free lifestyle genuinely enjoyable.
What Does "Sober Curious" Mean?
The term was popularized by Ruby Warrington's 2018 book of the same name. Sober curious doesn't necessarily mean sober — it means questioning your relationship with alcohol and making more intentional choices about when and why you drink. For many people, it's less about abstinence and more about replacing mindless drinking with intentional, functional alternatives.
The 8 Essential Sober Curious Drinks
1. Botanical Brewing Kava — For When You Actually Want to Feel Something
This is the most important recommendation in this list. If you're sober curious because you want the social ease and relaxation of alcohol without the downsides, kava is the answer. Botanical Brewing's ready-to-drink kava cans deliver genuine kavalactone-driven relaxation — reduced anxiety, elevated mood, comfortable conversation — without any cognitive impairment or hangover.
One can before a social event is the closest thing to a functional alcohol replacement that currently exists. Shop Botanical Brewing Kava →
Best For: Parties, social anxiety, evening unwinding.
2. Aplós Arise — For Cocktail Hour
Aplós has created one of the most sophisticated non-alcoholic aperitifs available. The hemp extract delivers a subtle social ease, and the botanical flavor profile is genuinely complex and enjoyable. Mix it with tonic water and a slice of orange for an aperitif that holds its own at any dinner party. Shop Aplós →
Best For: Cocktail hour, dinner parties, sophisticated sipping.
3. Curious Elixirs No. 1 — For the Cocktail Ritual
If you miss the ritual of cocktails — the glass, the garnish, the slow sip — Curious Elixirs delivers. Their bottled non-alcoholic cocktails are sophisticated, complex, and genuinely enjoyable. No mixing required. Shop Curious Elixirs →
Best For: Dinner parties, bar settings, special occasions.
4. Recess Mood — For Everyday Calm
Recess is the most accessible sober curious drink. It looks like a hard seltzer, comes in a can, and the CBD/adaptogen blend takes the edge off social anxiety without any explanation needed. It's the easiest swap at a party or gathering. Shop Recess →
Best For: Parties, casual social settings, daily stress management.
5. Kin Euphorics High Rhode — For Social Energy
Kin's High Rhode is designed specifically for social situations. The rhodiola and GABA combination produces a mood-elevating, energizing effect that makes conversation flow more easily. It's the functional equivalent of a glass of wine at a dinner party. Shop Kin Euphorics →
Best For: Social events, dinner parties, mood elevation.
6. Hiyo Social Tonic — For Staying Sharp
Hiyo is for the sober curious person who wants to be present and engaged, not sedated. The lion's mane and ashwagandha combination supports focus and calm simultaneously — perfect for networking events or situations where you need to be on your game. Shop Hiyo →
Best For: Professional events, networking, situations requiring focus.
7. Seedlip Spice 94 — For the Home Bar
Seedlip is the original non-alcoholic spirit, and their Spice 94 remains one of the best. It's designed to be mixed — add it to tonic with a grapefruit twist for a genuinely excellent non-alcoholic G&T. Having a bottle in your home bar makes alcohol-free entertaining effortless.
Best For: Home bar, hosting, mixing non-alcoholic cocktails.
8. Kin Euphorics Dream Light — For the Nightcap
Replacing your evening glass of wine or nightcap is one of the hardest parts of going alcohol-free. Kin Dream Light is the best solution we've found — melatonin, reishi, and passionflower in a warm, spiced elixir that genuinely helps you wind down and sleep better. Shop Kin Euphorics →
Best For: Pre-sleep ritual, replacing a nightcap, improving sleep quality.
Practical Tips for Going Sober Curious
Stock your home bar first. Having great non-alcoholic options at home makes the transition much easier. Start with Botanical Brewing kava for relaxation, Aplós for cocktail hour, and Kin Dream Light for evenings.
Have a go-to party drink. Recess or Botanical Brewing Co. in a can is the easiest social solution — it looks like any other canned drink and requires no explanation.
Embrace the ritual. Much of alcohol's appeal is the ritual — the glass, the pour, the sip. Non-alcoholic spirits like Aplós and Curious Elixirs preserve this ritual while eliminating the downsides.
The Bottom Line
Going alcohol-free doesn't have to mean drinking sparkling water at parties. The sober curious movement has driven a wave of genuinely excellent functional beverages that make the lifestyle feel like a choice rather than a sacrifice. Start with Botanical Brewing kava for the functional effects, Aplós for sophistication, and Recess for everyday accessibility.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
