I tested alcohol-free beer, wine & spirits for Dry January from Asahi to Seedlip – some were as good as the real thing

AFTER such a boozy Christmas and New Year’s Eve, laying off the alcohol for a while seems like just the ticket.

And it is so much easier to enjoy yourself at parties or on nights out without getting drunk these days, as there are so many non-alcoholic beers, spirits, wines – and even bottles of fizz – to choose from.

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Undertaking the challenge this year, Hayley Minn has tried all the best non-alcoholic tipples on the market, so you don’t have to, and gives her marks out of five . . . 

Kylie Minogue ­Alcohol Free ­Sparkling Rose

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KYLIE has absolutely smashed it when it comes to her rosé wine, so I was intrigued to see how the alcohol-free version would taste – and she has done it again!

It is so bubbly and sweet, and the perfect substitute for a bottomless brunch without the hangover.

5/5

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Low-alcohol Frizzantea Brut

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I’M sorry to say I found the flavours in this M&S fizz undrinkable.

The brut was too dry, while the rosé one was too sweet.

Very disappointing.

1/5

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Sainsbury’s Alcohol-Free

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IT’S shocking how much this alcohol-free sparkling wine tastes just like Prosecco.

You could easily serve this at a party and the price (75cl, £3.25) is excellent.

5/5

Thomson & Scott Noughty Alcohol Free

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SIMILAR to champagne, I really enjoyed the dry taste of this.

However, it wasn’t as good as some of the cheaper bottles of fizz I tried out.

4/5

Freixenet 0.0% Alcohol- Free

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I’M a big fan of Freixenet, so I had high hopes for this – but I was left in two minds.

I found the rosé one too sweet but the 0.0% sparkling was nicer.

3/5

Gordon’s Alcohol-Free

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WHILE I wouldn’t recommend drinking this neat, it does feel like you’re sipping the real thing when paired with tonic.

There are big juniper flavours coming through – and it is a great alternative.

4/5

Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla Alcohol-Free 0%

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THEIR original alcohol-free version is a great substitute, but the Flor de Sevilla flavour is absolutely delicious.

If you are a fan of blood orange gin, it’s the perfect alternative.

5/5

Captain ­Morgan Spiced Gold Alcohol-Free

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A PERFECT substitute for rum fans.

It looks and tastes just like the real thing, thanks to a balance of sugar and spice.

I tried it with Diet Coke, and could barely tell the difference.

5/5

Seedlip Grove 42

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SEEDLIP was the first non-alcoholic spirit on the market, but it doesn’t come out on top here and is the most costly (70cl, £18).

This tasted like sparkling water with a bit of citrus when paired with tonic.

1/5

Pentire Coastal Spritz

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IF you are a fan of an aperol spritz, this is a delicious hangover-free alternative.

It tastes just like the bittersweet orange drink, and you can’t tell the difference served with ice and an orange slice.

4/5

Stella Artois ­Alcohol-Free

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HARDLY a Stella offering from the Belgian brewers.

I’m not a big fan of their lager, but for those who do enjoy it, this version sadly tastes very different.

It is pretty bad – I’d go as far to say undrinkable.

1/5

Peroni Nastro ­Azzurro 0.0%

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WHILE this doesn’t taste like your usual Peroni, it is a really tasty option if you are going teetotal.

The non-alcoholic version has a really light flavour, and was even better when paired with some lime.

4/5

Beck’s Blue ­Alcohol Free

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ALAS Beck’s hasn’t quite nailed it with its alcohol-free alternative just yet.

This beer was really tasteless and quite unpleasant.

It was also much fizzier than some of the other “beers” I tried.

1/5

Guinness 0.0% Alcohol-Free Draught Stout

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GUINNESS has pulled off a masterstroke in creating a delicious 0.0% version of its famous stout.

There is a creamy head when poured and it tastes slightly lighter than the alcoholic original.

5/5

Perlenbacher Pils Alcohol-Free

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LIDL has made a very affordable alcohol-free beer, that I would say tastes just like Heineken 0.0%.

It is delicious and super-refreshing.

A great choice for washing down a post-Xmas curry!

4/5

Adnams Ghost Ship 0.5%

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AS an Adnams fan, this doesn’t remind me of Ghost Ship at all, as it’s quite a lot more bitter.

You can really tell it is (almost) alcohol free.

However, the taste is pleasant enough, and it is a lovely drink in its own right.

3/5

Asahi Super Dry 0%

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WOW! This absolutely blew me away.

Asahi has nailed the creamy texture of lager, and this version is simply delicious.

You could sit at work drinking these all day – and there is no alcohol, so no worries!

5/5

Lucky Saint 0.5% Unfiltered Lager

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LUCKY Saint has become one of the market leaders in alcohol-free beer, and it is clear to see why, as it is deliciously refreshing.

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I didn’t like it as much as some of the others I tried due to its ale taste.

3/5