# What is the best non-alcoholic beverage you've ever had? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 9, 2017, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854 "2017-09-09T00:36:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/22 "2017-09-09T14:15:13Z")
Turkey Hill Diet Blackberry Sweet Iced Tea. Since giving up wine, I’ve yet to find anything diet and non-alcoholic that tastes ore like red wine. And it’s great! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/23 "2017-09-09T14:26:57Z")
Buttermilk. Runner up: tomato juice. No, I’m not kidding. mmm ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/24 "2017-09-09T16:09:28Z")
Couple milkshake mentions, but no malts? Chocolate malt made with real malt powder. Haven’t had one in years though because these days I reserve my liquid calories for non-non-alcoholic beverages. Runner-up: a cold V-8. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/25 "2017-09-09T16:15:47Z")
I had a “Virgin Mary” – non-alcoholic Bloody Mary – at a luxury hotel bar. My heavens, that was good! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/26 "2017-09-09T16:26:17Z")
Earlier this week I tried [Dry Sparkling Vanilla Bean](http://www.drysparkling.com/flavors/vanilla-bean/) soda. It was outstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/27 "2017-09-09T16:45:31Z")
I’ll see your tomato juice and V-8 and raise you a Clamato. Specifically the “preparado” version, with a bacon/egg/cheese sandwich in the morning. Or mixed two-to-one with beer in the evening. (Or as the base of a Bloody Mary.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/28 "2017-09-09T16:52:10Z")
I was skeptical at first, but a Clamato, indeed, does hit the spot. More often, though, I use it as part of a tasty alcoholic beverage (whether a bloody Caesar or michelada.) ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/29 "2017-09-09T16:55:37Z")
Ike, you have issues man. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/30 "2017-09-09T17:24:56Z")
This is a tough one. I’m going to go with cherry cider in Washington state in early July. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/31 "2017-09-09T17:49:53Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Ike, you have issues man. Issues? Dude has _subscriptions_! ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/32 "2017-09-09T18:42:56Z")
Fresh squeezed, unfiltered, unpasteurized raw apple juice from Gizdich Farms near Watsonville, California. Pop the top of a new cold half gallon in the parking lot and take a long pull. Second place: a passion fruit smoothie, sweetened with sugar cane juice, from a Vietnamese fruit juice stand. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/33 "2017-09-09T21:01:25Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I was skeptical at first, but a Clamato, indeed, does hit the spot. More often, though, I use it as part of a tasty alcoholic beverage (whether a bloody Caesar or michelada.) Right. A Bloody Mary with Clamato is a Bloody Caesar (god knows why), and Clamato with beer is a Michelada (ditto). Next time you hit Fatso’s, report back on the fried shrimp. They’re famous for their fried shrimp. I’m skeptical (on my two visits I had an exemplary grilled full-on Chicago dog and a “smashburger,” a cheeseburger smooshed on the grill), but curious. And the milkshakes are dynamite. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/34 "2017-09-09T21:02:29Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Ike, you have issues man. Hey, I like buttermilk, too. Cha-choon ah son goot. **Mean Mr. Mustard** and I are gonna get together and whoop it up. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/35 "2017-09-09T21:09:22Z")
A diner around here used to make what they called an “orangeade.” It was about 8 oz. of freshly-squeezed orange juice (you watched them squeeze it) poured in a glass over a scoop of orange sherbet. Yummm. A really well-made egg cream-- tastes like what’s left after you eat the ice cream out of a chocolate ice cream soda. Ok. Want. Some. Now. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/36 "2017-09-09T21:20:09Z")
I love a good chocolate or caramel malted milkshake. If the oranges are good, then plain old fresh-squeezed orange juice is pretty hard to beat. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/37 "2017-09-09T23:09:19Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Couple milkshake mentions, but no malts? Chocolate malt made with real malt powder. Haven’t had one in years though because these days I reserve my liquid calories for non-non-alcoholic beverages. Post #15 Good GOD that’s tasty. A chocolate malt would definitely be on my ‘last meal’ menu. I was stuck in the hospital over New Years one time, and to celebrate, the nurses introduced me to a ‘mocktail’ of half orange juice, half Sprite. Surprisingly tasty. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/38 "2017-09-09T23:28:04Z")
We need a Doper potluck ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/39 "2017-09-09T23:34:19Z")
Draft Root Beer float. With cheese dogs. But for a single event, it was a 2-liter bottle of water I drank after changing a car tire-In Abu Dhabi-in the desert-in August. Like a gift from the Gods. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/40 "2017-09-09T23:37:00Z")
[Bundaberg Ginger Beer](https://www.bundaberg.com/brew/ginger-beer/) which used to be a strictly Aussie thing but is now available overseas. All their naturally brewed concoctions are great = _Lemon Lime and Bitters_, _Blood Orange_ and _Pink Grapefruit_ in particular. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854/41 "2017-09-10T00:59:54Z")
I’ve got trouble separating the drink from situation. During a winter trip to Chicago, my daughter went into a Mrs. Fields Cookies shop and brought me out a very hot, sweet, coffee beverage - that tasted strongly of coffee. I said Thank You. Other than that, I love a big ice coffee on a summer day, or a non-alcoholic beer when I’m hot and dehydrated. (Most of the brands do have half a percent of alcohol.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-non-alcoholic-beverage-youve-ever-had/795854.md?page=3)