Non-alcoholic spirits and beer in Boston

The Wild Duck, a liquor store at 86 Massachusetts Ave in Boston, has a Non-Alcoholic category, and that page is the place to check for non-alcoholic spirits and beer. You can browse it online or visit the shop, and you can also order by pickup, delivery or shipping.

Where can I find non-alcoholic spirits and beer in Boston?

Start with the Non-Alcoholic category on The Wild Duck website. It is the page to open for non-alcoholic spirits, non-alcoholic beer and other zero-proof drinks, and it shows what is in stock at the moment. You can look through it from home and then decide whether to come in or place an order.

The Wild Duck is a liquor store at 86 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02117. The shop is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM and on Sunday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Because we are a liquor store, the non-alcoholic category sits next to wine, liquor and beer. If you are buying for a group where some people drink alcohol and some do not, you can plan the whole order in one place.

What counts as a non-alcoholic beer?

A non-alcoholic beer is brewed in the same way as beer and then either has the alcohol removed or is made so that very little forms in the first place. The result is a drink that looks and tastes like beer, served cold in a glass or straight from the can.

In the United States a drink labelled non-alcoholic can still contain a trace of alcohol, under 0.5 percent alcohol by volume. A drink labelled alcohol-free is normally held to a stricter standard. The wording on the label tells you which one you are holding, so it is worth reading before you buy.

If you are looking for a style, the usual families are the same as for regular beer: lagers, pale ales, stouts and hazy craft styles. The Non-Alcoholic category page is where to see which of these the shop currently lists.

What is a zero-proof spirit and how is it different from whiskey or gin?

A non-alcoholic spirit is built from botanicals, herbs, spices, citrus peel or fruit, extracted or distilled into a concentrated liquid. It stands in for gin, whiskey, rum or a bitter aperitif in a drink. It is not a regular spirit with the alcohol taken out, and it is usually sipped in a long drink rather than neat.

That difference explains why a zero-proof gin alternative tastes of juniper and citrus, while a whiskey alternative leans on oak, spice and warmth. They are written to suggest the flavor of the original, not to copy it exactly.

If you want to compare with the real thing, the shop also has a whiskey category, a gin category and a rum category. Seeing them side by side can help you decide what flavor you want in the glass.

How do I use non-alcoholic spirits in a cocktail?

Treat a non-alcoholic spirit as you would its alcoholic equivalent: over ice, topped with something fizzy and finished with a twist of citrus. A gin-style bottle suits tonic and a slice of lime. A whiskey-style one suits ginger beer or a little bitter orange. A bitter, aperitif-style bottle works with soda and an orange slice.

You will need the other half of the drink too. The Mixers category is the place to look for sodas, juices and cocktail mixers, so you can build the drink from one order. Fever Tree is one of the mixer brands the shop carries.

A few habits make a zero-proof drink taste finished instead of like a substitute. Use plenty of ice, a fresh citrus peel and a proper glass. Add something with a little bitterness or acidity to balance the sweetness. If you want a cocktail with a stronger flavor of the shop's own shelves, CHARTREUSE Yellow Liqueur is an alcoholic liqueur, so keep it for guests who are drinking alcohol.

How can I check that a drink really has no alcohol?

Look for the alcohol by volume figure, usually printed as ABV, on the front or the back of the bottle or can. A true zero reads 0.0 percent or says alcohol-free. A figure of 0.5 percent or less is what the non-alcoholic label allows.

That small difference matters to some people, for example anyone avoiding alcohol entirely, so read the label instead of assuming. Words such as zero proof, spirit-free or dealcoholized describe how a drink was made. They do not replace the ABV figure.

Also check that the product is not a flavored version of a drink that is normally alcoholic, since the packaging can look similar. The Ready-To-Drink category is mostly canned cocktails and coolers, and many of those contain alcohol, so check each can before you choose one for a guest who is not drinking.

What can I serve guests who are not drinking alcohol?

Offer them a real drink, not an afterthought. A non-alcoholic beer in a cold glass, or a spirit-style drink built over ice, means the person without alcohol is holding something that belongs at the table.

Plain soda, sparkling water and juice from the Mixers category also work as a base for a simple drink. Add a bowl of snacks and the table feels complete. The shop's Snacks category includes Chica De Gallot Pepper Salsa, which suits a table of mixed guests.

If you are also pouring for guests who want alcohol, the sparkling wine category sits in the same store. The Home bar guide covers stocking a home bar in Boston.

Can I order non-alcoholic drinks for pickup or delivery in Boston?

The Wild Duck offers pickup, delivery and shipping. Pickup runs Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM and on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Delivery runs Monday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM and on Sunday from 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Our in-store pickup page has more on collecting an order.

We deliver to Boston, Cambridge and Brookline, and each has its own page: Liquor Delivery in Boston, MA, Liquor Delivery in Cambridge, MA and Liquor Delivery in Brookline, MA. The Liquor Delivery Areas page lists the areas together.

You can put items from the Non-Alcoholic category, mixers and snacks into the same order. If you are buying for someone else, gift cards are also available.

Why shop for non-alcoholic drinks at The Wild Duck?

The Wild Duck is rated above 4.5 out of 5 from more than 60 Google reviews. The shop has more than 4,500 products and more than 700 brands in stock, spread across more than 100 categories, so a non-alcoholic order can sit alongside everything else you need for the occasion.

That is useful when you are hosting. You can pick zero-proof drinks, mixers and snacks, and add a bottle for the guests who want one, without a second stop. The owner names selection, local and craft products, and service as what the shop does well.

To see what is listed today, open the Non-Alcoholic category. To see the wider shop, the Store page is the place to start.