Clean Co Whiskey Non Alc

CLEAN CO's Whiskey Non Alc is a non-alcoholic whiskey alternative, which puts it in a different category from a distilled bourbon, rye or Scotch. Because the details supplied don't list a mash bill, origin or flavor profile, treat what follows as the typical character of non-alcoholic whiskey-style spirits, not as measured notes for this bottle. Expect a flavor built to suggest a whiskey: toasted oak and char, vanilla and caramel sweetness, and a baking-spice finish. Non-alcoholic versions of this style often lean on botanical and wood-derived flavors to get there, and they usually come across a little lighter and drier in body than a distilled spirit. For sipping, start at room temperature in a rocks glass, since cold dulls the oak and vanilla that carry most of the flavor. A single large cube is a good default, because it chills the pour without diluting it quickly. Try a small sip before adding anything. Without alcohol, a splash of water doesn't open the aroma the way it does with a cask-strength whiskey, so it's rarely needed. A Glencairn is still worth using for a first pour, because the tapered bowl concentrates the wood and spice aromas and shows you what the bottle is doing before you decide how to use it. Cocktails are where a product like this is most useful. In an Old Fashioned, stir it with a bar spoon of demerara or maple syrup, a few dashes of aromatic bitters and an orange peel. The bitters give the drink some bite that the spirit may lack by itself. Use the same logic for a Manhattan-style drink: swap the sweet vermouth for a non-alcoholic red aperitif or a splash of cherry syrup, and finish with a cherry. For a Whiskey Sour, shake with fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and, if you like a silkier texture, an egg white or aquafaba. For a Highball, pour over ice and top with ginger beer or soda water and a lemon wedge. Ginger beer suits the spice and oak, and soda water lets the whiskey flavors show more clearly. For food, smoked meats, grilled sausages, aged cheddar and dark chocolate are natural matches for the char and caramel notes.