The Guest Pour Part 1

Wotcha!

When I knew I was taking a break from writing the newsletter this summer, one of the first people I thought of asking to cover a few issues while I was away was Chris Clemens.

If you aren’t already following Chris’s nonROCaholic page on Instagram, you’re definitely missing out. His feed is one of the best out there. People say I feature some obscure non-alcoholic finds, but Chris is on another level.

Here’s the first of two issues he’s put together for you. Enjoy!

Enjoy!

Myles

In this week’s edition:

NAN
New NA Drink News

SPIRIT
Sylva - Orchard

WINE
Faux Wine - Melange Rosé

Read time: 4 minutes 10 seconds

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My NAN, who researches all the new non-alcoholic drink launches and brings them to you each week, is on her summer break.

She’ll be back on August 22.

SPIRIT

nonROCaholic thoughts: The team that brought to life both Seedlip zero-proof spirits and Seasons alcohol-free bitters have forged yet another new path. With the launch of Sylva, they’ve released a few products that have quickly earned themselves tremendous respect worldwide.

Though Sylva’s Orchard stops short of identifying as a whiskey alternative, both its production methods and flavor profile clearly lean in that direction. The oak influence, warmth, and complexity arouse thoughts of a sipping whiskey–and it’s delightful.

There are plenty of fascinating details about how this spirit is made, but one of the most intriguing is that it was intentionally crafted to stand on its own. Most non-alcoholic spirits shine brightest when supported by other ingredients. Orchard, by contrast, invites you to pour a glass and simply enjoy it.

At $60 per bottle, Orchard is among the most expensive zero-proof spirits per-ounce, so my expectations were high. Fortunately, it delivers. Notes of applewood, vanilla, and a gentle touch of heat create a remarkably satisfying experience over ice. One area where many non-alcoholic spirits fall short is body; they're often too thin. While Orchard is still somewhat delicate, it offers more weight and texture than many of its peers.

Objectively, the price makes it difficult to recommend as a daily sipper. But the quality, craftsmanship and flavor make it an easy choice for special occasions.

How Sylva describes Orchard: ORCHARD is fruit-forward with gentle smoke evoking warm memories of slow days spent on the farm and the golden period at the end of the summer when harvest is finished and the seasons change.

Sip slowly over ice or long with soda.

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WINE

nonROCaholic thoughts: One of the biggest challenges in producing non-alcoholic wine is the dealcoholization process. Taking a Riesling that may start at 14% ABV and reducing it to 0.5% is no small feat. Great wines build complexity at every stage of production so removing alcohol can strip away some of the layers that make them compelling in the first place. On top of that, the cost of removing alcohol from a beverage is absurdly expensive.

That challenge has created opportunities for culinary innovators like Jennifer David of Indianapolis, Indiana. Her company, Faux Wine, takes a different approach. Rather than starting with wine and removing the alcohol, Faux Wine builds flavor from the ground up using fruits, botanicals, tannins, and other ingredients chosen to evoke some of the aromas, textures, and experiences people associate with wine.

The Mélange Rouge layers dark fruits and botanicals with a touch of tannin, offering a profile that will feel familiar to red wine drinkers. The Mélange Rosé draws on hibiscus and lemon peel to create a bright, refreshing pour suited to everything from brunch to an evening on the patio. Completing the lineup, the Mélange Blanc combines chamomile and orchard fruit for a rich, expressive alternative that would feel equally at home on a picnic table or a white-linen dining table.

Jennifer has spent years refining these recipes, and I've had the opportunity to taste both early versions and more recent releases. Watching the evolution of the brand has been rewarding, as each iteration has brought greater balance, nuance, and confidence to the lineup.

If alcohol-removed wines haven't quite delivered the experience you're looking for, Faux Wine offers a compelling alternative. Sometimes the answer isn't a wine with the alcohol removed—it's something entirely different that deserves to be appreciated on its own terms.

How Faux Wine describes Melange Rosé: A wine-adjacent, alcohol-free beverage built from the ground up for structure, acidity, and balance. Dry, aromatic, and expressive, layered with red fruit, stone fruit, hibiscus, and lemon peel.

EXTRA READS

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