Get a buzz without the booze with these top drinks for the sober-curious

The sober-curious movement has officially outgrown Dry January. 

For many of us, it’s no longer an experiment but a recalibration. It’s our own private (or sometimes collective, if we’re lucky) decision to question not just how much we drink, but what we’re actually chasing when we reach for a glass. 

After five months of ditching the alcohol myself, my bar for a “replacement” beverage was painfully high. I wasn’t looking for numbness but the feeling I missed most — the mental exhale. I wanted my brain to quiet down without checking out entirely. 

Alcohol has long been the default shortcut to such a sensation, but it’s far from the only option. 

In its place, a new category of non-alcoholic drinks has emerged, designed not to mimic beer, wine, or even liquor, but to serve an evolved audience interested in a gentler, more intentional lift via botanicals and functional compounds. 

The goal isn’t escapism, nor should it be. Rather, these new drinks are aimed at the opposite. It’s about presence. More now than ever, people want to be calm, clear and still.

Editor’s Pick: Cornbread Hemp Seltzer

The moment I took my first crisp, Salted Watermelon sip, I noticed a dramatic shift in the perception I had of hemp beverages up until that point.

No weird aftertaste? Had I misread the label? Fifteen minutes in (I’m slow with a glass of water, okay), the tension in my shoulders had loosened and my thoughts felt clearer. Yes, clearer. By the time I’d finished the can, I was about as relaxed yet alert and present as the horse who’d watched me savor my Cornbread moment. 

The feeling struck the exact balance I’d been missing since cutting alcohol out of my life: calm but not flat, lifted but not unruly. Nothing was sedating, I wasn’t out of control, and I didn’t feel like I was borrowing happiness from tomorrow.

The flavor profile of these seltzers deserves its own outright shout-out. It might be helpful to know how sensitive I am to artificial flavors — I just don’t do them. Turns out, neither does Cornbread Hemp. From the brand’s rizzy Raspberry Limeade to the balanced Blueberry Breeze, nostalgic Peach Iced Tea, and my personal favorite, Salted Watermelon, the seltzers are bright without being sugary, effervescent without any sting, and somehow sophisticated enough to stand in for an Aperol spritz. At least on my ranch.

What impresses me most about the Cornbread Hemp Seltzers is how consistent the experience is, which matters more than ever when you’re not drinking alcohol and seeking routine versus roulette. Every can delivers the same measured lift: mellow, social and gentle. Whether you’re unwinding after work, hosting friends, or relearning what an intentional drink looks like post-booze, this seltzer hits exactly where it should.

Best for: Evenings, social settings, and anyone who wants a noticeable but controlled buzz without alcohol’s baggage

Best for Relaxing: Recess Mood Sparkling Water

Recess helped normalize the idea that a canned beverage could support your nervous system instead of hijacking it. Their lightly sparkling drinks combine hemp extract with adaptogens like L-theanine and lemon balm, creating a mellow, steady calm that sneaks up rather than hits all at once.

The flavors are subtle and grown-up, and the effect is more “exhale” than euphoria, which is ideal for daytime sipping, creative work, or social anxiety management. This is a great entry point for anyone new to hemp-based beverages.

Best for: Daytime stress, work-from-home afternoons, and low-stakes socializing

Best Evening Martini Replacement: Lightwave by Kin Euphorics

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Kin is less “drink” and more ritual, which is precisely its appeal. Founded with adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals at the center (think reishi, rhodiola, GABA, and 5-HTP depending on the blend), these drinks are designed to replace not just alcohol, but the emotional punctuation mark alcohol once provided.

The effects skew cerebral and mood-forward rather than body-heavy. You don’t feel buzzed so much as reframed — more open, less reactive, subtly elevated. Kin’s flagship flavors like High Rhode and Dream Light are layered, bitter, and complex, making them excellent for slow sipping or evening wind-down rituals that still feel intentional and adult.

This is the drink for people who miss the ceremony of a cocktail more than the chaos of intoxication.

Best for: Evening rituals, creative thinking, and those who want a functional drink that feels philosophical rather than playful

Best for Weekends: De Soi

Co-founded by Katy Perry, De Soi leans into the aperitif experience without pretending to be alcohol’s twin. These are botanical blends with adaptogens like ashwagandha and lion’s mane, designed to take the edge off while keeping your senses intact.

The flavors — Haute Margarita, Golden Hour, and more — are earthy, savory, and intentionally complex. You pour them over ice, garnish if you’re feeling fancy, and sip slowly. The effect is grounding and subtly euphoric, more body-based than mental, with a calming presence that feels distinctly evening-coded.

De Soi doesn’t try to get you “buzzed.” It tries to get you settled.

Best for: Dinner parties, cocktail hour replacements, and anyone who misses aperitivo culture but not alcohol’s aftermath

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This article was written by Kendall Cornish, New York Post Commerce Editor & Reporter. Kendall, who moonlights as a private chef in the Hamptons for New York elites, lends her expertise to testing and recommending cooking products – for beginners and aspiring sous chefs alike. Simmering and seasoning her way through both jobs, Kendall dishes on everything from the best cookware for your kitchen to chef-approved gourmet meal kits to the full suite of Ninja appliances. Prior to joining the Post’s shopping team in 2023, Kendall previously held positions at Apartment Therapy and at Dotdash Meredith’s Travel + Leisure and Departures magazines.