I had a health scare last year that changed my relationship with alcohol. Before, I’d share some wine with friends or go out on the weekend for a cocktail with my boo. But after everything went haywire (even a sip of alcohol resulted in a massive migraine), I turned to nonalcoholic beverages as a way to still feel like I was sipping on something special. Some were duds, like a particularly foul NA apéritif that tasted like bubblegum toothpaste, but a few scratched the itch without the bite. And one of my favorites (and a winner in our review of nonalcoholic drinks) is from Ghia.
Why I Love Ghia’s Nonalcoholic Drinks
Credit: Foxtrot
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While I’m much better now and can once again enjoy a glass of sauv blanc, I still keep a stock of Ghia canned spritzes and bottles on hand. They’re great for weeknights, when I want a little treat after work, or in the thick of a dinner party, when I want to transition away from alcohol.
Ghia’s original flavor is juicy and fruity, with an herbaceousness and kick of ginger that elevate it from juice to sophisticated adult beverage. It’s stellar served straight over ice, but it’s also fabulous when zhuzhed up with a splash of my favorite soda water or tonic. I like to add a drop of vanilla extract and a splash of grapefruit juice, and top it all off with tonic water for an almost creamsicle-like sipper.
Ghia also sells premixed canned spritzes in a bunch of flavors: original, sumac chili, lime and salt, and its newest offering, a blood orange spritz. They’re all excellent and interesting, though I’m partial to the bright lime spritz, which has a roundness and salinity that makes my mouth pucker like when I eat a bag of Sour Patch Kids. Served in a salt-rimmed glass with a wedge of lime, it feels like summer, no matter what time of year it is.
Ghia also touts a berry apéritif and some limited-edition offerings, like this Ghia Le Fizz, which is in and out of stock. But my faves remain the customizable original apéritif and the spritzes, which are easy, convenient, and have eye-catching mid-century packaging that makes me feel trés cool every time I pop the tab.
Why We’re the Experts
- Grace Kelly is a senior editor at Serious Eats.
- She’s been testing kitchen gear and food products for over four years.
- She likes to drink the original Ghia aperitif with a splash of tonic and a pour of grapefruit juice.
