Evening settles over Dunlop Street, storefronts glazed in gold, and somewhere a bottle of nonalcoholic Riesling is uncorked with a pop that promises pleasure without regret. In Barrie’s editorial rooms, a new ritual brews—one where flavour, not proof, earns centre stage.
The city’s beverage shelves have shifted, quietly, as editors and neighbours alike begin to thirst for something beyond the ordinary. The chatter is low, but purposeful. A can of Siponey glows in the late afternoon light, condensation beading like pearls along its rim. It’s a far cry from the syrupy mocktails of years past. These drinks, the ones editors reach for not from obligation but desire, carry a complexity that lingers on the palate and mind. There is a reason why Everleaf Mountain surfaces so often in their conversations: its bright cherry blossom, rose hip, and strawberry notes cut through the humdrum, lending even a plain seltzer a sudden sense of occasion. Said one editor, ‘It’s a nonalcoholic spirit that’s simply fun to drink’—and the evidence is in every splash.
Move past the first impression and the room opens further. Martini & Rossi’s Vibrante and Floreale rest in tall bottles, casting botanical shadows, their citrus and herbal aromas sharp as memory. Pour them over ice and a simple spritz becomes a celebration, light refracted through glass and laughter. Missing Thorn Red, forged by winemakers with a certain audacity, doesn’t masquerade as its alcoholic kin; instead, it leans into juicy Malbec notes softened by black-currant, inviting another sip and another until you forget what’s missing. Across the table, the Pathfinder Spritz and Wilderton Citrus Aperitivo join the chorus, each with their own tale of botanicals, bitters, and gentle spice. There’s no sense of compromise here—only the pursuit of satisfaction on its own terms.
These selections aren’t just drinks—they are recommendations, quiet acts of community, and a testament to Barrie’s evolving taste. The editors, ever methodical, find joy in the details: the subtle fizz, the interplay of tart and floral, even the knowledge that what fills the glass has been chosen, not settled for. In the end, these bottles and cans carve out a space in the city’s social heart, evidence that pleasure need not depend on alcohol content, but on the true alchemy of flavour and intent.
References:
The Best Nonalcoholic Drinks Our Editors Actually Reach For
