I tried non-alcoholic drinks from Bella Hadid and Katy Perry – a drink was ‘bitter and watery’ but others were delicious
SIPPING on cold mocktails in spring is just as satisfying as drinking the alcoholic versions, that’s according to a handful of A-listers.
When Bella Hadid co-founded her “feel-good” beverage brand Kin Euphorics in June, I had a feeling the “mocktail” would be a big spring/summer trend for 2023.
But apparently, it’s been one for years.
I soon discovered Blake Lively, Katy Perry, and The Rock all have booze-free beverage brands too.
Between clean aperitifs, hibiscus spritzes, and natural energy drinks, famed figures have worked to develop their version of an ideal drink — with no alcohol, of course.
As the warm weather season approaches, I decided to do a taste test of these celebrity alternatives, to find the perfect tipple.
I even roped in my boyfriend Mike and his roommate Evan for a second and third opinion.
The three of us rated each drink out of ten for taste and again for appearance. Then, we ranked all four from our favorite to least favorite.
So who came out on top?
BETTY BUZZ (BLAKE LIVELY)
While this may shock some, 35-year-old actress Blake Lively doesn’t drink.
The mother-of-three started her beverage brand Betty Buzz in 2021 to provide other non-drinkers with a mixer that was good alone.
“Over the past many years of mixing but not drinking cocktails, it became clear mixers are the unsung heroes of the drink world and deserve just as much love as alcohol,” she wrote.
We tried the $29.99 Sparkling Grapefruit over some ice in a wine glass, but instantly wished it had booze in it.
The sourness of the grapefruit smacked my tongue, and it wasn’t as enjoyable as it would have been with a kick of alcohol.
It’s important to note all three of us aren’t huge fans of the flavoring, to begin with.
Mike had to smell it first to prepare his taste buds. “It doesn’t smell that great,” he proclaimed before taking a small sip from his glass.
“The smell is not good,” Evan agreed. “Taste alone: I would give it a solid 2.5 out of 10. Not my favorite. I thought it was bitter. And I wouldn’t even use it as a mixer for an alcoholic drink.” Harsh.
For me, the beauty of the bottle masked my aversion. But I had to agree that you couldn’t judge the bottle by its cover unless you wanted to be a bit disappointed.
I gave it a five out of 10, factoring in appearance more than I should have.
“The fact that there is added sugar and it tastes like there is none, they might as well not even add any,” Mike said. He gave the grapefruit mixer a four out of 10.
Collectively, we all agreed that the bottle design was “the best of the bunch.”
The skinny glass bottle looked as if it were a vintage milk jar, and that was appealing.
We rated the Betty Buzz look an eight of 10.
Note: For the video, we only drank the grapefruit flavor, but I was able to try the Sparkling Lemon Lime later, and that was delicious.
The grapefruit pick should keep a relationship with alcohol for sure.
Overall score: 4/10
KIN EUPHORICS (BELLA HADID)
To say I was eager to try this celebrity concoction is an understatement.
As a self-identified “Bella Bot,” the overwhelming influence of the 26-year-old has taken over and never steered me wrong — until now.
Though the supermodel and activist recently celebrated five months of sobriety, her intentions with Kin Euphorics weren’t to replace alcohol entirely.
Instead, she and co-founder Jen Batchelor wanted to create mixed refreshments that were nourishing and rejuvenating.
“Kin is like my safety blanket as I’m both calm and energized…it makes me euphoric, happy, and excited to be alive,” Jen said.
From the relaxer Dream Light to the immunity booster Actual Sunshine, the two women designed healthy options that work to freshen the body.
We settled on the “social energy” pick, Kin Spritz, as it seemed like a substitute for a boozy drink with friends.
For $22.99, you can get a pack of four on Amazon.
The caffeinated cooler included adaptogens, nootropics, orange bitters, and agave “to elevate your mood, smooth out stress, and offer a boost of energy.”
Before the liquid touched our taste buds, we took notice of the packaging.
The mesmerizing presentation of warm sunset colors melting into one another was an enticing offer.
However, the flavor wasn’t as inviting.
I gave the Kin Spritz a six out of 10 because I didn’t love the lingering taste of orange bitters.
Mike got more specific and went into decimal points: “I would say a 6.2 out of 10 for taste. It’s a little bitter and watery.”
He couldn’t rate it a six or even a 6.5 for the appearance either, but the blend of colors on the can got him excited for summer. So, that’s good?
For Evan, the Kin Spritz was only “slightly” better than the Betty Buzz Sparkling Grapefruit. He rated it a four out of 10.
Overall score: 5.5/10
DE SOI (KATY PERRY)
Katy Perry launched her line of aperitifs in January 2022, aiming to cut out the need for alcohol by focusing on flavor.
Every ingredient is natural, and each drink includes adaptogens — a fun spritz that doesn’t come with a hangover.
Like the first two picks, I was intrigued by the graphic design of each can. Celebrities know how to drink in style and make their drinks stylish.
The clean-cut matte finish of the De Soi cans was too good. And you aren’t just limited to an eight-ounce can. Katy Perry’s brand sells bottles as well.
We bought the $25 pack of four Golden Hour drinks, and let me tell you, if these did have alcohol in them, I’d be in danger of drinking every day.
The bubbly green tea is infused with rosemary and lemon balm. Trust me, this combination not only sounds good but tastes delectable.
Hints of rosemary hit you in the nose on the way down and in the lasting kick.
I felt both energized and satisfied: two feelings alcohol could never leave me with.
Golden Hour gave Mike “forest vibes,” but according to him, in the best way possible.
He couldn’t give the drink an eight as he felt he needed to be honest “for the people.” Instead, Mike rated it a 7.2 out of 10.
“The rosemary is exquisite. Katy Perry, I feel like a plastic bag floating through the wind. I’m going to give this one an 8.5,” Evan proclaimed.
After just one glance and a sip, I knew I had found my new drink fixation.
My opinion: Golden hour was a nine out of 10 on taste and a 10 out of 10 on appearance.
Overall, Katy Perry’s De Soi was a “roar.”
Overall score: 8.5/10
ZOA (DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON)
Lastly, we went for even more of an energy boost.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson created the complete opposite of a cocktail with his energy drink brand Zoa.
Rather than getting the sluggish feeling of having several boozy beverages in your body, The Rock went in the other direction and fashioned an uplifting concoction.
The natural drink that could be compared to a Celsius or Monster didn’t seem to be a possible alternative to a happy hour cocktail, but worth a shot.
Keeping with the fruity fad of the taste test, we tried the $25.44 pack of four Zoa Zero Sugar White Peach.
And wow, was it sweet. It was the pee-like coloring that threw me off, but the marketed “natural” sugar made me even more reluctant.
Though I’ve never had a Redbull or Monster, I automatically associated the Zoa with what I thought those would be like, and Mike agreed with me.
“It’s giving Monster,” Mike said. However, the syrupy taste led him to rate it a 7.3 “because it’s not as good as Katy Perry’s.”
“I just want to be consistent and give the viewers an honest review,” Mike exclaimed.
Yet, according to Evan, the Zoa was not comparable.
As a caffeine lover, Evan was pleased with the alternative to coffee. He rated the drink a nine out of 10, making it his favorite out of the bunch.
“The only thing keeping it from a 10 is it’s a little too sweet,” Evan admitted. “I think if you cut this with a little sparkling water, that would make it a 10.”
I gave the drink a solid eight out of 10 for taste and two out of 10 for appearance. I would never pour it over ice and casually drink it while my other friends sipped on a cocktail.
And if I walked into a bodega, I wouldn’t be drawn to it either.
However, if I wanted to bounce off the walls or go on a long-distance run, I would crush a can of Zoa.
Overall score: 8/10