Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey, Award-Winning Alcohol-Free Spirit for Cocktails, 700ml Bottle

I read reviews--positive and negative--about this faux whisky. But it seemed worth a try. Still, I wasn't prepared for the horror. As soon as I opened the bottle, the room was filled with a smell that was uncomfortably close to the odor of a countertop cleaner we use in our home. A little taste didn't dispel that initial impression. There was nothing at all reminiscent of any sort of whisky. But that's not the way we're supposed to use it. It's a mixer. So I made a 50/50 mix with 74 and Maker's Mark. This turned a decent bourbon into rotgut. I waited a couple of days and gave it another go. It didn't get better. One of the things we cherish in a good whisky is the finish. As the taste dies away, there's an evolving bit of oak, cherry, smoke and other hints that might last for a minute or two. 74 doesn't have a finish, but it sure as heck has an aftertaste. That aftertaste is pretty unpleasant and it lasts for a very long time. That was the end of my experiment. As I poured it down the drain, it occurred to me that the drain was cleaner than it had ever been. It took a long time for NA beer to go from tolerable to good. Much of the current offering is pretty tasty. I fear it will take longer for NA spirits to get to that point. I think that the mistake the makers of 74 made is to go for the "fire". There's really only one way to get that fire and that's with alcohol. The faux fire of 74 is just plain nasty. I think that instead they should have gone for the undertones--the stuff that comes into whisky from the barrel. That's what makes a whisky savory. I wish the distillers of 74 (I suppose I shouldn't even use that term) better luck on their next efforts. They--or someone else--will eventually crack this nut. But 74 is a miss. A really bad miss.

All of the reviews seem to be from people who drink alcohol and compare this to the real thing. I haven't had a drink of alcohol in over 37 years so my level of comparison is a vague memory. This review is for people who don't drink who want to find something fun and social they can add to their beverage choices. I like this stuff. It has a nice odor and a nice flavor. What is that flavor? You taste a smokiness and a fruitiness but not much sweet. When you take your first sip you may think, meh, but then on the backend the flavors open up. What I really like is that an interesting, almost plumb taste remains. There is a bit of a burn if you take a shot rather than sip. This burn is not on the tongue, but on the back and sides of the throat. It tends to come in the middle. The label says this is good for a year once open. That's pretty cool and means you could decant it if you want. I did and the amber liquid looks beautiful in my Lenox crystal decanter. I put 3 stars for value for money because this stuff is not cheap. If the price point were $10 less then I would say it was high value. $5 less would be okay. The price as it is, quite a bit. However, if you are looking to showoff for special occasion but don't drink alcohol then you will splurge and enjoy. Since getting it I've shared it with a few people. On their first drink they were meh but came back for more once it settled in. Some reviews say this is better mixed than neat. I like it both ways but for me I enjoy sipping it. On the rocks is best by far and changing so much about the way the flavor occupies the mouth.

If you like bourbon and want a bourbon alternative then avoid this one. My comparison is based on the Jim Beam I usually use in mixed drinks. This is thin and watery, like weak iced tea with a hint of liquid smoke in it. Wholly unpleasant consumed neat or on the rocks. Equally not good in an Old Fashioned mix. It has an off-putting aroma also. I was not able to doctor this in any way to make it drinkable. It's nice to see someone trying to make a NA alternative to bourbon and I had high hopes for this but it fell short in every aspect and I dumped the rest of the bottle down the drain after my taste tests. Maybe this will get better in the future. For now, it's not there. I can't recommend this. Spend your money on something else...but don't but the Free Spirits stuff either. It's worse.

My Pro and Spiritless resume amd relevant details follow the apecific review*. **DISCLOSURE/IMPARTIALITY: I have no affiliation with, was not solicited by, gifted or in any way motivated to sample and review the product, the manufacturers of this or any other product of its kind whatsoever, neither feduciary, personal relationship, personal vested or any gainful interests etc exist. I didn't even know these attempts existed until I got a pop up PSA few weeks ago lol! So that said ... Serving myself first poured neat, then adding ice (rocks), then adding a mixer, AT NO LESS THAN A RATIO OF 2:1 STRAIT POUR TEST SUBJECT : MIXER. Spiritless Kentucky 74 is a well balanced recipe that most closely approximates the higher quality 86 proof bourbons on the market up to 2005; for all three conditions neat, rocks, mixed. The flavor for all conditions is most accurate of three different labels that I sampled on consecutive days in the same manner. It is a quality sufficient that I will purchase again and that I personally can tolerate and appreciate whether neat on the rocks or in a mixer. In spite of the reality that it to a lesser degree demonstrates the same lack of richness or depth as its on the market attempting the same endeavor of me making the flavor of an actual 86 proof bourbon purchased at a liquor store. However by depth are richness, contrary to other comments, Im not meaning the "bite" of the burn of the ETOH in booze. I TRUKY mean a DEPTH in ruchness or robustness of the flavors that present when tasted neat. Simply put it lacks the legs that would make it an outstanding yet not identical option for those who for whatever reason are so interested. I dont know whether this common endemic to all such creations is necessary because a more concentrated attempt causes a shift in flavor so extreme as to result in a profoundly inaccurate presentstion to the palate; or whether its simple financial logistics like price poimt amd profit margin. If it is the latter, I would encourage the makers to offer two versions: the present specimen and a more concentrated premium version. Because of the novelty of this market and the products, like any potential customer I simply did not know a thing outside of reviews, which tends to cause a person to think to themselves well yeah okay I guess I'll try it, because the retail price is an amount that for my budget and my household, that cost benefit allows me to dislike it and perhaps keep it for others to try and move on. And that's still true when trying a new label with a different recipe. As such, I would never purchase a bottle from any manufacturer for a price approaching the premiums of the actual distilled and spirited authentic products. That would be about as ridiculous as expecting a spiritless recipe to ever achieve a product that has an olfactory experience that is indiscernible from the flavor of the distilled spirit it is attempting to replicate. But that said, at this price point, spiritless Kentucky 74 is absolutely hands down the best of the admittedly Limited number of labels and recipes I have tried thus far. And I'm actually quite surprised and impressed by the present results of the efforts of those behind the making of spiritless Kentucky 74. Such that I will likely purchase another bottle once this one is emptied. Though I must qualify that my experience with this particular species of Beverage is limited to just three labels. Because, I bought this label along with two others (Ritual and ArKay) on the same day to begin stocking my side* of our bar at home. Ritual seems a little too bland and arcade is wow spicy. So having three bottles I also began experimenting with my own combination lol! And I discovered to my satisfaction but the best poor for a neat or On the Rocks taste is a combination of 2- 3 fingers of spiritless Kentucky 74 and maybe an ounce at most of ArKay (for said bite to whatever extent sought). So that's not a Divine ratio whether a subjective one that I found to be optimal for my purposes. When mixed out of the bottle sure this Kentucky 74 is what I would suggest serving up whether to you or a designated driver. Because no muss no fuss straight out of the bottle had the mixer and the results are good quality flavor close enough and not off-putting. Such that a guest would feel like a guest as opposed to an afterthought or a plus one or an adjunct or appendage because there's a designated driver at the party that evening lol! *EXPERIENCE AND SAMPLING METHODOLOGY: Whisky was (still would be*) my favorite of the six basic distilled 86 proof liquors. I sampled each at about the same time on separate days and a clean palate and same environment, always neutral air. AND DID NOT READ THE INGREDIENTS LIST ON ANY LABELS UNTIL AFTER SAMPLING. Yes, Im a former pro and experienced bartender. A true "connoisseur" of whiskies; palate for spirits refined by personally sampling nearly every label up to 2005; retired 2006. And I had to retire because my fondness was in the extreme. And the thought of not ever returning to competition does not bother me because by the time I retired I had a lifetime's worth of professional experience under my belt, and the costs became so significant that they obliterated any benefit I had at one point achieved! Story all too common for those Pros with million dollar contracts who end up broke, lol! One final word of caution to anyone who is similar to the experience that I have shared. These products are close enough that if you have any doubts whatsoever in your mind, I suggest you avoid them. Because the reality is if you share my inclinations and are not very well committed to a life of retirement and are enjoying it such that you can find enjoyment in the flavor and not the effect because you are presently content and appreciative of what retirement has provided. And you're not seeking relief from something that is bothering you about retirement, then you're in the best position to decide for yourself. And the alternative every turning to Pro status, by the very definition, involves an absolute obliteration of the ability to decide for oneself whether or not to retire.

I ordered this because our son is a liver transplant recipient and he ask me to make my egg nog for our Christmas dinner and he can’t have alcohol. This is the most disappointing and disgusting thing I’ve have ever tasted. There is absolutely nothing that tastes like Kentucky Bourbon. Not even close!! I had to give one star in order to submit but this doesn’t deserve one star.