The Non-Alcoholic Beverage Tasting Review

So I'm nineteen and don't drink too much. I've seen a few threads for advice, but have never seen any true reviews done of a line up of NA beverages. So here it is.



I tested 11 beverages, with and extra variation on one. These were all tested on a CAO Brazilia Samba in order of increasing strength. They will be judged on three criteria: ability to cleanse the pallet, the distortion of the flavor of the cigar after cleansing, and the ability to pair with the cigar.

1. Club Soda
2. Club Soda with lime
3. Mineral Water
4. Tonic Water
5. Ginger Ale
6. Sprite
7. Snapple Iced Tea
8. Stewart's Root Beer
9. Pennsylvania Dutch Birch Beer
10. 100% Cranberry Juice (No sugar added)
11. Illy Iced Espresso from a Moka Express
12. Chocolate Milk (1% with Hershey's Syrup)

Some information about my beverage preferences: I am not a soda drinker at all, unless I go to a restaurant with specialty sodas. I drink a fair amount of cranberry juice, barely and milk and none of the specialty waters. I basically drink water and cranberry.

My impressions:
1. Cleanse – Decent cleanse, not a full cleanse, but removed a layer or previous flavor
Distortion – Low distortion, almost the same as pure water
Pairing – Not really a pairing
Conclusion - Simply hydration and a way to slightly cleanse the pallet, good alternative for those who want water

2. Cleanse – More of a full cleanse as compared to plain club soda
Distortion – Much higher distortion
Pairing – Not really a pairing
Conclusion – For those who want slight flavoring over water, but are willing to sacrifice some of the cigars complexity

3. Cleanse – This had a much better cleanse than the club soda
Distortion – Low distortion, slightly higher than club soda, but far less than the lime
Pairing – Not really a pairing
Conclusion – Good cleanse, light flavor with little sacrifice

4. Cleanse – Total cleanse
Distortion – Total distortion
Pairing – Not really a pairing
Conclusion – Terrible, hid the entire flavor of the cigar

5/6. Cleanse – Decent cleanse, not a full cleanse, but removed a layer or previous flavor
Distortion – Slight sugar distortion, not another way to describe this, but sweetness changes the flavor of cigars
Pairing – Not really a pairing
Conclusion – If you want soda, with only slight sugar distortion, these are definitely your best bet

At this point I left the cigar and poured round two of drinks. These were the more highly sugared and flavored drinks that I am oh so skeptical about.

7. Cleanse – Very good cleanse
Distortion – There is less of a sugar distortion than the sodas, but the slighter distortion last longer than the soda
Pairing – I would say the first true pairing with this cigar, the cigar took away the sweetness of the tea and made it very very tasty
Conclusion – Good bet for a nice pairing with less distortion than soda

8. Cleanse – Complete cleanse
Distortion – Complete distortion
Pairing – Not really a pairing
Conclusion – This is another terrible choice, way too overpowering for any cigar

9. Cleanse – Pretty good
Distortion – Average sugar distortion
Pairing – Pretty good pairing
Conclusion – Having the root beer made me think this would flop too, but it paired quite well and proved to be a pretty good pairing for a soda

10. Cleanse – Average cleanse
Distortion – Bad distortion
Pairing – Not really a pairing, cigar alters taste of cranberry in a bad way
Conclusion – This is another bad choice

11. Cleanse – Complete cleanse
Distortion – Complete distortion
Pairing – Too good of a pairing
Conclusion – This is another terrible choice, way too overpowering for any cigar

12. Cleanse – Very good cleanse
Distortion – Bad distortion, but doesn’t last long
Pairing – Good pairing
Conclusion – Another that I thought would flop, but surprised me. Not only is it delicious but isn’t a bad alternative for a NA beverage.

Final Order:
1. Mineral Water
2. Club Soda (without lime)
3. Chocolate Milk
4. Iced Tea
5. Birch Beer
6. Ginger Ale
7. Sprite
8. Cranberry
9. Root Beer
10. Coffee
11. Tonic Water

Very cool!

I'm suprised Ginger Ale wasn't up higher. If not a coke or coffee....I enjoy a nice cold ginger ale!

Interesting...

Coffee would have been #2 on my list, right under water. I start most Sundays with a cup of fresh, black coffee and a great cigar on the deck in the early AM. Great way to start the day.

Regards - B.B.S.

Chocolate milk? Ugh....

Brave man you are.

:thumbs: As a fellow 19 year old, I appreciate this. I tend to go with unsweetened Iced tea, but the mineral water is on my list now. Thanks man

Awesome review my man! I'm not a big drinker either (though I will drink with family) however I find the best thing to go with a cigar is actually a diet dr. pepper. I say diet because I'm a diabetic so I'm sure a regular dr. pepper would go great as well. Otherwise, if its an alcoholic beverage, a Cranberry Mikes Hard Lemonade always does the trick for me. A nice cold chill drink in my opinion. Great stuff!

Thanks for the review for us under 21!

Jason

Just like cigars, drink pairings are subjective. I know when I was Martins age I could not stand the taste of coffee. I now love to wake up to a cup in the morning. The stronger the better.

As far as pairings go for me, water first, coffee second, Port or spirits third.

Nice thing you did here Martin. Good idea.

jfields said:

Just like cigars, drink pairings are subjective. I know when I was Martins age I could not stand the taste of coffee. I now love to wake up to a cup in the morning. The stronger the better.

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Actually, I love coffee very much. I have to try a different blend of coffee because the Illy killed the cigar. I have to try something out of the drip, but after having Illy, Bustelo, and Pilon for so long; the other stuff tastes like water.

Thanks for the compliments and feel free to add your trials to this thread if you wish to do it!

Coffee has never been my thing. Its one of those things you learn to appreciate and your taste buds learn to enjoy. The only thing I like that's coffee related is a French Vanilla from McDonald's. Yup, McDonald's. Cheaper then Starbucks but 10 times better. I've always been a pop kind of guy and I can picture myself as drinking pop over alcohol once I'm allowed too.

The few alcoholic beverages I do like is Warsteiner beer, Corona, Most White Wines, Champagne, and anything my Grandfather brews up for us. I have a big Irish family and I'm very Irish myself so its always fun to sip on stuff he makes.

Haha, thanks Martin. I forgot to look for this yersterday when you told me to. I'm going to have to try an add some to the list. Definetly going to try the mineral water and iced tea. Thanks buddy.

Very interesting review. Thanks for sharing! :thumbs:

I'm usually a water drinker with a cigar, with an occasional drink of tequila or scotch (recent addition). One other thing I love: Iced Chai Tea!

Gipper76 said:

Coffee has never been my thing. Its one of those things you learn to appreciate and your taste buds learn to enjoy. The only thing I like that's coffee related is a French Vanilla from McDonald's. Yup, McDonald's. Cheaper then Starbucks but 10 times better. I've always been a pop kind of guy and I can picture myself as drinking pop over alcohol once I'm allowed too.

The few alcoholic beverages I do like is Warsteiner beer, Corona, Most White Wines, Champagne, and anything my Grandfather brews up for us. I have a big Irish family and I'm very Irish myself so its always fun to sip on stuff he makes.

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Interesting that you mention it, as I love this stuff as well. As you say, great taste at half the price. :thumbs:

About 6 weeks ago I was in the drive-thru and I noticed that 4 of the 5 or 6 cars ahead of me were also buying these. I purchased a couple hundred shares of McD stock the next day!

stevehawk said:

Gipper76 said:

Coffee has never been my thing. Its one of those things you learn to appreciate and your taste buds learn to enjoy. The only thing I like that's coffee related is a French Vanilla from McDonald's. Yup, McDonald's. Cheaper then Starbucks but 10 times better. I've always been a pop kind of guy and I can picture myself as drinking pop over alcohol once I'm allowed too.

The few alcoholic beverages I do like is Warsteiner beer, Corona, Most White Wines, Champagne, and anything my Grandfather brews up for us. I have a big Irish family and I'm very Irish myself so its always fun to sip on stuff he makes.

Click to expand...

Interesting that you mention it, as I love this stuff as well. As you say, great taste at half the price. :thumbs:

About 6 weeks ago I was in the drive-thru and I noticed that 4 of the 5 or 6 cars ahead of me were also buying these. I purchased a couple hundred shares of McD stock the next day!

Click to expand...

No kidding? Sad thing is, my local McDonald's stop serving them and its the only McDonald's around that actually had a French Vanilla coffee maker. Even the new one's built up around me don't have it.

Just tried Redbull with a Padilla miami 8&11 Lancero and it is disgusting. It blends with the flavors already on the palette and creates this flavor that seems familiar, but is disgusting. So scratch smoking with a redbull. I would try my green apple soda, but i do not feel like getting up right now, the weather is too nice outside to leave it even for a second.

Gipper76 said:

stevehawk said:

Gipper76 said:

Coffee has never been my thing. Its one of those things you learn to appreciate and your taste buds learn to enjoy. The only thing I like that's coffee related is a French Vanilla from McDonald's. Yup, McDonald's. Cheaper then Starbucks but 10 times better. I've always been a pop kind of guy and I can picture myself as drinking pop over alcohol once I'm allowed too.

The few alcoholic beverages I do like is Warsteiner beer, Corona, Most White Wines, Champagne, and anything my Grandfather brews up for us. I have a big Irish family and I'm very Irish myself so its always fun to sip on stuff he makes.

Click to expand...

Interesting that you mention it, as I love this stuff as well. As you say, great taste at half the price. :thumbs:

About 6 weeks ago I was in the drive-thru and I noticed that 4 of the 5 or 6 cars ahead of me were also buying these. I purchased a couple hundred shares of McD stock the next day!

Click to expand...

No kidding? Sad thing is, my local McDonald's stop serving them and its the only McDonald's around that actually had a French Vanilla coffee maker. Even the new one's built up around me don't have it.

Click to expand...

No kidding... In fact, I'm drinking a large vanilla frim McD's right now...

Capt Redbeard said:

Just tried Redbull with a Padilla miami 8&11 Lancero and it is disgusting. It blends with the flavors already on the palette and creates this flavor that seems familiar, but is disgusting. So scratch smoking with a redbull. I would try my green apple soda, but i do not feel like getting up right now, the weather is too nice outside to leave it even for a second.

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Dude, Redbull is disgusting stuff all by its lonesome! :laugh:

Great thread, very interesting as i used to rarely smoke w/ out a alcoholic beverage (late afternoon or evening smoker), but now i'll have to try some of these and others w/ a smoke

Very interesting post and analysis.

If I choose not to drink an alcoholic beverage, I tend to go with water about 95% of the time. However, if you feel like a taste of beer but want it non-alcoholic, Kaliber is a good NA brew.

BlindedByScience said:

Coffee would have been #2 on my list, right under water. I start most Sundays with a cup of fresh, black coffee and a great cigar on the deck in the early AM. Great way to start the day.

Regards - B.B.S.

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Coffee is higher on my list too, with ice water being #1. I think the difference really is the sweetness of the coffee. A mocha is a much sweeter coffee than black. Most sweet drinks just don't seem to go well with a cigar, which seems to hold true to the drinks that were reviewed in this thread, i.e. pop (yuck). But if you like your coffee stronger and more bitter, then I think coffee makes a much better cleanser / pairing. :thumbs:


Nice review Martin! Thanks.

Thanks for the review Martin. Very interesting. I would have to say thatClub Soda and Tonic Water are going to be subjective, like coffee. The better quality clubs or tonics will fair better in crispness and overall flavor - and posible pairing for your taste buds - IMO. And for coffee - type, strength, flavor - all variables to enhance or distract from the overall experience.