Our USP: ALCONOT™ is an alcohol free, Halal, Vegan and Vegetarian beverage brand for a NEW GINERATION.
ALCONOT™ is an alternative to traditional gin.
Background and Mission
ALCONOT – Not Alcohol – is an alcohol free alternative to traditional gin.
Creating a new brand is difficult and ensuring that your message is not lost is always a challenge. Our products have been taste-tested by thousands of people at events and shows, with 95%+ positive feedback. We are proudly Vegan and Halal certified, and our first flavour was commended by the World Alcohol Free Awards in 2024. We know our products are premium.
Our Journey
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, the mocktail market exploded. We considered joining but are glad we didn’t—most mocktails we tried were “shocktails,” poorly made with cheap ingredients but sold at inflated prices. The Alcohol Free market agreed, and we avoided joining a crowded space with a poor reputation.
Instead, we turned our attention to spirits, another crowded market—particularly for traditional alcoholic drinks. Our vision was different: alcohol-free, Halal, and Vegan versions of Tequila, Gin, Sangria, and even beers.
We settled on gin. Having worked with spices and botanicals in Asian cooking, we knew how to fine-tune recipes. Not being alcohol or gin drinkers ourselves, we struggled initially with the concept. We tested market-leading gins and sought to improve their taste while making them alcohol free. Many 0% gins we tried lost their “botanical notes” when paired with tonics or sodas, which became our challenge to solve.
Branding
We needed a name that directly conveyed the message. We settled on ALCONOT™ – ALCO and NOT. The strapline “it says what it is” captured the simplicity and clarity we wanted for the brand.
Recipe Creation
The majority of the recipe creation took place at home. We even took a gin-making course, where our idea was initially laughed at—until classmates tried our version and were impressed.
Over two years of kitchen development led us to a recipe we loved. We recognised, however, that professional refinement was necessary to meet our premium ambitions. That’s when we created a clear development brief for our Drink Chef:
- A premium, all-inclusive alcohol-free brand
- Looks and feels like alcohol
- Clean and sophisticated
- Certified Halal, Vegetarian, and Vegan
- An “always sober,” “hangover free,” “drive safe” alternative
- Safe for everyone – pregnant women, people on medication, or lifelong non-drinkers
This process coincided with lockdown, which strained our progress, but we remained committed.
Tasting and Fine Tuning
From the outset, we involved alcohol drinkers and gin fans in testing. Across demographics—beer lovers, spirit drinkers, teetotallers, health-conscious gym-goers, expecting mums, and students who never wanted to drink—we gathered broad feedback.
After 11 major recipe versions and countless refinements, we arrived at our Signature Blend Base. Three further fine-tuning rounds produced the final tapestry of flavours now bottled as ALCONOT™.
Our credentials were validated in 2024 when our product was commended by the prestigious World Alcohol Free Awards, judged by a global panel of drinks industry experts.
Launch – Soft Launch
We launched ALCONOT™ Signature Blend in December 2023 at the Liverpool Gin Festival. Over 200 people visited our stall, and 90%+ gave positive feedback. The few who attended purely for alcohol were still impressed, and many enjoyed the taste despite it being alcohol free.
What’s Next
By 2025, we developed two more fabulous flavours, with a fourth planned in the coming year. Our market awareness continues to grow, and we are excited to bring ALCONOT™ to even more people worldwide.