There is a lot to like about NKD LDY Whiskey Alternative Non-Alcoholic Spirit on paper. At 4% ABV and $34.99 In the bottle, the color is rich auburn and hazelnut shell, let us see if it lives up to expectations.
Nose
In the bottle, the color is rich auburn and hazelnut shell. Poured into my NEAT glass, the liquid retains a wonderful dark bronze mixed with lightly steeped black tea. The nose leads with a subtly sweet, apple sauce aroma, followed by a hint of caramel, and if you really search for it, some of the pepper youll eventually experience on the
Palate
Sipped neat, I experienced a thin, soft opening that reminded me of a lightly brewed front porch tea mixed with apple juice. Fortunately, this underwhelming initial taste was quickly replaced by a surprisingly complex and peppery mid-palate to finish. Second, I mixed this as a whiskey replacement in a traditional Old Fashioned and shared the cocktail with my partner. We both agreed: the result was interesting and overall positive. The flavor of this product enhanced the ingredients of the cocktail, and the peppery finish helped it (barely) not get lost.
Finish
In the increasingly crowded traditional whiskey market, where many new products are minor tweaks or attention-grabbing gimmicks on the age-old craft of distilling, it is refreshing to see new entrants on the non-alcoholic spirit scene. NKD LDYs approach to starting with real, distilled Kentucky bourbon and then making it their own unique product, should be applauded. Because this is not a whiskey, I am not giving it a numerical score. However, I believe if people give this product a chance, and accept it for what it is, they will open a whole new way to experience cocktails. And as a parting note, when we made a second Old Fashioned using a 50/50 formula of this whiskey alternative mixed with a traditional whiskey, we were pleasantly surprised. Such a cut approach will allow you to safely enjoy a few more cocktails on a long night with friends. Cheers.
The Bottom Line
NKD LDY Whiskey Alternative Non-Alcoholic Spirit is worth a try if it crosses your path. It may not redefine the category, but it has enough going on to keep things interesting.
