Non-Alcoholic RTDs 

We’re tough on this category because there’s nowhere to hide. You need acid, savoury, spice, and just the right texture — and it all has to work together in one sip. Some of the samples went too far into smoke or brine, but the ones that stood out got the balance right without trying too hard. The winners felt “dialed in” — someone actually thought about the recipe, not just the most recent trends, and they were interesting, fresh, and very repeatable. - Matt Stortz