Not Rum

Rum is a hard spirit to fake, because so much of it is barrel character rather than botanicals. Strykk's answer is to distil botanicals and herbs into something that reads as raisin, vanilla, warm oakwood and sugarcane, the cues drinkers actually associate with a dark or spiced rum. There is no alcohol and no calories in the 70cl bottle, and no artificial flavours in the recipe. It is made in the UK by Elegantly Spirited. Mixing is where it earns its keep. Fifty millilitres over ice with 125 ml of cola and a lime wedge is the simplest test, ginger ale with an orange wedge is arguably the better one, and it works in a mojito with mint and lime doing the heavy lifting. Keep expectations honest and it does the job rum does in a long drink.