Talonmore

The approach centres on natural botanicals chosen both for flavour and for what they bring beyond taste. Hawthorn berry and cassia bark form the backbone, with ginger, prickly pear, and Assam tea rounding things out. The result is described as full and fiery, with the kind of warmth that dark spirit drinkers are looking for in a non-alcoholic alternative. Whether that warmth lands as convincing depends partly on your frame of reference, but the ingredient list is genuinely interesting.

The product is positioned as a whisky alternative, though the flavour profile pulls in a broader direction than any single malt. It sits comfortably alongside other dark spirit substitutes like Lyre's Scotch or Feragaia, with a character that works neat, over ice, or in longer mixed drinks. One bottle gives a generous number of serves.

Talonmore is a small operation. There's one product in the core range, and the brand is still building its retail presence. It's available through specialist alcohol-free online retailers and on Amazon, as well as direct from the brand's own website. You're unlikely to find it on supermarket shelves yet, though it has picked up coverage in consumer press that has helped it gain traction outside AF enthusiast circles.

The Edinburgh base is relevant too. Scotland has a credible ecosystem of non-alcoholic spirits inspired by the whisky tradition, and Talonmore fits into that space alongside brands like Glen Dochus and Feragaia. The Scottish water used in production is a genuine point of difference, even if the botanicals are more international in origin.

At around £25 for 70cl, it's priced towards the middle of the AF spirits market, cheaper than some premium imported alternatives but not bargain-basement either. For a small independent brand, the quality of the product feels proportionate to the price.