During my initial exploration into non-alcoholic drinks, Tost was mentioned many times. It’s been covered in publications including Town & Country, Delish, Refinery 29, and Women’s Health Magazine. While I was excited to sample Tost, the 3 bottle minimum purchase was a bit for an initial commitment. That’s a lot to drink, especially if it turns out to not be very good. So, I delayed my purchase in the hopes of finding a better deal. It wasn’t until over the holidays (2022) that I found Tost locally at our Fresh Market – with a $2 discount! I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see if it lives up to the hype. Is Tost worth the “social un..” buzz? Read on to find out. TLDR? Skip to the rating
About Töst
Everyone deserves a beverage that elevates our moments.
Using natural ingredients our alcohol free beverages are crafted to be as meaningful and sophisticated as alcoholic beverages but without the alcohol. Lower calorie, refreshingly dry and not too sweet, TÖST is the sparkling beverage for every occasion.
TÖST was created to fill the immense space when the consumer is looking for more than a sparkling water when they are not drinking alcohol.
We brought together a team of beverage and culinary experts to create a beverage that by design imparted some of the characteristics often found only in alcoholic beverages.
THE TÖST EXPERIENCE
tostbeverages.com
Equally as satisfying as a daily refreshment as it is paired with fine dining, TÖST goes beyond the celebratory occasion and reaches every occasion when the consumer is looking for a substantive beverage that is alcohol free yet all natural low calorie and meaningful.
I love the “why” behind the brand – to make it inclusive for everyone to enjoy a “drink” on a special occasion. They don’t specifically highlight the owners or the founders – as many other companies typically do. They also mention that they’ve worked with experts to curate their product – yet don’t mention them by name. Omitting this information helps make this non-alcoholic beverage more affordable. When you use the name and celebrity of an expert, it comes at an additional cost – which is passed on to the consumer.
Dealcoholization process
Although this product is bottled in the shape of a wine glass bottle, this is more accurately categorized as a soft drink. The base of this non-alcoholic beverage is actually tea, and not wine at all. If you’ve had tea before, you may notice that it gives the liquid a different viscosity. It’s not quite the same as wine, but definitely differentiated from water.
Töst Original First impressions
The first thing I noticed about Tost Original was that it was clearly packaged and marketed as a Wine alternative. Not only was the bottle shaped the same, but it also had the same wrapper over the top of the bottle. However, the seal was not a cork but rather a screw cap. It’s understandable that Tost would not use a cork, considering the bottle was priced at $9,.
The clear bottle did a great job of showing off the pretty color of the drink inside. It’s also apparent they spent extra on pad printing the label directly on the bottle, instead of using a sticker label. This guarantees that there are no air bubbles on the bottle, resulting in a gorgeous bottle presentation.
What does Töst Original Taste Like?
TÖST 750 mL bottles are all-natural, delicious, dry, sparkling, alcohol-free beverages with white tea, white cranberry, and ginger. TÖST creates meaningful and refreshing drinking experiences that are perfect for every occasion.
THE TASTE: TÖST isn’t overly sweet. When you open a bottle, you’re greeted by a subtle effervescence and hints of crisp citrus with a refreshingly dry finish.
Tost Tasting Notes
This smells very faintly of a white tea, but it doesn’t overpower. At first taste, a burst of bubbles give way to a subtle ginger taste. Surprisingly, although it smells like tea, it doesn’t taste like it. I would compare the taste to a cranberry ginger ale, just slightly watered down and a lot less sweet. There is mention of cranberry flavor on the label, but it’s so faint, I wouldn’t have picked up the flavor otherwise.
The tea leaves give it a dry mouth feel at the end. It’s also worth noting that the ginger in this beverage isn’t as authentic as the Betty Buzz Ginger beer we reviewed previously – which has a much stronger bite. Instead, it’s very similar to a ginger ale flavor profile – with less sugar and more bubbles.
Töst Original Review and Rating
If you go in thinking of this as a wine alternative, you may come away disappointed. The flavor profile just isn’t that of a wine. However, if you consider this as an alcoholic beverage alternative – it really does hit the spot.
From the first experience with the bottle, this drink is complex enough to be considered a step above juice. It was pleasant yet complimentary enough to enjoy with a meal. However, it wasn’t too overpowering. It’s a perfect drink to enjoy while everyone else is enjoying their cocktail.
To put it plainly, you wont feel like a kid at the adult table having juice or soda. We give it a 4 Sip rating and recommend everyone to try it at least once!
Töst Original Details
Nutritional Breakdown: Serving Size: 8 fl.oz (240 ml) Calories: 45, Total Fat: 0g, Sodium: 0g, Total Carb: 11g, Sugars 11g, Protein 0g
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Organic Blue Agave, White Tea, White Cranberry Concentrate, Natural Ginger Extract, Natural Citrus Extract, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Quinine.
Awards: Although this non alcoholic drink has not been awarded, it has been widely recommended which is a good sign for it.
Serve: We served this bottle chilled and in wine glasses.
Price: $9 / Bottle
Where to buy Töst Original
As we mentioned in the introduction, this non alcoholic drink can be purchased directly on the Tost website. It is also available in some grocery stores locally, such as Fresh Market. Plus, if you have an Instacart account, you can get it delivered to your door.
Have you tried Tost? What did you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.