Out of all the "alternatives" I've tried this is definitely my favorite. I'm pretty simple when it comes to cocktails. I'm a basic whiskey/rum and coke kind of guy; with that said I definitely prefer this over the whiskey alternative. Alternatives are never going to taste like the real thing, but the rum alternative mixed with coke has definitely grown on me and gives me some sense or feeling of having a real cocktail while also having a decent and manageable taste.

I love this stuff! I was very skeptical about trying it, but said ok, one bottle. But the taste was terrific in a rum and coke. It tastes just like the real think. It is important to dose it right - not too much, not too little - to get a realistic rum taste. After the success of this one, now I am going to go and try all the other alcohol alternatives that they offer! Can't wait.

And at only 5 calories a shot, its a real winner.

Ritual rum alternative got high marks in a Washington Post taste test. The tasting notes on the bottle say "Madagascar Vanilla, Molasses, Star Anise, Ripe Banana, Bitter Orange." I tried it with Fever Tree tonic water, which is a strongly flavored tonic. The banana was the component that stood out as most identifiable, and I frankly could do without. Maybe works better with a different mixer. Other rum alternatives in the test reportedly present different taste profiles.
At first I was disappointed by the fact that it didn't really taste like rum. But by the third sip I put my expectations aside and began appreciating it as an alcohol-like drink with complex and enjoyable flavors.
I improved it by adding a splash of Blue Agave Syrup. Not so much as to make it sweet. Really made a positive difference in how the flavors combined and presented. I also squeezed in a bit of lime juice.
Bottom line, it simulates an alcoholic drink and with tonic and agave syrup is more delicious and adult-oriented than drinking a soda or iced tea, and not as sweet as a soda.
Then I tried it in a "Rum" and Coke. I am not a fan of the real thing, and the Ritual version tasted a lot better... better also than drinking a plain Coke. It made for a very tasty non-alcoholic drink.
A faux Pina Colada or rum punch might be good, for which the banana flavor component might work better.

I recently started my sobriety journey and was looking for non-alcohol alternatives but with similar compositions of flavor. I was drinking busch NA (really good btw) but wanted to mix it up from the beer flavor. Got this bottle which was priced a bit high, but tried it in desperation and reviews.

Upon opening the bottle, it smells like a semi spiced rum/whiskey mix. I was pleased with the initial aroma and took a shot of this straight. Going down it did not taste of anything but a murky water. Then the throat burn hits (which is nice)but odd as well. It is not the same throat burn you would expect. The back-end flavor is not bad at all. The throat burn takes affect before anything and I like a more burn on the tongue too (from the alcohol) but nothing really hits the tongue at all- even with the flavor much which makes drinking it a bit bizarre.

For now, I have been mixing the Ritual Rum with Lyres Malt & Cola (delicious btw)- tastes like a rum/whiskey coke and so far it's sufficient for the interim with getting the mental edge and desire off.
I'd give this a 3.5 star if it was available.

The rum works.