Curious Elixirs’ documented strength is sophisticated, ready-to-drink non-alcoholic cocktails with no refined sugar, infused with adaptogens. Each numbered elixir riffs on a classic drink. No. 1 is a booze-free Negroni with gentian and rhodiola, No. 2 is a spicy pineapple margarita with damiana and ginger, No. 4 is a blood orange spritz with holy basil, American ginseng and turmeric, and No. 7 is a sparkling champagne-style cocktail, per Curious Elixirs. The brand says its drinks have been named NY Times “Best Non-alcoholic Drinks” multiple times.
Expert tasters are mostly positive. Drinkhacker graded several elixirs from B to A-, praising No. 2’s ginger bite while finding No. 4 a little too close to a children’s drink. The Good Trade’s writer suggested treating a Curious Elixir as a self-care ritual. Thingtesting’s summary notes fans praise complex, grown-up flavors like No. 2, No. 4, No. 6 and No. 7, plus elegant packaging. Taste of Home notes each bottle holds two cocktail servings at about $10 per bottle, with Cocktail Club savings of 10% on four bottles or 28% on 12.
The honest caveat: taste is polarizing and pricing is high. Curious Elixirs scores 2.5 on Trustpilot from only six reviews, with 83% one-star, and Thingtesting gives it 2.7, with 42% of reviewers recommending it. Jessica Bartolotti (US, 1 star) said No. 2 and Curious Red tasted so awful she couldn’t finish a quarter bottle, and four-bottle minimums cost over $100. G J (US, 1 star) said she was signed up for a subscription she didn’t want. Amber (US, 1 star) said a return was refused. Xavier P. (US, 5 stars) praised wildly delicious flavors and real ingredients.
Quick Highlights
✅ Booze-free cocktails inspired by classics
✅ No refined sugar, per the brand
✅ Adaptogens like holy basil, ginseng and rhodiola
✅ Two servings per bottle, per Taste of Home
✅ Drinkhacker grades from B to A-
✅ Elegant packaging, per Thingtesting
✅ Cocktail Club saves up to 28%, per Taste of Home
✅ No THC, CBD or hemp, per the brand
✅ Fans favor No. 2, No. 4, No. 6 and No. 7
❌ Polarizing taste, per many reviewers
❌ Trustpilot score of 2.5 from just six reviews
❌ Thingtesting score of 2.7, 42% recommend
❌ About $49 per four-pack
❌ Unwanted subscription complaints
❌ Returns refused, per a reviewer
❌ Adaptogens not suitable for everyone
Why Trust This Review
This review draws on Drinkhacker’s tasting grades, The Good Trade’s personal test, Taste of Home, Thingtesting’s 41 reviews, six Trustpilot reviews of curiouselixirs.com (TrustScore 2.5, unclaimed) and Curious Elixirs product information. The Trustpilot sample is very small, so treat its score with caution.
Health note: Adaptogens like rhodiola, ashwagandha and ginseng can interact with medications and may not suit pregnancy, breastfeeding or certain health conditions. Curious Elixirs itself advises people with specific health issues to consult a doctor before consuming rhodiola or other adaptogens. GlossGirly has no commercial relationship with Curious Elixirs that affects this verdict.
Full Review Breakdown
Flavors and Ingredients
Curious Elixirs aims for bittersweet, herbal and spicy profiles designed for adult palates. Each drink pairs fruit and botanicals with adaptogens, and the brand says it uses organic ingredients and no refined sugar. Drinkhacker found ginger dominant in No. 2 and called No. 4 gently orangey.
Taste: Love It or Leave It
Reception is split. Thingtesting’s summary contrasts fans who love complex flavors with detractors who find some harsh or bitter. Jennifer Teufel (US, 1 star) said coworkers wouldn’t take her leftovers. Xavier P. said he enjoys both the wild and approachable flavors.
Pricing and Subscriptions
Four-packs cost about $49 on the brand’s site, and Taste of Home puts bottles at about $10 each. The Cocktail Club subscription brings savings. G J reported being signed up for a subscription unintentionally, so check checkout settings carefully.
Returns and Customer Service
Amber said Curious Elixirs refused a return for taste. Jessica Bartolotti said she couldn’t find a place to post reviews on the brand’s site. Start with a smaller variety pack if possible.
Best Products Worth Buying
A booze-free margarita with pineapple, ginger and damiana. Drinkhacker praised its ginger bite, and Thingtesting fans list it as a favorite. Best for spicy cocktail lovers. Trade-offs: some find it too intense.
A spritz with holy basil, American ginseng and turmeric. Best for Aperol Spritz fans. Trade-offs: Drinkhacker found it a little juice-like.
A bittersweet booze-free Negroni with gentian and rhodiola. Best for bitter cocktail fans. Trade-offs: bitterness won’t suit everyone.
A rotating monthly selection with savings of up to 28%, per Taste of Home. Best for regular drinkers who like the flavors. Trade-offs: manage your subscription carefully.
What Customers Actually Think
“They have some wildly delicious flavors and some more approachable ones, but I’m into that.” — Xavier P., Trustpilot reviewer (US, 5 stars, Curious Elixirs)
“I also like that Curious uses only real ingredients and adaptogens to boost your mood.” — Xavier P., Trustpilot reviewer (US, 5 stars, Curious Elixirs)
“Super expensive and didn’t taste good at all.” — Jennifer Teufel, Trustpilot reviewer (US, 1 star, Curious Elixirs)
“Product tastes awful, questionable business practices signing you up for subscription without you wanting, not cancelling the subsequent shipment and refusing to refund.” — G J, Trustpilot reviewer (US, 1 star, Curious Elixirs)
“When I reached out to return them, the company refused to stand behind their product.” — Amber, Trustpilot reviewer (US, 1 star, Curious Elixirs)
Is It Worth It?
Maybe, if you love bitter, herbal cocktails and want an alcohol-free ritual. Try a variety pack first, watch subscription settings, and check with your doctor about adaptogens.
Competitors Table
Feature | Curious Elixirs | Three Spirit | Kin Euphorics | Ghia | Recess Mood | Athletic Brewing |
Trustpilot rating | 2.5/5 (6 reviews) | 4.1/5 (318 reviews) | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked |
Format | Ready-to-drink cocktails | Spirit alternatives | Ready-to-drink | Aperitifs | Sparkling water | NA beer |
Functional ingredients | Adaptogens | Botanicals | Adaptogens, nootropics | Botanicals | Magnesium, adaptogens | None |
Refined sugar | None | Varies | Varies | Low | Low | Varies |
Price level | Premium | Premium | Premium | Premium | Mid | Mid |
FAQs
Are Curious Elixirs alcoholic?
No, they’re non-alcoholic cocktails.
What adaptogens are in Curious Elixirs?
Ingredients include damiana, holy basil, American ginseng, turmeric and rhodiola, depending on the drink.
How much do Curious Elixirs cost?
About $49 for a four-pack, with subscription savings.
Do Curious Elixirs contain CBD?
No, the brand says they contain no THC, CBD or hemp.
Are adaptogens safe?
They may not suit everyone; the brand recommends consulting a doctor for specific health issues.
Final Verdict
Curious Elixirs offers sophisticated, sugar-free, alcohol-free cocktails that fans love for their complexity. Expert tasters rate several flavors well.
But taste is divisive, prices are high and some customers report subscription and return frustrations. Start small and check with your doctor about adaptogens.
Scorecard
Category | Score |
Flavor Complexity | 8.0/10 |
Taste Appeal | 5.6/10 |
Ingredient Quality | 8.2/10 |
Packaging | 8.4/10 |
Value for Money | 5.4/10 |
Subscription Transparency | 5.0/10 |
Customer Service | 4.8/10 |
Review Evidence | 5.0/10 |
Overall | 6.4/10 |
