First Impressions
Mark Livings was an Australian CEO struggling with the limited choices available when he wanted to stay social but skip the alcohol. In 2019, he co-founded Lyre's with a mission to replicate the world's most popular spirits in non-alcoholic form — not to create vaguely spirit-adjacent flavoured waters, but to match the actual taste profiles of specific categories. The range now covers everything from amaretto to absinthe. Dry London Spirit, their London Dry gin alternative, has become the world's leading independent non-alcoholic spirit. It contains between 0.2% and 0.3% ABV — technically non-alcoholic under global regulations.
Tasting
The nose is remarkably generous for a non-alcoholic spirit — rich orange blossom, lime, jasmine, juniper and mint, multi-layered and genuinely reminiscent of a classic London Dry. On the palate, firm juniper and citrus flavours arrive with conviction, earthy mid-palate notes with vinous qualities that help create the impression of a 'real' spirit. The secret weapon is Australian pepperberry, which provides warmth and a convincing bite — the closest non-alcoholic equivalent to the burning warmth of ethanol. Coriander spice and lime zest brightness round out a palate that is crisp and dry rather than sweet. The finish is generous, with pepperberry warmth lingering where alcohol normally would.
The Bottom Line
Lyre's Dry London earns a 6 as one of the most convincing London Dry gin alternatives available. The pepperberry warmth is a genuine innovation that separates it from watery competitors. In a G&T with quality tonic and a lime wedge, many casual drinkers would struggle to tell the difference. Whether that counts as a compliment or an indictment of how much tonic dominates a G&T is a separate question — but for sober-curious drinkers, this delivers.
