
6 minute read
No Spirit Debuts Line of Non-Alcoholic Sodas Inspired by Bar Classics
by Morgan Cole
When Pensacola locals Michael Newman and Michael Daw looked at the nonalcoholic beverage shelf, they saw the same thing everyone else did—near beer, hard seltzers with no punch and mocktails that felt more like a compromise than a celebration.
They noticed something was missing, and that something was a satisfying nonalcoholic take on their favorite bar classics. Armed with a new desire to fill a gap in the zero-proof beverage market, Newman and Daw combined forces and set out to find a solution.
In February 2025, the longtime friends established a beverage company to begin producing their own line of non-alcoholic sodas. Aptly named No Spirit, the company produces bold craft sodas inspired by your favorite mixed drinks, minus the booze and the consequences.
“We were both on a break from drinking alcohol, so we were noticing what nonalcoholic options were out there—near beer, of course, bitter-tasting non-alcoholic seltzers and some fruity mocktails. My favorite drink was always a whiskey Coke, so we started coming up with the idea of a craft soda brand that sold mixed drink-flavored sodas. We started with a whiskey cola (our Cowboy Cola) and a rum and cola (Caribbean Cola), since those mixed drinks were not well represented on the shelves,” Daw said.
In May, just a few months after launching the company, No Spirit debuted the first two beverages in its new line of non-alcoholic sodas: Cowboy Cola and Caribbean Cola.
Inspired by your favorite mixed drinks, No Spirit’s Cowboy Cola delivers a refreshing take on a classic whiskey and cola, while Caribbean Cola embodies the rich, caramel taste of a rum and cola.
As production manager at Pensacola-based Milkweed Spirits, which produces local favorites like Big Jerk Soda and Sweet Jackson Tea, Newman is no stranger to the craft beverage industry.
“As someone who works in beverages, I kept noticing that the non-alcoholic options in bars and restaurants were either plain water, weird fake THC drinks or over-fruity mocktails,” Newman said. ”None of it really felt like a proper replacement for a mixed drink. We wanted to make something that actually tasted like what people miss, without the alcohol.”
From friends who first met more than a decade ago working together at Old Navy to co-owners of their own bustling new beverage company, Newman and Daw each bring their own unique set of skills to the business operation.
With Newman’s extensive background in the beverage industry and the bold, creative vision of Daw, the duo has crafted a unique brand that feels as rebellious as it is refreshing.
“Mike and I had been wanting to work together on a project that combined his knowledge of craft sodas with my skills in branding and marketing. It just had to meet two requirements: it had to be carbonated and it had to be in a can,” Daw said. “I’m a big branding nerd, and have worked in design and marketing for ten years. I loved the failed branding of OK Cola back in the 90s and the irreverent but clever marketing tactics of Liquid Death. So, the branding was just as important to us as the product, and this ended up being a product that’s very fun to brand and market. Once we came up with the name No Spirit, then our ghost mascot, the rest came pouring out.”
Daw is an award-winning graphic designer, brand strategist and the brainchild behind the company’s creative marketing and branding, which boasts bold colors, witty taglines and an official brand mascot in the form of a cartoon-style ghost.
“We liked the name No Spirit because it kind of reminded us of OK Cola, a failed Coca-Cola offshoot from the 90s that had a very funny approach to their marketing. We brainstormed imagery and realized there was a lot we could do with it. The collegiate/sports angle, ghosts/ghouls, and of course, the literal meaning—non-alcoholic. From there, we thought about how abstaining from alcohol feels boring when you first begin, but after a while, you start to realize all the things you can do better without alcohol. So, we thought, what can we do with the branding that alcohol brands can’t do, either legally or because it’s
taboo? Like using a cartoon mascot, or ‘drink irresponsibly’ as a tagline, or telling people to ‘Drink and Drive with No Spirit’,” Daw explained.
Both actively involved in the production process from start to finish, Newman and Daw hand-pick the ingredients and develop the recipes for each flavor of small-batch soda.
Currently utilizing the Milkweed Spirits production facility as their primary base of operations, Newman and Daw are already busy working on more crafty new flavors, which are set to make their debut by the end of the year.
“Working with Big Jerk Soda for the past five years has given me the tools and know-how to explore the world of beverage making. We are fortunate to have the production facility at our disposal. So, after a few brainstorming brunches, we would head over there and start prototyping with a carbonated water base, and using syrups with different sweetness levels and flavors until we zeroed in on what we liked. Once we had that formulation, I could scale it up to larger batches with a few more tweaks,” Newman explained. “We wanted to start with some classics and get those out there, and there’s nothing more classic than a whiskey and cola and a rum and cola.”
For now, you can enjoy two flavors of No Spirit’s canned zero-proof sodas (Cowboy Cola and Caribbean Cola), which are available for purchase as eight-packs and singles.
“We are currently busy working on our next flavor, which is a non-alcoholic Gin and Tonic called Grandma Tonic. We plan on having six flavors out by the end of the year, all canned,” Daw said.
Eight-packs of No Spirit’s canned zero-proof sodas cost $32 (plus tax), and can be purchased directly from No Spirit through their website at drinknospirit.com.
If you’re looking to sample a soda before committing to an entire eight-pack, you can also snag single cans of No Spirit at the Apple Market and Bailey’s Produce and Nursery in Pensacola.
“We are slowly rolling out our wholesale, so in addition to Bailey’s and Apple Market, you can also find us at The Handlebar, Angelena’s and Mrs. Jones Cold Brew out on Nine Mile,” Newman said.
Bars, restaurants and stores interested in placing orders can reach out via email at sales@drinknospirit.com. For more information on No Spirit, including prices and ordering, visit drinknospirit.com.
You can also stay connected with No Spirit on social media for special announcements, updates on new soda releases and more.
