Every so often, a product appears that seems to have wandered straight out of a vintage apothecary’s dusty back room and onto the shelves of a cocktail bar. The Pathfinder Hemp & Root is exactly that sort of drink: a non-alcoholic “spirit” steeped in bitters, botanicals and a dash of cannabis mythology. On trying it for ourselves, at first glance—and especially on the first sip—it was hard not to be impressed.
The flavour itself is surprisingly bold. Neat, it delivers a bittersweet mix that feels almost like an amaro. There’s wormwood’s familiar medicinal bite, cushioned by earthy notes of clove, cinnamon and juniper. Whether served on the rocks, mixed with soda (we tried both ways), or stirred into a spirit-free riff on a Manhattan or Negroni, it brings real aromatic complexity and depth—something most non-alcoholic alternatives fail to deliver.
But what truly sets The Pathfinder apart is, in honesty, its superb branding. The bottle wouldn’t look out of place behind a speakeasy bar, adorned with vintage typography and design that whispers of 19th-century snake oil tonics and prohibition-era elixirs. It’s an aesthetic choice that feels intentional, sophisticated and, frankly, quite fun!
Yet there is a fly in the ointment, in our opinion and that’s the price. Retailing around £35.00 in the UK (and a somewhat cheaper $40.00 in the US) for a 700ml bottle, The Pathfinder asks you to pay a craft spirit price for something that, at the end of the day, is alcohol-free squash. For some, that’s a fair trade – after all, it offers the ritual and complexity of sipping something grown-up without the after-effects of alcohol. But for others, the price tag is harder to swallow when the liquid inside is, in essence, an elaborate fruit-and-herbal syrup.
In the end, The Pathfinder succeeds in almost every way that matters: the flavour is genuinely complex and enjoyable, and the branding is nothing short of excellent. The only real sticking point is that cost-to-content question. Are you paying for a meticulously crafted spirit alternative, or an admittedly beautiful bottle of fancy syrup? The answer likely depends on how much you value the theatre and ritual of drinking without the alcohol.
So, is The Pathfinder worth the journey? If you’re looking for something to elevate your zero-proof cocktail hour and you appreciate design as much as taste, then yes—it’s a memorable detour. Just be prepared that, behind all the vintage charm and botanicals, what you’re buying isn’t a spirit in the traditional sense, but a well-crafted, alcohol-free experience with a price tag to match. And perhaps, in our age of mindful drinking, that curious blend of irony and intention is exactly the point.That said, we’ll probably only purchase the one bottle for the time being…
