Looking to ditch the booze, but not the fun that goes with drinking? If so, you may have heard about Kin Euphorics. This unique product is marketed as “All Bliss, No Booze,” and promises you the fun associated with drinking alcohol without the adverse effects of alcoholic intoxication and dependency.
Not only that, but the herbs contained in Kin Euphorics may have some additional benefits for your well-being.
An alcohol-free booze alternative that is actually healthy? Sign me up. But does Kin Euphorics live up to its promise? I decided to find out.
What Are Euphorics?
First of all, you may never have heard of “euphorics” outside of the context of Kin Euphorics. That’s okay—I hadn’t either, and there is a reason for that.
Kin actually states right on its website that their products are “The World’s First Euphorics.”
Basically, Euphorics are herbal nootropics in beverage form. The category was invented by the company, because no other word adequately described the brand new concept Kin had put into action.
Whereas alcohol inhibits cognitive function, Euphorics are formulated to enhance cognitive function.
The Goal of Kin Euphorics
Describing its philosophy, Kin writes, “Kin believes that conscious connection is the ultimate pleasure. We couldn’t find it at the bar, so we turned to modern alchemy to create euphorics that lift the mind, relax the body, and open the spirit to others.”
The idea is to help you unwind—as you do when drinking alcohol—after a hard day.
Kin explains, “Humans may have evolved from hunting tigers, but we still have a primal response to stress. An end of day deadline, the fight with your roommate, that jerk on the train: all prompt our brain to release hormones like cortisol and neurotransmitters like serotonin to keep our body alert enough to deal. But our supply is limited, and after a long day we’re running on empty. Our ingredients are known to balance the body’s response to stress and support the brain’s neurotransmitters to bring us back into balance.”
So, Kin helps you relax while enjoying a social experience with others.
Basically, if you are burned out on forgotten nights, hangovers, and fleeting connections that evaporate at dawn, Kin is for you.
Kin Euphorics Products
Kin has several Euphorics on the market right now, each formulated for a different purpose.
Kin High Rhode
Kin High Rhode is the brand’s most popular product. It is a blend intended to make you “the soul of the party.” As Kin describes, “High Rhode is a nightlife beverage that sparks conscious connection. The secret is in the stack: balancing adaptogens, replenishing nootropics, and nourishing botanics lift the mind and relax the body to open the spirit to the people around you.”
Ingredients in Kin High Rhode include:
- Rhodiola rosea
- GABA
- Tyrosine
- 5-HTP
- Hibiscus
- Gentian
- Licorice
- Niacin
- Vitamin B6
- Folic acid
- Citicoline
- Caffeine
- Phenylethylamine
- Purified water
- Xylitol
- Orange peel extract
- Bitter orange extract
- Citric acid
- Potassium Sorbate
- Xanthan gum
- Acacia gum
As you can see, we are looking at wholesome natural ingredients falling mainly into the categories of nootropics, adaptogens and botanicals.
Jen Batchelor, founder of Kin, has said, “Many, if not most, of our cultural rituals are centered around and call for a particular type of libation, but they can also inspire or implore a certain kind of vibe. With that in mind, we’ve designed our first formulation around how one might want to feel during happy hour—that one glass of wine feeling, slightly buzzed and the opposite of sluggish and sloppy. We call it ‘rising’ for this reason. But, you can certainly drink High Rhode whenever you’re in the mood to rise.”
Other Kin Euphorics Products
While High Rhode is the best-known product from Kin at this time, the company also has crafted a few other non-alcoholic nootropic beverages.
Dream Light
If you partake of alcohol largely to help you sleep, Dream Light is formulated to provide you with that same benefit. Blended as a night cap, it includes ingredients such as reishi mushrooms, passion flower, L-theanine, and melatonin together with oak, clove, ginger, cinnamon, and chili.
Kin Spritz
This is just a canned version of Kin High Rhode, convenient if you want something you can easily take with you anytime, anywhere.
My Experience With Euphorics
Most of the reviews I read of Euphorics went something like this: “I thought this product sounded like bullshit, and then I tried it, and it was amazing.”
I honestly didn’t think Euphorics sounded like bullshit at all. I know a fair bit about neurotransmitters, and was already familiar with some of the ingredients. The concept seemed sound.
I admit that “Euphorics” sound like something outside their time. I’m not sure if they sound more like something a street vendor would sell before the turn of the 20th century, promising youth and vitality, or if they sound like some futuristic beverage that belongs in a distant utopia.
Either way, I loved the philosophy. I like getting tipsy, but I don’t like getting drunk.
I also liked the focus on connecting to the world and to others in a more meaningful way than alcohol allows. In some respect, conceptually, it makes me think of MDMA. I’ve never taken MDMA, but I loved the idea of a nootropic alternative to that as well.
So, I decided to order Kin High Rhode to give it a try—and I wasn’t disappointed.
I poured myself and a couple of friends a glass during a small party I hosted. The others weren’t expecting much. I was hopeful, but part of me was still already ginning myself up for a letdown.
The flavor, straight-up, was definitely on the bitter side. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t all that appealing either—until I mixed it with a bit of tonic water and fruit juice—now we’re talking!
At first, I didn’t notice anything. I really liked it blended with the fruit juice, but I was starting to think maybe Euphorics nootropics were no more going to put me into an altered state than the fruit juice or tonic water would have done on its own.
And then I noticed that the evening seemed to have a certain warm glow about it. I was feeling relaxed, giddy and giggly. Laughter came easily, and some of the social anxiety I feel a lot of the time had dropped off.
It was still a while longer before I realized that this was the Kin nootropic effect at work! I felt very much like I would if I were tipsy, but I hadn’t had a drop of alcohol.
I kept expecting this “rise” to be followed by a slump—I’m not sure why. Probably because we’re trained to expect that with alcohol. But Kin isn’t a downer. That tipsy state that passes way too fast when drinking simply lasted the rest of the evening.
I dropped off to sleep quickly after the party was over, and when I woke up, I felt refreshed and ready for a new day—no hangover. Best of all, I remembered the entire evening with amazing clarity.
Honestly, having experienced Kin, I see alcohol taking a backseat to it from here on out with my drinking habits. Getting tipsy is what I love about alcohol—and the Kin experience isn’t far off. But Kin takes away everything I don’t like about getting drunk. This beverage literally has distilled the drinking experience down to its finest elements.
What can I say? Kin won me over from the first glass, and having had many glasses since, I can confirm that the warm euphoric glow is in every bottle.
Is There Anyone Who Shouldn’t Drink Kin?
The ingredients in Kin are effective—so much so that there are a few cautions. Most people should be able to enjoy the delights of Kin without any issues. But Kin does advise the following:
“Do not consume if you are under 18. Do not consume if you are breastfeeding, pregnant, or may become pregnant; have a medical condition, including but not limited to GI disorders, heart disease, or hypertension; taking any medication including but not limited to antidepressants, MAO inhibitors, blood thinners, or SSRIs. Do not consume with alcohol. May cause drowsiness, so do not consume when driving or operating heavy equipment.”
Where to Buy Kin Euphorics
Ready to enjoy a clarifying “rise” which is at once relaxing and invigorating? Once you give Kin Euphorics a try, I think you’ll discover that there is finally a social beverage to compete with alcohol.
Whether you’re trying to quit or just are looking to refresh your palette and recharge your brain with something a little different, this herbal alcohol substitute is destined to become your new drink of choice.