Beyond the Buzz: Why We Skipped Adaptogens

When we created Tilden, we weren’t looking for a substitute, we were looking for something entirely new.

I stopped drinking alcohol a few years ago, and like a lot of people, I went searching for what to drink instead. I tried the usual: sodas, teas, mocktails, even some of the buzzy functional beverages loaded with adaptogens and nootropics. Some were interesting. A few tasted good. But most of them missed the point.

I wasn’t looking for something to alter my state of mind, I was looking for something to help me stay in it.

That’s really what Tilden is about: being present. Not numbed, not amped up, not chasing a high or winding down from one. Just fully here, with the people in front of you and the moment you’re in. We wanted to create a cocktail that could meet that moment with complexity, flavor, and intention, no alcohol, no shortcuts, and nothing that tries to mimic the effects of either.

Adaptogens are plant‑derived compounds—like ashwagandha, reishi, L-theanine—that help your body adapt to stress without overstimulating or sedating you. Adaptogens are interesting, and I’m not opposed to them in general. But they can affect people in different ways. Some interact with common medications. Others aren’t safe for people who are pregnant or nursing. And beyond all of that, I just didn’t want to build a drink that was trying to “fix” something. I didn’t want Tilden to be a stand-in, I wanted it to stand on its own.

So we built our cocktails with that clarity in mind. Each bottle is layered, nuanced, and crafted to evolve as you sip. There’s a beginning, a middle, and a finish, just like a classic cocktail, but the experience is wholly its own.

Because when you’re not drinking, you don’t want less. You just want different. You want something that meets you where you are, clear-headed, fully engaged, and 100% yourself.

That’s what Tilden is for.