When the sun comes out and the weather gets warm, we all know what that means: it's spiked-seltzer season! While there are tons of brands out there right now, I took it upon myself to do the gruelling job of drinking some of the most popular spiked seltzers just so you could know which ones are worth buying. Admittedly, I haven't tried the wildly popular wine-based seltzers from Barefoot or the malt liquor Rosé seltzers from Smirnoff because, ugh, sweet wine gives me headaches, but with a little help from my friends, I was able to put together the holy grail of ranked seltzers.
At around 100 calories, low (if any) carbs and sugars, and around four to five percent ABV, you get the buzz of a beer without the bloat and the taste of a cocktail without the price tag. So really, what's not to love? Not all spiked seltzers are created equal, however, so keep reading for the top 10 spiked-seltzer brands from best to worst [1].
Bon & Viv
Bon & Viv has been my go-to spiked-seltzer brand for over a year now, and not just because the original formula had six percent ABV. This brand somehow strikes the perfect level of fruitiness without using any sugar or leaving an icky artificial aftertaste. Flavour blends like Black Cherry Rosemary and Pear Elderflower taste more natural than their competitors, but they're not so subtle that you taste the alcohol.
White Claw
If I'd created this list last week, White Claw would have been third and not second. They've always been a little too sweet for me, especially the Mango flavour. However, I just tried the new flavour pack that introduced Tangerine, Lemon, and Watermelon, and let me tell you, they are phenomenal. The Watermelon is the lightest, most refreshing hard seltzer I've ever had.
High Noon
High Noon Sun Sips is the purest, and arguably healthiest, spiked seltzer on this list. With just sparkling water, vodka, and a hint of real fruit juice, there's something uniquely delicious about its simplicity.
Press
With flavour profiles similar to my beloved Boochcraft [3], Press has cornered the market on drinking hard seltzers strictly for the taste. The flavours can be somewhat polarizing, though. While I love the idea of Grapefruit Cardamom and Pomegranate Ginger, not everybody does, especially if they're just looking for drinks to throw back.
Henry's
Part of me thinks Henry's only became popular because it's perceived as healthy by being the lowest-calorie hard seltzer. But quite frankly, 88 calories vs. 110 calories means nothing to me, so I was left unimpressed with this one. It's not bad by any means, but the flavours are so faint that you're better off just spiking a LaCroix.
Wild Basin
Wild Basin Boozing Sparkling Water feels like one of the healthiest options in the lineup because it is sold at Whole Foods, is "the first national craft hard seltzer," and has unparalleled crispness. But in reality, it's a bit pricey and it smells a little funky. While it's still enjoyable, I'm not sure it's worth it. I guess that's the price you pay for going all-natural.
Natural Light Seltzer
While it tastes clearly artificial, at six percent ABV, which is a step up from the usual four to five percent, it's still a good option. I would rate it higher if it had more flavours, or at least flavours that were actual foods rather than Aloha Beach.
Bud Light Seltzer
Bud Light's spiked seltzer is comparable to a watered-down White Claw . . . it's not bad, but when you have other options, why?
Cutwater
Cutwater's Grapefruit and Cucumber Vodka Sodas are a more high-end take on a hard seltzer, and while the ingredients do taste like they're better quality than most of its competitors, the alcohol taste is painfully strong.
Truly
Now, I know a lot of people will disagree with this one, but have you ever noticed that after taking a sip of Truly, you're left with a slightly unpleasant syrupy aftertaste? That does not sit well with me, and until that gets fixed, Truly will sit at the bottom of my list.
