We Tried 11 New Summer Drinks and Our Favorites Will Surprise You

The summer heat has gone from pleasant to downright offensive and nothing is more satisfying right now than an ice cold beverage (aside from air conditioning, of course). Or is it? We put 11 new and extremely different drinks to the ultimate taste test (thank you, interns!). From beer to sparkling water, health shots to rosé, there is a sipper for every type of person and preference. Some were winners, others were definitely not. Scroll down and check out our new favorites and those that severely let us down.

This one earns high marks across the board. The cucumber flavor doesn’t taste artificial, nor is it too overpowering. It reminds the team of the water you get at a luxury spa before a massage appointment. Very crisp, very refreshing, and an excellent addition to your next sparkling water haul.

Ethan’s Apple Cider Vinegar Shots

If you’re a fan of apple cider vinegar beverages, you will absolutely adore this set from Ethan’s. The flavors are fun, potent, and great for your overall health and well-being. We also love the addition of trendy spices and black pepper to make the shots taste even stronger. Warning: Apple cider vinegar certainly isn’t designed for every palate, so sip with caution.

O’Doul’s Non-Alcoholic Beer

Those on the market for a non-alcoholic beer will be fine with O’Doul’s classic recipe. It tastes somewhat like beer, is not entirely off-putting, and is served in an adorably designed can. That being said, hardcore beer drinkers will be undoubtedly disappointed with its cardboard-esque aftertaste. We’ll give them credit for the “extra smooth” mouthfeel, though, as it is definitely easy to wash down with food like chicken wings.

No Fine Print Lil Fizz Wine

Lil Fizz should highly reconsider changing its name to “Lot of Fizz” because holy bubbles, Batman, this can is carbonated. The taste is a little all over the place with the wine starting sweet, but ending on a somewhat unpleasant sour note. One serving is fine, but we feel like anything beyond a single can will become borderline headache-inducing.

Sunny D (Watermelon and Lemonade)

We’ll preface this one by saying the sugar content is unbelievably high. But it’s Sunny D, so we weren’t quite expecting kale juice with stevia. The lemonade variety isn’t half-bad. It’d taste great with vodka and has a surprising tartness that shines through all of the sweetness. The watermelon, unfortunately, was so off-putting with its scent, that it was difficult to swallow. If you love watermelon Jolly Ranchers or Jell-O, though, you’ll certainly dig it. Just hold your nose as it’s going down.

Shot X Post-Drink Liver Care

Everything about this didn’t really work for the group (other than the flavor, for some). The color is dehydrated urine yellow and the taste is saline with a bit of citrus added to it. We were especially disappointed to find that the flavor didn’t match its terrific Creamsicle smell. While the intention of alleviating hangovers is greatly appreciated, this may do more harm than good by making you want to vom.

Budweiser Harvest Reserve

We really appreciate this new barley-forward, earthy batch of brew from Budweiser. It’s a great departure from a standard Bud Lite and has a really nice complexity that makes it unique, though not too intense. This may be a bit too bitter and I.P.A.-ey to play beer pong with, but we’ll add it to our list of happy hour go-tos, especially as we gear up for fall.

Wild Basin Boozy Sparkling Water (Black Raspberry)

Overall, we are big fans of Wild Basin’s line of boozy sparkling waters and think it’s definitely a great alternative to Truly, White Claw, and Bon & Viv. The black raspberry flavor is powerful, though, and may be too intense for those looking for something a bit on the lighter side. This just means you’ll have to try them all and decide on a favorite yourself. It’s pool season, after all.

Oskar Blues Brewery Rosé for Daze

This is, perhaps, the most polarizing drink of the bunch. While many were obsessed with its foaminess and subtle rosé taste, others gagged over its malt base and found it borderline disrespectful to the taste buds. It does go down pretty well, though, which makes it both dangerous and amazing. One thing to note: We got zero hibiscus and prickly pear notes, which was a bit of a letdown. Whomp, whomp.

WineSociety Chance Rosé Bubbles

We’re really into this bubbly rosé from WineSociety’s Chance line and think it is their best canned offering yet (opinions are mixed on their flat varietals). You also get a hefty 500 ml in a single can, only 250 ml short of a bottle, and that alcohol volume really speaks to us. So yes, we will be ordering these by the case. And no, you’ll have to order your own.

Rooted Shots

Conceptually, these are a pretty snazzy and simple way to get your daily dose of vitamin C (and the health benefits of superfoods like ginger and turmeric!). Just don’t expect them to be overly sweet because, well, they’re not. We definitely recommend taking them as a shot, rather than dumping them into a larger drink. The more potent, the more palatable.