The Best Hard Seltzers are below. But first, what is a hard seltzer, and why is it having an absolute moment? Hard seltzer is a low-calorie drink that combines carbonated water with fruit flavors and an alcoholic spirit. And we are. Living. For. It.
Some History on Hard Seltzers
In 2019, White Claw popped onto the scene, and supermarkets immediately sold out of the hard seltzer. The new drink was outpacing every craft beer and even titans like Budweiser for stretches at a time. But White Claw wasn’t the first hard seltzer to make a spirited splash.
Mike’s Hard Lemonade, first sold in Canada in 1996, sparked parking lot rumbles as liquor store supplies ran short. To every partier’s delight, the hard seltzer beverage made its American debut in 1999. Mike’s Hard Lemonade sold two million cases in its first year. Decades later, it’s just as popular, with annual sales topping $1.6 billion.
Smirnoff Ice, Zima, and Bacardi Breeze were indispensable for a 21st birthday at the beginning of the aughts. The sweet mixed drinks seemed irresistible to many young people. Suddenly, almost overnight, alcopops disappeared from many supermarket shelves.
Alcopops were a zeitgeist phenomenon that had a short half-life. Today, hard seltzers pick up where the alcopop trend left off. Thanks to clever marketing, hard seltzers have grown into a billion-dollar market within a very short time.
The Best Hard Seltzers
Our Flavor Fix hard seltzer aficionados have based their winners on ingredients and available flavors. Check ’em out!
White Claw
After such a preamble, it’s only fitting that White Claw tops our list. The pros have marketed this hard seltzer so well; it even looks refreshing and healthy after a CrossFit class and a quinoa bowl. Is it? Well, no. It’s an alcoholic beverage. But it’s super Instagrammable.
That’s not a coincidence. Behind White Claw is the beverage company Mark Anthony Brands, who recognized the potential of Hard Seltzers early on. Since 2016, marketing professionals have been cleverly positioning the brand at the intersection of several trends in time.
White Claw hard seltzer contains only 100 calories per can, compared to 130 calories (or more) per beer. It’s also gluten-free, using only natural, non-artificial flavors.
The brand’s range of flavors is extensive, including:
- Lemon
- Natural Lime
- Ruby Grapefruit
- Mango
- Watermelon
- Black Cherry
- And more
White Claw is far-flung, so it’s the seltzer you’re most likely to find in all corners of the country and probably the world. It’s a fun drink that’s close to the pulse of millennials and Gen-Z’ers, coming in glossy packaging with a sense of wellness.
BON V!V Spiked Seltzer
If you’re seeking a mild hard seltzer made from champagne yeast, natural flavors, and purified water, BON V!V Spiked Seltzer is your drink. Another “light” drink, each can is less than 100 calories but doesn’t sacrifice an ounce of flavor. The flavors are quirky and vibrant, reminding us that summer is always just around the corner.
BON V!V hard seltzer flavors include:
- Lemon Lime
- Clementine Hibiscus (A five-star choice for citrus lovers!)
- Grapefruit
- Cranberry
- Pear Elderflower
- Mango
- Black Cherry
- Coconut Pineapple
- And more
You can nab a variety pack of this fun hard seltzer or stick with a case of a single flavor. You like what you like. No judgments.
Flying Embers Hard Seltzer
If you’re a fan of kombucha, you may already know about Flying Embers, a company that recently plunged into the hard seltzer game. Our experts chose this seltzer because it’s keto and paleo-friendly, for starters.
They also use only all-natural ingredients. Flying Embers ferments their seltzers with champagne yeasts for when you’re feeling fancy on a Saturday night. As an additional benefit, this organic fermentation process results in a beverage with no sugar and no carbs.
Flying Embers hard seltzers include unique and exciting flavor profiles such as:
- Guava Jalapeno
- Pineapple Cayenne
- Clementine Hibiscus
- Black Cherry Rose
- Passionfruit Elderflower
- Watermelon Chili
- And more
Flying Embers also donates 1% of all profits to causes supporting first responders and their communities if you’re feeling charitable.
Truly Hard Seltzer
With one of the juiciest, zingiest hard seltzer experiences yet, Truly Hard Seltzer is known for innovative flavor blending, combining the familiarity of traditional punch with explosive fruit flavors.
Truly’s newest product adorns supermarket shelves with bright and colorful red packaging, indicating their bold and full-bodied flavors. Truly Hard Seltzer made our best-of list because this mouthful of tropical paradise has only one gram of sugar and 100 calories. Paleo and keto drinkers will appreciate a hard seltzer beverage that boasts only two grams of carbs per serving.
Truly Hard Seltzer flavors include:
- Black Cherry
- Wild Berry
- Blueberry Acai
- Raspberry Lime (A Flavor Fix fave because it reminds us of the floral Black Raspberry Strain.)
- Grapefruit
- Lemon
- Mango
- Passion Fruit
- And more
Truly is a newbie on the hard seltzer scene, but they’ve been smashing boundaries since 2016, seeking the most groundbreaking flavors for their fans.
Summary
Invite some of these best hard seltzers to your next gathering if you’re seeking a novel and fun drink option that isn’t beer, wine, or liquor. There’s a flavor for every picky friend. And their nutritional content makes them an attractive choice for pals counting calories and watching carbs.
