Winning Carbonations - 14 Must-Try, Unique Sparkling Drinks

14 Unique Sparkling Drinks You Need to Try

New twists on traditional drinks, female-founded companies, locally inspired flavors, tastes that speak to the culinary traditions of diverse cultures and even entrepreneurial visions that have been realized during the pandemic. This list of must-try sparkling drinks is sure to have something you’ll love! Here are 14 unique bubbly drinks that are pushing the bev market to the next level.

1. Mint / Chocolate Mirth Water

Mint and chocolate are not the flavors I would expect in a seltzer. But, Mirth Water’s Mint/Chocolate combo is probably one of the best sparkling waters I’ve ever tried! With a flavor reminiscent of an Andes milk chocolate candy, it is both rich, yet refreshing. Mirth Water’s Mint / Chocolate has only 5 ingredients, including organic sugar as the sweetner.

Mirth Water just launched this year, and currently has two other flavors: Grapefruit/Juniper and Ginger/Lemongrass. These savory options make for great drink mixers! The sweet Mint/Chocolate option would make a unique base for an egg cream or ice cream float! The flavor was actually inspired by Jeremy’s (the founder) favorite childhood ice cream flavor!

2. All Dae Sparkling Cascara - Pineapple

Cascara, but fizzy + pineapple – now that is a unique combination! First: cascara. If you’re not familiar, cascara is a drink made from steeping the dried husks / skins of coffee fruit that surround coffee beans. (Cascara actually means husk or skins in Spanish.) Cascara is a relatively new drink to the mainstream US market. I first tried it at Devoción Cafe in Williamsburg, Brooklyn a couple years ago and was intrigued.

Despite being made from the coffee plant, cascara does not taste anything like coffee. It is a bit earthy, and ALLDAE’s pineapple flavor gives it a nice layer of added sweetness. The drink is similar to sparkling tea, and also comes in original and ginger varieties. ALLDAE’s drinks are caffeinated, with about a 1/3 of the caffeine found in coffee.

Learn more about cascara here.

3. Super Frau! - Whey-based Sparkling Drink

Super Frau! is a sparkling beverage made with upcycled whey. Yes, whey – as in the leftover liquid from cheese and yogurt production! The concept of using whey as a base for a soda-like drink is completely new to me, but I learned it is well-known in some parts of Europe. Super Frau! sources their whey from a dairy farm in upstate NY where it would otherwise potentially go to waste.

Super Frau! just launched with 3 flavors: Pineapple Ginger, Cucumber Lime, and Peach Mango. I am a big fan of the Cucumber Lime. It has a slightly milky flavor from the whey, but the leading taste is the cucumber. What really impressed me is after a moment the lime flavoring becomes more prominent. The arc of flavors was more sophisticated that I am used to in a canned drink!

Like trying the newest snacks? Want to be part of community of foodies who connect over finding the spiciest potato chips or sharing reviews of our favorite snacks?

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4. BKE Kombucha - Yerba Mate & Lemon

Locally-brewed kombucha in a can. The booch is delicious, the labels are beautiful and the founders even met working at the CDC! BKE uses Assam black tea as the base for their kombucha. I love the interesting flavor combinations, especially the yerba mate & lemon. I highly recommend if you’re a kombucha fan.

If you’re NYC-based, you can visit their brewery space at 59 Porter Ave in Bushwick, Brooklyn!

5. Lunar - Asian-inspired Hard Seltzer

If you’re looking for boozy bubbles, I highly recommend Lunar (Lun人r) Hard Seltzer. Lunar’s seltzer flavors are all made with Asian fruits and ingredients, inspired by the founders’ family heritages. My favorite is the Plum, made with actual plum juice imported from Korea! Not too sweet, and the richness of the plum compliments the bubbles. Lunar’s alcohol content is between 4 and 5%, depending on the flavor.

A few more things I love about Lunar:

Founders Sean & Kevin were inspired by flavors from their parents’ cooking. C’mon – that is just too sweet! <3
Lunar is a local, Brooklyn-based brand that was created in the apartment of its founders.
The ingredients are simple and straightforward – not filled with preservatives and fake sugar.
Lunar donates to local charity partners, each month focusing on a new organization supporting the AAPI community.

Thank you Tastebase for sharing Lunar's awesome product with the Tastebase community!

6. Dram - Sparkling Water with an Herbal Twist

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A post shared by TableForQ (@tableforq)

This sparking suggestion is from Table for Q, an Instagram account curated by my dear friends Lauraberth & Ariela. In their words they post, “Queer love and home shared over Beautiful Food, Culture, and Culinary Experiences”. Following Table for Q will not only provide meal inspiration, but will also warm your heart with their thoughtful, love-filled posts!

In the words of Lauraberth & Ariela, Dram sparkling water comes in smooth and refreshing herbal flavors! They appreciate the clean ingredients sourced from organic plants. Also, it’s a women-owned business!

7. Milkis - South Korea's Hit Carbonated Drink

Milkis is soda, but, as you can guess from the name, it also contains milk! This creamy, bubbly beverage is unlike any other canned drinked I’ve had before. It’s super sweet and comes in a variety of fruity flavors. (Although, Milkis uses artificial flavoring and there is no real fruit juice inside.) The original flavor reminded me of an egg cream, but minus the chocolate.

I first tried Milkis on my honeymoon in South Korea, but you can easily purchase it here in the US at many Asian Grocery stores including HMart. Milkis hit the South Korean market in 1989, and is now most widely exported to the US, Hong Kong and Russia.

Read my South Korean Foodie Guide for more recommendations on the best meals and snacks to try in South Korea!

8. Culture Pop Probiotic Soda - Orange Mango Chili & Lime

Spicy and tangy are not two qualities I except a soda to lead with. After the first taste of Culture Pop’s Orange Mango soda, I wasn’t quite sure. But after a couple more sips it is actually an oddly addictive flavor. The orange and mango provide some sweetness, pairing well with the chili and lime. I also love that almost all of the ingredients are non-GMO and organic. Yet, it is still less than a $3/can price point.

9. Trētap Organic Maple Sparkling Tree Water

The best way to describe trētap’s maple-flavored sparkling water is Vermont with bubbles in a can. There are many things to love about this product, and at the forefront is the flavor. It has a clear, yet not overpowering, maple sweetness. The carbonation has small, fine bubbles. I’ve never seen maple-flavored seltzer before, and this is a must-try for anyone who loves maple!

Trētap’s Maple Sparkling Water is made with organic maple syrup. The company is family-owned, and the maple syrup is sourced directly from the family’s own trees in Vermont! There are no fake sugars or sweetners, and only 10 calories in each can.

Have favorite sparkling drinks that you love? Please share your recommendations in the comments or post them on Instagram and tag @courtneyinthemiddleseat !

10. Vybes Mind + Body Elixir - Apricot Lemon

Vybes Mind + Body Elixir is marketed as more than just a sparkling beverage – it is packed with adaptogenics that are supposed to improve your mind and mood. No matter whether or not you’re into enhanced drinks, the Apricot Lemon Vybes is worth it based on the apricot flavor alone! This drink is made with Turkish apricot juice, and the sweetness pairs surprisingly well with the subtle hint of lemon! The sparkle is subtle – far less bubbly than a canned soda.

Vybes is one of the pricier drinks on the list, costing $5 + a bottle. But, at least my wife is re-using the bottle to propagate our plant babies. Hopefully it gives them good vybes, too! I received this product as a sample through Tastebase – thank you!

11. Trader Joe's Sparkling Black Tea with Peach Juice

TJ’s Sparkling Black Tea with Peach comes in a 4-pack, but you’re going to wish it were sold by the dozen! It’s sweet, it’s refreshing and it’s now one of my favorite TJ’s items. The peach flavor leads over the black tea, and this reminds me of a bubbly Snapple. I appreciate that there is no added or fake sugar, and only 15 calories per can. My only criticism is that the cans are pretty small (250 ml / ~8.5 oz).

12. La Colombe Lemon Nitro Brew

Citrus and cold brew is an awesome combination – and the bubbles of nitro brew make it even better! La Colombe uses 100% single-origin Colombian coffee paired with Sicilian lemons. The cold brew is rich and smooth, with a sweet and tart combo from the lemon. This is by far my favorite canned coffee, and there is no odd or tinny aftertaste at all.

13. Alani Nu Watermelon Wave - Seltzer + Energy

There should be more watermelon-flavored seltzer. Period. Alani Nu’s Watermelon Wave is sweetnened with sucralose, and the flavor reminded me of drinking a Smartie or super-sweet juice as a kid. Honestly, it is a bit much for me, but I am including it because it is the only energy drink on the list. Watermelon Wave has 200 mg of caffeine, the equivalent of about 2 cups of coffee.

Alani Nu has many other fun, vacation-inspiring flavors: Mimosa, Tropisicle, Hawaiian Shaved Ice. I picked up Watermelon Wave at my local CVS.

14. Recess - Blackberry Chai

I was lured in by the matte finish and pastel purple of Recess’ can. The truly basic design stands out on the shelf despite its simplicity. Full transparency – I didn’t even like the first flavor I tried! But, the pull was so strong that I couldn’t resist buying a second can to try. The Blackberry Chai tastes just like it’s name. Deepness of the blackberry flavor plus the spices from Chai. The unique combination of savory spice paired with fruit and seltzer is what sealed the deal for me with Recess.

Winning Carbonations – 14 Must-Try, Unique Sparkling Drinks