The best of this new generation of “seltzer-ish,” sorta-“healthy,” definitely nonalcoholic drinks
No longer just limited to the age-old debate over Coke versus Pepsi, the soda aisle is now exploding with options making all sorts of promises. Whether brands are insisting that they’ll improve your health or approximate your favorite cocktail without the booze, this new generation of sodas is decidedly more complex in just about every sense than its predecessors.
They’re also fancier. Instead of being made with caramel color and untold artificial flavorings, these drinks are infused with ingredients like rose, basil, and cardamom to create sophisticated flavor profiles. As such, they’re a little pricier than the typical can of soda, starting at around $2, and are often found in chic markets instead of the drugstore. But they’re still worth seeking out, especially if you’re observing Dry January or are tired of your current rotation.
To help sort through this onslaught of new soda options, I tried more than a dozen fancy sodas ranging from those that insist they’ll make your gut healthier to juice-infused seltzers that are much more exciting than a boring ol’ Diet Coke.
Prebiotic soda and other “functional” options
In addition to quenching your thirst, these beverages proudly claim that they’ll improve your health, one way or another. Some are made with prebiotics that will nourish gut flora, while others include allegedly calming compounds like CBD and L-theanine that offer to soothe stress. Whether or not any of that’s actually true, these drinks taste good enough to take a chance.
Poppi
Olipop
Culture Pop
Recess
The seltzer-adjacent
Seltzer is now ubiquitous on supermarket shelves, and many of the newest iterations of the fizzy beverage add juice, botanical flavors, and other ingredients that transform these beverages beyond the classic clear seltzer. These are the best of this new generation of seltzer-ish drinks.
Sanzo
San Pellegrino
Spindrift
Kimino
The most grown-up, marketed-as-nonalcoholic-options sodas
Whether you’re staying away from alcohol or just looking for a more nuanced flavor profile, these sodas take their cues from classic cocktails, thanks to the addition of ingredients like bitters and citrus, to produce a canned sip that’s truly sophisticated.
Casamara Club
Hella Bitters & Soda
Ghia
Avec
Louiie Victa is a chef, recipe developer, food and beverage photographer, and stylist living in Las Vegas.
