The Best Hard Seltzers to Sip on When You Want a Bubbly Buzz
I can hear the “pssssssst” of the tab cracking now….
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There are two types of people in this world: those who will choose spiked seltzers over every other drink at any given time, and those who swear they taste disgusting. No matter which group you belong to, I'm glad you're here. Because I've got news for you: there's a hard seltzer for everyone. I really believe that. Haters, I urge you to read on.
Let me start by saying not all hard seltzers are made equal. Case in point: some use vodka, while others use malt alcohol (and some even use tequila). Some use real fruit juice, while others use artificial flavorings. And some have super unique flavors, while others stick to the classic lime and black cherry. There's no good or bad, right or wrong—it's just about what you, personally, have a taste for. And lucky for you, I gathered up 11 of the best brands on the market, so you can find the can that suits ya best.
Best hard seltzers for 2024:
Now, I don't want to put any pressure on you, but summer—aka hard seltzer season—is coming up quick, so you should probably find your spiked seltzer of choice, like, yesterday. You're gonna need it for the beach, trust. Scroll down to get a deep dive on each one, and get ready to hit the liquor store. Last one to the cooler is a rotten egg!
Some hard seltzers can have weird aftertastes thanks to artificial flavorings. This isn't one of them. NÜTRL is made of real vodka and real fruit juice—no other confusing stuff—so it tastes like a fruity vodka soda you might make in your own kitchen. Except you don't have to get any ingredients out or wash anything, so...it's better?
Glowing review: WOW. I was not expecting this stuff to be this good. Somehow both better than any seltzer out there and a lot better than any vodka soda I've ordered at a bar. 10/10. Wish it was available in more stores.
Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer Signature Collection Pack (Pack of 12)
If you thought a Michelob Ultra beer was easy to drink, you need to try one of the brand's hard seltzers. They go down smooth—maybe too smooth—and are so refreshing on a hot (...or cold) day. I'm obsessed with the Watermelon Strawberry flavor, but there's honestly not a dud in the bunch. Also, they're organic, so that means healthy, right?!
Glowing review: Yummy! My favorite of the"hard" seltzers. Most multipacks have at least one flavor that I don't like. Others taste too much like soda. This one is just right.
I know you know Truly...but did you know they make a version with a splash of lemonade? Doesn't get more summery than that! The variety pack features four flavors—watermelon lemonade, original lemonade, strawberry lemonade, and pineapple lemonade—each of which have the fizziness you know and love from a classic Truly. They're just a tad sweeter, fair warning, and can creep up on ya very, very quickly.
Glowing review: Make Mike’s Hard a thing of the past! These are awesome. This is Goldilocks' hard lemonade. Not too sweet, not too sour, it’s juuuuust right. And comes in a variety of bomb flavors! I liked mango the best. Cheers!
High Noons popped onto the scene a few years ago, and no cooler bag has been the same since. I don't know what it is (actually, I do, it's the real juice and real vodka), but these just taste more expensive than some other hard seltzers. Top shelf, baby, top shelf! (In case you were wondering, the black cherry is my fave.)
Glowing review: These just hit different on a hot summer day by the pool. Made with real vodka, not malt liquor.
We love a good origin story, and Nectar has a great one: five friends decided to make a hard seltzer with their favorite Asian fruit-inspired flavors, but got turned down by over 200 stores in Los Angeles. They took to TikTok to share their defeat and the video went viral, getting 300,000 views in 3 days. Eventually, two stores agreed, and their first drop sold out in under an hour. Now, stores can't stock 'em quick enough! If you're also a fan of Asian fruits—like lychee, mandarin, Asian pear, and yuzu—I've got three words for you: add to cart.
Glowing review: Nectar has become my favorite seltzer. My boyfriend’s too. When they say great flavors and no weird aftertaste, they aren’t lying. My only problem is that they taste so good that I don’t pace myself and end up downing them. I’m a fan and plan on converting my friends!
White Claw Hard Seltzer Variety Pack No. 1 (Pack of 12)
If I didn't put these on the list, I think I would get doxxed. People are so loyal to White Claws—my friend group certainly swears by them—so you can find them at pretty much every party and damn near every store that sells alcohol. Yeah, they might be a little basic (dare I say, "ain't no laws when you're drinking Claws"?), but they go down easy and are popular for a reason.
Glowing review: My girl wanted it but turns out I liked it too.
JuneShine Hard Kombucha Midnight Variety Pack (Pack of 8)
Big fan of kombucha? Prepare to meet your new favorite boozy beverage (unless, ofc, you've already been introduced). JuneShine, while technically a hard kombucha, is as bubbly and delicious as any hard seltzer I know, so it absolutely belongs on this list. Their recipes are also sustainably made with real ingredients and probiotics that your tummy will appreciate.
Glowing review: Love Juneshine kombucha!! ... There are sooo many good ones, and it’s a nice alternative to beer or seltzer
Also known for their hard kombucha, Flying Embers recently entered the hard seltzer game with a kickass recipe that contains zero sugar (less chance of a hangover, amirite?!). Their Sweet & Heat pack (plz draw your eyes to the box above) contains three spicy-yet-fruity flavors you won't be able to stock your fridge with fast enough: pineapple cayenne, guava jalapeno, and watermelon chili. The brand has also committed to giving back 1% of revenue to firefighters and first responder charitable organizations, and we love that.
Glowing review: These are my favorite hard seltzers and it looks like others might agree! I have a hard time finding these so I snatch them up ASAP whenever I can find them. Perfect summer flavors and no chemical aftertaste. I also don’t feel off the next day either. Buy them when you can!
Who said all hard seltzers had to be vodka-based? Not Hornitos, that's for sure. The premium tequila brand put their spin on the classic spiked seltz by adding—you guessed it—tequila to the mix. The result is a bev that burns so good in a variety of yummy tropical flavors, including lime, pineapple, mango, and passionfruit.
Glowing review: Delicious! The pineapple tastes like real pineapple!
You may have never heard of this brand before, and that's okay. I'm so excited to introduce you. It's an up-and-coming hard seltzer made by a husband-and-wife duo who started their own company after they couldn't find a brand with a clean, transparent ingredient list. The result is Volley, which is made using only three ingredients: sparkling water, organic juice, and 100% blue agave tequila. They're a little more expensive than your average spiked seltzers, but they're absolutely worth it. They also come with a cute protective foil on top of every can!
Glowing review: The only way to describe this is CLEAN. No artificial flavor aftertaste, super refreshing, and you can tell the tequila is high quality—loved it.
Hella Cocktail Co. Spritz Aromatic Bitters & Soda (Pack of 4)
Okay, so this isn't technically a hard seltzer, but it's definitely not soft either. Hella Cocktail Co. is known for their aromatic bitters (you know, the spirits mixologists always rave about?), and their Bitters & Sodas are bubbly non-alc beverages made using said bitters. You can drink 'em on their own for a refreshing sip that looks and tastes like a real cocktail, or mix them with your liquor of choice.
Glowing review: Great taste! An Adult Soda when you don't want to drink alcohol. My favorite is over ice in a fancy glass! Cheers!
What to consider when looking for a hard seltzer
Price: Not all hard seltzers are made equally—and they're not priced equally, either. When you're shopping online, be sure to look at how many cans come in each pack when you're considering the price—some may look more expensive than others, but actually contain more drinkies.
Flavors: There's nothing worse than getting a variety pack and only liking one flavor. Before you buy, check to make sure you (or your drinking buddies) like all the different flavors, or else they'll likely be stuck in the back of your fridge until they expire (or you clean your fridge, whichever comes first).
Sugar: I love a little sweetness as much as the next person—and I'm all about it in moderation—but sugary drinks often lead to hangovers. If you're a girlie who gets post-booze headaches, you might want to look for some of the sugar-free options on this list.
How we chose the best hard seltzers
As you probably know, Cosmo’s lifestyle team spends all day, every day scouring the internet, testing products, and reading reviews so we can bring you the type of high-quality content we’d want for ourselves (and our standards are preeeetty darn high, TBH).
It’s also really important to us that each of our shopping articles adheres to the 15 Percent Pledge, and we try to make sure the products we feature are good for both you and our planet. If we wouldn’t buy something for ourselves, we sure as heck won’t recommend it to you—and we’re always gonna keep it really, really real. Pinky swear.
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