Drinks The Investors Loved And Hated On Shark Tank

Hitting its 14^th season in 2023, ABC's "Shark Tank" is full of ingenious ideas. Watching the show, you see the Shark investors looking to take a bite of a big investment opportunity as fearless entrepreneurs put themselves and their products forward as bait. The hit TV series is a great place to discover new brands, many of which happen to be food and beverage-related.

It's clear that drinks can be a big business. Certainly, the show's Sharks love to sip away as they dive into what the beverages in front of them are made from, who they're marketed to, and what makes them special. 

But what's happened to some of the aspiring beverage brands that have appeared on "Shark Tank" episodes over the years? Here are some of the drinks the show's investors loved and as few that they absolutely hated. These include a wine-in-a-glass brand that made history, drinking vinegars, and even a fizzy cactus drink in a can.

Frescos Naturales is a "Shark Tank" success story. The concept takes the classic Latin American aguas frescas and gives it a modern, bubbly upgrade. Water, sugar, and natural flavor add-ins like fruits and flowers make up the entire ingredients list. The Sparkling Rosa de Jamaica is made with hibiscus flowers, for instance, while Sparkling Tamarindo is a sweet, acidic drink made with tamarind. Sparkling Maracuya contains passionfruit, Sparkling Piña includes pineapple, and guava is in Guayaba.

Food Business News reported that, in 2023, the U.S. market for aguas frescas had grown by 42%. Shark Daniel Lubetzky made a deal with Guatemalan entrepreneur (and brother-in-law) Juan Ignacio Stewart, who pitched the brand in season 14. Lubetzky recognized that the classic drink was trending, offering a hot opportunity that he couldn't resist. The pitch was for $130,000 for 8% equity of the company which was set up at the end of 2020. The deal struck was for 25% (via Shark Tank Talks).

Verdict: Loved by the Sharks, the future of this Latino-led company looks as fruitful as its refreshing drinks.

Copa di Vino is one beverage brand that readily stands out in "Shark Tank" history, as the wine-in-a-glass, single-serving beverage has become a huge success. The beverage was pitched in seasons 2 and 3. The Sharks failed to secure deals both times, even though they liked the brand. The original ask was for $300,000 in exchange for 5% equity. The wine-glass style drink container has a resealable lid to prevent splashes and features seven wines, including a merlot, riesling, and cabernet sauvignon.

Mark Cuban saw the value in the idea, as did vineyard owner Kevin O'Leary, but their offers were shut down (via Shark Tank Blog). A 2022 press release states that the owner of the brand is now the Splash Beverage Group. In 2022, Copa di Vino was reported to be turning over a healthy $6 million a year, as per Shark Tank Blog.

Verdict: Loved by the Sharks but with no deal and huge success to follow the investors may have needed a glass of vino or two to drown their sorrow of a missed opportunity.

Slate is a lactose-free, ultra-filtered chocolate milk that has 20 grams of protein and 100 calories per can, but with no added sugar. Flavors comprise Classic Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, and Mocha Latte, the last of which has coffee added to the brew. While this relatively healthy version of what's usually a decadent beverage may sound dreamy, the pitch for this drink as seen in season 11 didn't produce quite so desirable a result. The brand's founders asked for $400,000 for 10% equity but failed to attract a deal (via Shark Tank Recap).

Sharks Lori Greiner and Rohan Oz weren't convinced by the business potential. However, Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban, and Kevin O'Leary also passed due to the drink's taste. In 2021, Forbes reported that the drink's formula had changed and now enjoyed a growth of 300% in sales between 2020-2021.

Verdict: Hated by the Sharks. Perhaps they'd like the new formula and find the continued success of Slate a sweeter proposition.

ZIPZ Wine stands out as one of the all-time biggest deals in the show's history. The concept had all the hallmarks of an ingenious idea. Pitched in season 6, it presented wine in a single-serving plastic glass. Consumers simply had to unzip the shrink-wrap packaging and start sipping (via Shark Tank Shopper). The $2.5 million pitch for 10% equity was high enough that the Sharks may have needed a stiff drink to consider it.

Sharks Lori Greiner, Mark Cuban, Robert Herjavec, and Daymond John may have been impressed by the resealable cup, which the founder stood on to show its strength. However, the sober truth is that none were swayed by the packaging or the wine inside, apart from Kevin O'Leary. He agreed to the deal with an add-on option to buy another 10% equity further down the line (via Just Wine).

Verdict: Loved by the Sharks, but only one investor wanted to raise a zipped wine glass to the future. However, with high stakes comes big risk and the venture ultimately ran dry, as per Small Business Journal.

Wired Waffles was a good idea in theory. What's not to love about the combo of crispy Belgian waffles and caffeine? Quite a lot, if the reaction from the Sharks was anything to go by when the quirky idea was pitched in season 4. The product added 200 mg of caffeine to each waffle for a shot of energy Okay, so it's not strictly a drink, but for those on the move who want a drink in their snack, it arguably makes the criteria here.

Shark Robert Herjavec thought the waffles needed extra flavor, noting that they were disappointingly dry. Mark Cuban, Daymond John, Kevin O'Leary, and Lori Greiner weren't enamored with the taste, either. Beyond this, there were concerns about the sugar and high caffeine content. Although the product was aimed at adults, some worried about the effects of a kid eating a caffeinated waffle. The idea that they were supposed to be eaten warm also didn't appeal. According to Bizz Bucket, the brand was no more as of 2015.

Verdict: Hated by the Sharks who found the taste and concept hard to swallow.

Mother knows best ... at least this beverage made from apple cider vinegar certainly did. Mother of vinegar, from which the name of the drink derives, is what's produced as alcohol converts to vinegar. Gut-friendly bacteria thrive in the mother, giving vinegar its healthful reputation. Sweetened with stevia and low in calories and sugar, the slightly sparkling drinks are infused with fruits and herbs (via Shark Tank Shopper).

The season 10 "Shark Tank" pitch succeeded in a $400,000 investment offer from Rohan Oza for 25% equity, though the original ask was for 10% equity. The Sharks liked the taste and the idea of making health-focused apple cider vinegar more palatable (via Shark Tank Blog). It was later rebranded as Poppi to give the vinegar-infused drinks a more marketable image. Poppi comes with prebiotics in low-sugar, low-cal cans (via The Reality TV).

Verdict: Loved by the Sharks with the investor signing the sweet deal before the segment aired and transforming Mother into a modern-day Poppi.

Cougar Energy was one of those niche beverage brands that bombed in season 3 of "Shark Tank." The energizing shots were aimed at older women interested in dating younger men, hence the name. The Texas entrepreneur founder pitched from experience, being only 24 at the time and dating a woman in her mid-30s (via Shark Tank Blog).

The pitch for $150,000 and 30% equity lost its only female Shark, Barbara Corcoran, who didn't like the chalky taste. Meanwhile, Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec didn't think any woman would like to be thought of as an older "cougar." Kevin O'Leary found the business flavor to be lacking, as it could only be marketed to only a select few. Cougar Energy seems to have fizzled out, with the founder moving on to new projects.

Verdict: Downright hated by the Sharks, even if they granted a few laughs before the pitch was thrown into the lion's den of no deals. Or should that be the cougar's den?

Electra is a sports hydration drink that supercharged the Sharks in season 12, with an ask of $350,000 in exchange for 20% equity. An energized Barbara Corcoran loved the all-natural beverage brand packed with electrolytes. The Shark made a deal for 30% equity with some conditions relating to an influencer partnership. The investment offered was $100,000 plus a credit line of $250,000 (via Shark Tank Talks).

Shark Lori Greiner liked the refreshing character of the entrepreneur more than the drink itself. Meanwhile, Mark Cuban liked the taste and the potassium-to-calorie ratio, but already had interests in the beverage business and so couldn't dive in. 

Kevin O'Leary didn't seem to think the taste was enough to submerge competitors in this field. And Daymond John perhaps didn't have the motivation for the challenge either. Sony Pictures Television presents the segment for the functional beverage which comes in three flavors: Passion Punch, Litty Lemonade, and Oh Yeah! Orange. Powdered drinks have also been introduced.

Verdict: Loved by the Sharks, or at least a couple of them, Electra is still powering through.

Cow Wow tastes like milk. Sort of. It's supposed to taste how milk does when it's left in the bowl after you've finished your cereal. Organic and low-fat, the dairy drink appeared in season 5. The flavored milk varieties, such as Fruity Trudy, Tutti Frutti, and Peanut Butter Bessy were aimed at kids. However, the pitch for $250,000 for 10% equity wasn't lapped up by the Sharks (via Shark Tank Blog).

Aside from being wary of a competitive market, the Sharks rejected the flavored milk because of its taste. Lori Greiner wasn't keen on it, and Daymond John didn't like the fact that the sugar content and calories were higher than regular milk. New York Giants boss and guest Shark Steve Tisch didn't like the drink, either (via Shark Tank Blog). Neither did Kevin O'Leary taste any possibility of success. The drink has since disappeared.

Verdict: The competitive milk market and lack of the wow taste factor make the investors bow out to investing in Cow Wow.

Pricklee Cactus Water has to be one of the most original drinks to appear on "Shark Tank." Quenching the thirst of the Sharks, the pitch aired in season 13. While you might associate cacti with an arid desert landscape, prickly pear succulents are packed with hydrating nutrients. Pricklee Cactus Water is rich in antioxidants and electrolytes, low in sugar, and high in vitamin C. With a pitch seeking $200,000 for 5% equity, investor Barbara Corcoran secured the deal, also offering a line of credit (via Shark Tank Recap).

Pitched as a low-sugar alternative to coconut water, the canned drink is available in three flavors: Prickly Pear Original, Tropical Mango + Ginger, and Wild Strawberry + Hibiscus. The idea came from a drink the grandmother of one of the five founders used to make when he was a child (via Shark Tank Talks). 

Sharks Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner liked it, as did Kevin O'Leary who tried to strike a deal. However, guest Shark Emma Grede bowed out. All the Sharks liked the 35-calorie drinks, but lack of consumer-facing information about the benefits of prickly pear, a tough beverage market, and the fact that the company was extra-new watered down enthusiasm.

Verdict: Loved by the Sharks, with two battling it out to get in at the start of this plant-based drink brand's success.

McClary Bros entered the Shark Tank in season 7, asking for $100,000 for 15% equity for its drinking vinegar. The Sharks' response was somewhat on the sour side. Celebrity guest Shark Ashton Kutcher also wasn't sold enough to invest in the mixer, which was a hit in times gone by. While the vinegar did gain some fans following its appearance, the company ultimately didn't continue beyond 2018 (via Entrepreneur).

You may have come across the suggestion of drinking apple cider vinegar, which has some purported health benefits. However, you might be more accustomed to sprinkling vinegar on your fries than enjoying it mixed with soda or in a craft cocktail. While the Sharks weren't averse to the drinking vinegar mixed with alcohol, they didn't find it quite as appealing on its own. In fact, Kevin O'Leary's feedback to the Detroit founder was that it was only "four guys and a dog that drinks this" (via Fast Company). It wasn't just the taste that was off-putting, but the vinegary smell. While some of the Sharks regularly took vinegar, the leap to it being an actual drink didn't have mass appeal.

Verdict: The Sharks couldn't see a modern market for a colonial-era mixer, meaning the future of this beverage brand soon soured.

BeatBox is where the party is at. Shark Mark Cuban cut a deal in 2014, beating Sharks Barbara Corcoran and Kevin O'Leary. Although Mr. Wonderful wasn't sold on the flavor, he could still taste a business opportunity. Shark Lori Greiner liked the gluten-free wine punch made from orange wine, too, but it was Cuban who negotiated a $1 million investment in the party punch-in-a-box drink in exchange for 33% equity (via Sportskeeda).

Holding 5 liters, with an ABV of 11.1%, today BeatBox is available in over 40,000 stores. Low in sugar and with 100 calories per serving, the party boxes are aimed at millennials. BeatBox was pitched as an alternative to carrying a load of beers to a party and includes flavors like Juicy Mango, Peach Punch, and Cranberry Dreams.

Verdict: Loved by the Sharks, $12 million worth of these punch boxes were reportedly sold in 2022, as per a BeatBox press release. It seems there's every reason to celebrate (with punch, of course) and the BeatBox party is in full swing.

Available in cans, wildwonder is a bubbly drink that's low in calories and sugar, in part because it's made with real fruit and herbs. These sparkling prebiotic and probiotic drinks are promoted as beneficial for gut health. The inspiration is drawn from the San Francisco founder's Chinese heritage and the tonics her grandmother used to make. Flavors include Strawberry Passion, Pear Turmeric, Guava Rose, Mango Gold, Peach Ginger, and Lemon Ginger.

Sipping the functional beverages during a season 14 episode were seasoned regulars Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Barbara Corcoran, and Kevin O'Leary (via Chew Boom). The pitch for $500,000 for 5% equity was negotiated as a deal for 6% along with 3% advisory shares with guest Shark Tony Xu, CEO of DoorDash. Mark Cuban was a big fan of the Strawberry Passion variety (via Shark Tank Talks). Interest in the drink has grown and, as it's rolled out to U.S. stores, it could be set for big success.

Verdict: The Sharks really went for this unique beverage, which appeals to the health-conscious consumers who shun fizzy sodas.

Crio Bru Brewed Cacao is roasted like coffee, but it's much closer to chocolate, given that it's made with unsweetened ground cacao. The Utah entrepreneurs presented their in-depth knowledge of cocoa after some success online (via Shark Tank Success). Low in calories, dairy-free, and full of natural goodness, the brewed cocoa bean drink entered the Shark Tank asking for $1 million for 10% equity (via Shark Tank Blog). The company had already been operating for four years

However, it wasn't to be. Sampling the drink in 2014, Sharks Robert Herjavec and Mark Cuban weren't fans of the taste. Likewise, Daymond John couldn't find anything nice to say. Barbara Corcoran and Kevin O'Leary weren't willing to make an offer either, although this might have been more about valuation than the drink itself. However, the company survived its pitch being spat out by the Sharks. The pair sold a month's worth of product on the night the episode aired and has enjoyed plenty of sales since then.

Verdict: The Sharks couldn't see a way, but cacao's superfood quality and taste have given this caffeine-free brew a big sales boost.