Every Spindrift Flavor Ranked From Worst To Best
Spindrift Sparkling Water is known for its fresh-squeezed fruit that is sourced from farmers across the United States, giving it a refreshing and pulpy flavor profile that sets it apart from other sparkling waters on the market. From the Pacific Northwest to sunny Florida to Spindrift's home state of Massachusetts, real fruit is picked fresh from the source to create every unique flavor of Spindrift. Spindrift was created and founded by Bill Creelman — a small-town, Massachusetts-born entrepreneur who dreamt of creating a refreshing artisan beverage that could be accessible to all (and who doesn't like to support other's dreams coming true?). According to Thrillist, the word "Spindrift" refers to the whitewash of a wave break, lending the brand an element of cool that reverberates loudly among sparkling water fans. Plus, every can of Spindrift Sparkling Water is recyclable and you're drinking real fruit instead of "natural flavors" like other sparkling water brands on the market tout.
Spindrift also holds values in terms of humans and wildlife, and to date, Spindrift has donated $25K to the NAACP, matched employee donations to Black Lives Matter, and they give back to Australia's Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service that helps animals in the aftermath of life-threatening bushfires.
While there really is no bad option when it comes to drinking Spindrift, there are certainly a lot of choices, so we surveyed some experts in the field of sparkling water to gather our list of worst to best flavors of Spindrift.
12. Blood Orange Tangerine
The newest creation by Spindrift sparkling water founders and farmers, Blood Orange Tangerine is so fresh on the market that the verdict is still out on how well it will perform, having launched it in the spring of 2022. That being said, with no other blood orange tangerine flavor of sparkling water on the market to compete with, Spindrift creators are certain this one will be a big hit within and outside of their community of avid followers — or "Drifters" — as they are referred to on the inside.
The union of citrusy, almost bitter blood oranges combined with the sweetness of ripe tangerine creates an "avantbgarde" sparkling water sensation unlike any other, said a Spindrift innovator on the team's webpage announcing the new varietal. It's also worth mentioning that Spindrift's new Blood Orange Tangerine contains 2 grams of sugar, 3 grams of carbohydrates and 12 calories per serving, according to Food Business News.
11. Cranberry Raspberry
A unique combination in the sparkling water department, Spindrift's Cranberry Raspberry Sparkling Water is the result of an East Coast meets West Coast fruit concoction, with cranberries sourced from local cranberry bogs in Massachusetts in the fall, which are then mixed with ripe raspberries grown in the Pacific Northwest. Even those who aren't necessarily fans of no-sugar-added sparkling water may actually enjoy this unsweetened, juicy concoction.
One Influenster reviewer proclaimed going as far as replacing sugar-filled soft drinks with the healthier alternative of Spindrift's Cranberry Raspberry. That said, it's hard to get excited about anything cranberry flavored, even when the cranberry flavor is sourced with ripe, fresh fruit. If it weren't for the richness of the raspberry-infused with the less-than-desirable cranberry, this flavor option may not even be worth the ranking. Lastly, Spindrift Cranberry Raspberry Sparkling Water clocks in with nutrition numbers at 1 gram of sugar, 2 grams of carbohydrates, and 8 calories per serving.
10. Pineapple
Listening to its community of fans, the innovation team at Spindrift felt compelled to create the Spindrift Pineapple Sparkling Water option to appease the abundance of requests for this particular varietal. On the sweeter side of the Spindrift Sparkling Water menu, pineapples were taste-tested from all over the world, and creators at Spindrift ultimately selected to source their pineapples from the golden pineapple of Costa Rica, giving it a tropical fruit flavor that is unlike any other Spindrift option.
With no other sparkling water on the market that features real pineapple freshly squeezed into every can, this offering from Spindrift truly shines on the shelf. But perhaps there's a reason no other brand uses fresh pineapple — it's intensely tropical and begs to be a booze-based drink as opposed to a sparkling water option. With 3 grams of sugar, 3 grams of carbohydrates, and 13 calories, it's also a notably sweeter option when compared to other Spindrift fresh fruit flavors of sparkling water.
9. Strawberry
When it comes to drinking Spindrift Sparkling Water, consumers love pouring out the bubbly beverage into an ice-cold glass while taking note of the vibrant color that correlates with each flavor profile, and the subtle pink tone of Spindrift's Strawberry option is what many of the brand's fans find most alluring.
What keeps them coming back to Spindrift Strawberry is the subtle notes of the berry flavor, though some reviewers have also indicated that the strawberry flavor is not as strong a contestant as their other options of Spindrift. It's not bad, it's just that some flavors pack more of a flavorful fruity punch. In addition, other reviewers noted that Spindrift Strawberry has an unpleasant aftertaste. The good news is Spindrift Strawberry Sparkling Water does not tip the nutrition scales any more than any other flavor, with 1 gram of sugar, 2 grams of carbohydrates, and 10 calories.
8. Half Tea & Half Lemon
A cult favorite among Spindrift drinkers, the Spindrift Half Tea & Half Lemon Sparkling Water option is highly recommended as a cocktail, and it works great with bourbon. If bourbon isn't your cup of tea, try a twist of vodka into the classic Arnold Palmer recipe. If you're not into cocktails, just drink it straight as is and enjoy the real brewed and unsweetened black tea mixed with fresh-squeezed lemons.
Considered one of the most unique flavors of sparkling water among not only Spindrift, but most other brands as well, the popular Half & Half was Spindrift founder and CEO Bill Creelman's innovative idea, driven by a desire to infuse something other than fresh fruit into his artisan sparkling waters. The result is a thirst-quenching and dramatic duo of flavors that takes the half iced tea and half lemonade beverage to new levels. If that's not enough to coerce you into trying, consider the fact that it has 0 sugars, only 1 gram of carbohydrates, and just 5 calories per can.
7. Orange Mango
On a hot summer day, try skipping the coffee and starting with something more refreshing like orange mango Spindrift. It's the perfect morning pick-me-up that pairs well with a healthy egg white and leafy greens breakfast. The sustainable grocery experts at Hive equate drinking Spindrift Orange Mango Sparkling Water to "floating away on an orange-mango wave" and although we aren't entirely sure what that means, we can't argue that it sounds pleasant.
Sour, tart, sweet, juicy, tropical, and sharp are all words used by Hive to describe the Orange Mango, and with a palate like that, how can this sparkling water go wrong? While the flavor did debut originally as a Spindrift soda option, the team at Spindrift decided to simplify it by removing any added sugar and letting the fresh-squeezed fruit speak for itself. The result is now a delightful beverage with only 1 gram of sugar, 3 grams of carbohydrates, and 10 calories.
6. Lemon
Squeezing a sliver of fresh lemon into ice-cold sparkling water is an unbeatable, thirst-quenching combination, and this flavor of Spindrift brings that classic duo to a whole new level with its crisp and citrusy bite that can only be achieved by using fresh squeezed lemons.
Sourced from family farms in California, who are also known as third-generation farmers, this hydrating concoction of sparkling water is as simple, classic, and delicious as it gets, and it certainly falls in line with Spindrift's mission to support United States agriculture. With 3% real juice in each can, and one and a half lemons squeezed into each eight-pack of cans, this Lemon-crazed sparkling water is as fresh and hydrating as it gets. Nutrition facts for Spindrift Lemon Sparkling Water boast 0 sugars, 1 gram of carbohydrates, and a mere 3 calories, making it a popular choice among health conscience Target reviewers.
5. Raspberry Lime
Whether you're an experienced sparkling water fanatic or a novice sparkling water just trying to get your feet wet in the bubbly water game, raspberry lime hits every note you'd look for in a refreshing, carbonated beverage from sweet to tart to citrus to berry, it all comes together in one satisfying can of Spindrift Sparkling Water. This option of Spindrift is a great choice for beginners, as some reviews indicate it's a great introductory sparkling water for the novice drinker.
The fruit is sourced from the Pacific Northwest, and Spindrift Raspberry Lime Sparkling Water creators dub this variety the "sweetest" in the bunch. Another fun fact about Spindrift's Raspberry Lime creation is the homage it pays to a uniquely New England cocktail called the Raspberry Lime Rickey –- a post-Civil War cocktail that started popping up in bars around Washington DC. Each 12-ounce can contains 1 gram of sugar, 2 grams of carbohydrates, and 9 calories, which is pretty low considering it's considered a sweeter option.
4. Blackberry
One interesting fun fact about this unique flavor of Spindrift is that it takes the juice of 20 blackberries to make a four-pack of Spindrift Blackberry Sparkling Water, giving it a fresh fruit experience unlike any of its blackberry sparkling water competitors. Infused with blackberries sourced from the Pacific Northwest, Spindrift Blackberry is sweet, but not sweetened, and also fruity without the use of artificial ingredients.
Target reviewers claim that this option is also packed full of blackberry flavor without tasting "fake or weird" with no lingering artificial flavor aftertaste, like many of its seltzer water competitors. Another bonus to buying this blackberry beverage is the opportunity to turn it into a cocktail, like these three-ingredient gin cocktails using Spindrift Blackberry Sparkling Water, as featured on Healthy Delicious. The nutrition content for Spindrift Blackberry Sparkling Water boasts only 2 grams of sugars (derived naturally from the blackberries, of course), 3 grams of carbohydrates, and just 10 calories per can.
3. Grapefruit
When it comes to sparkling water flavors, nothing beats the marriage between bubbles and citrus, but Spindrift Grapefruit Sparkling Water tops the chart due to its tangy, citrusy, real-fruit flavor. Whether you call it a pamplemousse, pomelo or just the standard grapefruit, there's no denying that this bitter, citrusy fruit was made for mixing with bubbly water, as it is highly regarded as a consumer favorite in the sparkling water department.
One Amazon reviewer claimed to be much more hydrated than ever before due to a newfound love of Spindrift Grapefruit Sparkling Water, which the aforementioned reviewer drinks multiple times daily. Infused with a touch of orange and lemon, this concoction features grapefruits that are squeezed and canned within weeks of picking them, according to the makers at Spindrift. The result is a refreshing and balanced beverage experience that boasts 3 grams of sugar, 4 grams of carbohydrates, and 17 calories -– a higher end caloric option on the Spindrift shelf, but a far better choice than sugar-loaded sodas.
2. Cucumber
Whether mixing it as a cocktail, a mocktail, or enjoying it straight from the can, Spindrift Cucumber Sparkling Water practically simulates the aura of visiting a day spa that will leave you feeling cool as –- you guessed it –- a cucumber. Perhaps the lowest numbers on the nutrition facts panel, this variety of Spindrift boasts 0 grams of sugar, 0 grams of carbohydrates, and only 2 calories per can.
Make this Cucumber concoction your own by adding a touch of mint and lemon or lime, then pour it over ice, and sip yourself into a spa-infused oblivion of refreshing luxury. One Amazon reviewer also noted that her teens were now drinking more water thanks to the hydrating flavor of Spindrift Sparkling Water, and that same reviewer uses a portion from her can as a hair spritz to give her day-old washing a fresh cucumber scent. A drink and hair product? Impressive!
1. Lime
According to Spindrift founder and CEO Bill Creelman, Spindrift Lime Sparkling Water is the most popular flavor among Spindrift drinkers thanks to its freshly squeezed California limes infused into each can, and as always, it is never made from concentrate. With a burst of lime in every bubbly sip, life left out the lemons when they made this drink, leaving the lime to shine outside the lemon's shadow.
A runner-up in the battle for low nutrition numbers, Spindrift Lime Sparkling Water contains 0 grams of sugar, 1 gram of carbohydrates, and only 4 calories per serving. According to the experts on all things beverage over at The BevNET, Spindrift Lime is well balanced without overpowering your taste buds, which lime can do when squeezed into drinks or onto foods. Another Amazon reviewer proclaimed that this flavor of Spindrift is helping educate her and her teen son on insulin levels and how to transition their lifestyle into a healthier one. We can't argue when it comes to health, and such a glowing review makes Lime the best of the bunch.