All the White Claw Hard Seltzer Flavors Ranked
Where does your favorite fall on our list?
We updated this story from its original publish date, October 11, 2019, to include new White Claw flavors. Check out our new ranking order below.
If you haven't tried White Claw Hard Seltzer by now, you might have been living under a rock. White Claw was dubbed the drink of summer 2019, and since low-cal spiked seltzers are only gaining in popularity, this boozy beverage shows no signs of slowing down.
There are 12 White Claw flavors in total, but before you stick your hand into Variety Pack No.1, Variety Pack No. 2, or the recently launched Variety Pack No. 3, you should know which flavors are worth your time... and which to skip. Consider this your guide to all the White Claw Hard Seltzer flavors.
12. Pure
Pure, White Claw’s unflavored offering, was launched as an alternative to a vodka soda. So, how does it compare? I mean, White Claw absolutely accomplished their goal. The Pure “anti-flavor” tastes like a vodka soda, only a bit more watered down. This drink isn’t bad by any means. None of the White Claw flavors are bad! It’s just not my cup of hard seltzer.
11. Lemon
The Lemon White Claw rounds out the bottom of the flavored options for one simple reason: it’s boring. There’s absolutey nothing wrong with this flavor... it’s just the last one I would reach towards. I will give the Lemon White Claw credit where it’s due; the flavor is clean, subtle and crisp. It really does taste as if someone squeezed a fresh lemon wedge into the can. However, in comparison to the more exciting fruity profiles of the other flavors, the lemon just falls short.
10. Ruby Grapefruit
Listen, I love a good grapefruit. Whether it’s grapefruit-flavored sparkling water or a grapefruit IPA, I’ll happily down it. I had high hopes for the Ruby Grapefruit White Claw, but, unfortunately, it fell short. This White Claw flavor definitely boasted hints of grapefruit, but it just wasn’t enough. I was really hoping for *more* grapefruit flavor, but overall it tasted pretty bland.
9. Strawberry
The strawberry-ness of this variety hits you as soon as you pop open the can and get a whiff of the popular red berries. However, this one was a tad disappointing in the taste department. Yes, it tastes like strawberries, but the best parts of the flavor fade really quickly and leave you with a taste that’s somewhat reminiscent of those Flintstones vitamins that were so popular in the 1990s. While it’s not overly sweet, which is definitely a plus, it does also leave you with a nagging strawberry aftertaste that isn’t great.
8. Mango
Unpopular opinion: Mango is one of the most popular flavors of White Claw Hard Seltzer, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best. The Mango White Claw is bubbly and full of citrus flavor, but I didn’t pick up many hints of actual mango. You see, mangos are known for being super sweet. There’s a lot of sugar packed in that stone fruit! Yet, the mango flavor seriously lacked in sweetness. It tasted more like a mix of mango, tangerine, orange and water.
7. Watermelon
If you're a watermelon fan, this flavor is sure to satisfy. Just like the Raspberry White Claw, the second you crack the seal, it's impossible not to notice a sugary smell. However, even though watermelon-flavored drinks and foods can sometimes smell and taste artifical and syrupy, I thought White Claw’s take was actually quite refreshing. The only reason why the Watermelon White Claw isn't ranked higher is because the melon flavor is so overpowering that I can't imagine drinking it outside of summer.
6. Raspberry
When I first opened the can of Raspberry White Claw, I was completely overwhelmed by the smell. The strong odor of artificial raspberries wafted through the air, but once I started drinking I actually enjoyed the flavor. The Raspberry White Claw is consistent — it’s sweet but not too sweet. Every sip is the perfect match of fruitiness, tartness and sweetness.
5. Natural Lime
I’ll be honest — I was afraid to try this flavor. I’m just not a huge lime girl, and I typically avoid adding it to my drinks and snacks (except guac, of course). I’ll even drink a Corona sans the traditional lime wedge — a beer sin, I know, but that’s a story for another day.
However, the Natural Lime White Claw was a great surprise. It’s super refreshing, and the zesty lime flavor isn’t aggressive. I’d drink this on the reg or even add it to other mixed drinks. Margaritas, anyone?
4. Pineapple
The Pineapple White Claw is exactly what you’d expect, and that’s a good thing. The flavor is powerful, but not overwhelmingly so, and if you close your eyes it’s easy to imagine yourself sitting on a beach among a bunch of palm trees. In fact, you could probably sip on quite a few of these over the course of the day because the alcohol is pretty well masked. While White Claw isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel here, pineapple lovers will definitely want to give this flavor a try.
3. Blackberry
I didn’t love the strawberry flavor, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this version that’s modeled after a similar fruit, but I was pleasantly surprised when I took my first sip. Blackberry is what I wanted Strawberry to be. It’s the perfect amount of sweetness and tastes like a blackberry from start to finish, with no funky aftertaste. It kind of tastes like the purple Mr. Sketch marker, but in a good way. I promise. It’s great and refreshing on its own, but would work well combined with lemonade or as one of those popular TikTok slushies.
2. Tangerine
Let me put it this way: the Tangerine White Claw is what the Mango White Claw wishes it could be. As mentioned, I was slightly disappointed with the mango-flavored Claw becuase it tasted like a mix of citrus fruit rather than just mango. In comparison, the Tangerine White Claw's flavor is spot-on. Not only does it not taste artificial, but this spiked seltzer also matches the flavor of fresh tangerine juice so well that you can barely taste the alcohol.
1. Black Cherry
Nothing can top black cherry. There, I said it! The Black Cherry White Claw is the clear winner because of how well it stays true to the cherry flavor. It smells like cherries. It tastes like cherries. It’s the drink equivalent of licking a cherry-flavored Tootsie Pop. At first it’s tart, but then that sweet, sweet aftertaste hits.
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