Food Network Staffers' Favorite Hard Seltzers

Meet my favorite poolside sip. These hard seltzers are light, fizzy and deliciously flavorful, without any of that artificial aftertaste I've found with other hard seltzers on the market. They're made with real juice, which helps make them so irresistible, IMO. But don't ask me to pick a favorite — I'll reach for a Berry Blast as quickly as a Tropical Mango!

-Meghan Hynes Cole, Associate Editor

I love Spindrift sparkling water and their line of spiked sparkling waters just launched last summer and has expanded this summer. The new flavors like mango, blood orange and passion fruit taste like vacation in can without the unpleasant aftertaste some other hard seltzers have. The alcohol in these sparkling waters comes from cane sugar and the sparkling waters are flavored with real fruit resulting in a drink that's not too sweet and very refreshing.

-T.K. Brady, Senior Editor

I'm a big fan of the new line of hard seltzers from Spindrift. And the Passion Orange Guava flavor is one of my favorites in the bunch! It's bright and refreshing, thanks to the addition of simple ingredients, including passion fruit juice, guava puree, orange juice, alcohol made from cane sugar, and carbonated water. Plus, Spindrift Spiked seltzer currently has eight flavors, there are no added sugar and only 93 calories per can.

-Amanda Neal, Recipe Developer

Hard seltzers are typically not my first choice when reaching for a drink, but in the summer when I'm craving something refreshing, a good seltzer definitely hits the spot. High Noon, which contains vodka mixed with sparkling water and real fruit juice, is my go-to! My recommendation is to go with the tropical pack, which includes pineapple, watermelon, mango and passionfruit.

-Rachel Trujillo, Associate Content Editor

I love non-alcoholic seltzer, and really wanted to love hard seltzer but was having a hard time finding one I could get behind because I'm super sensitive to the flavor of sugar substitutes (all of them). Then I discovered that one of my favorite local breweries, Cape May Brewery, also makes a line of hard seltzers made with alcohol from fermented cane sugar and fruit juice rather than sugar substitutes. They taste almost like an alcoholic Spindrift and are the perfect refreshing beverage for a hot day on the beach. My favorite flavor is watermelon, but get a variety-pack to try all of their flavors and you won't be disappointed. The only downside? Right now they're distributed fairly locally — throughout New Jersey, Delaware and Eastern Pennsylvania.

-Julie Hines, Managing Editor

I tried these sparkling coconut waters out a few weeks ago, and I've been hooked ever since! I've grown to dislike the taste of most hard seltzer propers, but Sunboy has managed to finely calibrate the flavor of pineapple, coconut water and a touch of alcohol for a drink that's not too sweet, and tastes so good. It doesn't feel like I'm sacrificing flavor for something healthier here — it just tastes good in its own right and happens to be more hydrating than your usual boozy mixed drink.

-Maggie Wong, Editor

I'm a big fan of Spindriff's regular seltzer, so I was pumped when they came out with a hard version -- and it does not disappoint. The flavors actually taste fruit, and don't have the fake aftertaste I've come to associate with hard seltzers. My other go-to hard seltzer is Willie's Superbrew. Like Spindrift, their label boasts that it is made with real fruit -- which means no fake taste, and it isn't overly sweet. My favorite is the Ginger + Lemon flavor, which is slightly tart with gingery spice.
-Sarah Holden, Digital Culinary Producer

As a somm, I generally reach for a chilled glass of wine on a hot summer day. Something about the artificial fruit flavors of most hard seltzers makes them tough for me to enjoy. But, the Finnish Long Drink is a different story. Originally created in Finland for the 1952 Summer Olympic Games, this canned gin and tonic is made with real grapefruit and is totally refreshing.

-Dana Beninati, Host, Chef and Sommelier