I tried 5 brands of lime hard seltzer, and there's only one I really want to drink again

Chelsea DavisMay 27, 2023, 20:01 IST

I tried five different brands of lime hard seltzer.Chelsea Davis

I tried five different brands of lime hard seltzer to find out which one tastes best.
I can't see myself buying the Bud Light and Corona lime hard seltzers again.

It seems like every brand is getting in on the hard-seltzer game.

I've always loved hard seltzers, but they aren't all created equally. Brands like High Noon use vodka while White Claw uses a gluten-free malted alcohol base.

There are also so many interesting flavors out there. But in the interest of fairness, I decided to put a basic lime flavor from five brands to the test. I've never been the biggest fan of plain lime flavoring, so the brands have to work twice as hard to impress me.

Read on to find out which hard-seltzer brand has the best lime option.

White Claw is a staple in the hard-seltzer world, so I made sure to grab its natural lime flavor.

White Claw is one of the biggest names in hard seltzer.Chelsea Davis

First impression: I decided to try White Claw first because, in my opinion, it's the brand that really started the hard-seltzer craze.

It was very carbonated and smelled a little like a lime-scented cleaner.

Review: It had a solid lime flavor that was classic, refreshing, and zesty. It tasted like a lime gummy bear or a lime Skittle — nothing I wasn't expecting.

There wasn't a bad aftertaste, but the flavor overall tasted a little artificial. I think lime flavoring is often like that, so I wasn't surprised.

First impression: I decided to try White Claw first because, in my opinion, it's the brand that really started the hard-seltzer craze.

It was very carbonated and smelled a little like a lime-scented cleaner.

Review: It had a solid lime flavor that was classic, refreshing, and zesty. It tasted like a lime gummy bear or a lime Skittle — nothing I wasn't expecting.

There wasn't a bad aftertaste, but the flavor overall tasted a little artificial. I think lime flavoring is often like that, so I wasn't surprised.

Truly was another brand I knew I had to try.

Truly is another classic hard-seltzer brand.Chelsea Davis

First impression: This lime hard seltzer wasn't very fragrant — it kind of smelled like a vitamin.

Review: The Truly didn't have a super strong lime taste, it was more subdued. Unlike the "ah" reaction I had to the White Claw, this one lacked a citrusy bite.

Even if the lime flavor wasn't very prominent, it was tangy. But I thought it also had a bit of a strange aftertaste that I wasn't a fan of.

First impression: This lime hard seltzer wasn't very fragrant — it kind of smelled like a vitamin.

Review: The Truly didn't have a super strong lime taste, it was more subdued. Unlike the ah reaction I had to the White Claw, this one lacked a citrusy bite.

Even if the lime flavor wasn't very prominent, it was tangy. But I thought it also had a bit of a strange aftertaste that I wasn't a fan of.

Corona has a lime-flavored hard Seltzerita.

Corona has had a few different hard seltzer lines over the years.Chelsea Davis

First impression: This was the best-smelling hard seltzer — it was like sugary, lime candy.

Unlike the White Claw and Truly, it was cloudy in appearance, which was a little off-putting. I think this might be because it has a "splash of real Mexican lime juice," according to the can.

Review: It tasted like a confused, watered-down, overly sweet margarita. But it had a real-sugar flavor, unlike the other seltzers that are advertised as low or zero sugar.

That said, it lacked zestiness and wasn't as refreshing as the White Claw.

Unlike the other hard seltzers, this was supposed to be closer to a margarita. It tasted similar to the salt-rimmed cocktail — just one that had a baby with a hard seltzer and was left out for a night.

First impression: This was the best-smelling hard seltzer — it was like sugary, lime candy.

Unlike the White Claw and Truly, it was cloudy in appearance, which was a little off-putting. I think this might be because it has a splash of real Mexican lime juice, according to the can.

Review: It tasted like a confused, watered-down, overly sweet margarita. But it had a real-sugar flavor, unlike the other seltzers that are advertised as low or zero sugar.

That said, it lacked zestiness and wasn't as refreshing as the White Claw.

Bud Light Seltzer offers a citrus hard soda.

I didn't love the smell of the Bud Light Seltzer.Chelsea Davis

First impression: This hard seltzer looked like carbonated pickle juice and smelled like lime gelatin, which I didn't love.

Review: The Bud Light Seltzer citrus hard soda initially tasted good. The mouthfeel and carbonation were great and, at first, the sweetness tasted like a sugary soda. But then, in my opinion, the aftertaste became somewhat chalky.

It was definitely citrusy, but it didn't have much of a limey bite or tart flavor. The sugar taste was pretty overwhelming — it reminded me of concentrated lime gelatin in carbonated form.

Some people might like the sweetness, but it wasn't for me.

First impression: This hard seltzer looked like carbonated pickle juice and smelled like lime gelatin, which I didn't love.

It was definitely citrusy, but it didn't have much of a limey bite or tart flavor. The sugar taste was pretty overwhelming — it reminded me of concentrated lime gelatin in carbonated form.

Some people might like the sweetness, but it wasn't for me.

High Noon makes hard seltzers with a vodka base.

High Noon uses vodka as a base instead of malt liquor.Chelsea Davis

First impression: It had a pleasing smell — like a lime Jolly Rancher. I didn't think it was too artificial.

Review: This was immediately my favorite. It wasn't sickeningly sweet, and it seemed to be the most natural tasting.

The High Noon brand, like Corona, says it has "real juice" in it, unlike the other three brands that just list "natural flavors."

I could drink a few of these without feeling too overwhelmed by an artificially sweet taste.

First impression: It had a pleasing smell — like a lime Jolly Rancher. I didn't think it was too artificial.

Review: This was immediately my favorite. It wasn't sickeningly sweet, and it seemed to be the most natural tasting.

The High Noon brand, like Corona, says it has real juice in it, unlike the other three brands that just list natural flavors.

I could drink a few of these without feeling too overwhelmed by an artificially sweet taste.

Overall, High Noon's lime seltzer tasted the best to me.

High Noon wasn't too sweet or artificial tasting.Chelsea Davis

The Bud Light seltzer was way too sweet for me and felt more like a sugary soda.

Although Corona's Seltzerita was a creative riff on a basic lime seltzer, it felt more like an underwhelming, carbonated version of a salt-rimmed margarita.

Overall, High Noon's lime seltzer impressed me the most, but I also didn't mind the ones from Truly and White Claw.