These Are The Only Hard Seltzers You'll Catch Delish Editors Buying This Summer

Truly is one of the most popular hard seltzer brands, and for good reason. The effervescence is perfectly balanced, and the wide variety of flavors means you can satisfy everyone’s preferences. Our favorite Truly flavor was Citrus Squeeze from the Citrus Mix Pack. “It’s perfect for when you’re torn between grapefruit, orange, and lime,” said one of our testers. “The Libra in me is very happy.” Plus, the brand recently launched Truly Unruly, a line of even boozier seltzers that are 8% ABV as opposed to the typical 5%.

Out of all the hard seltzer brands we tried, Press presented itself as the fanciest. This premium hard seltzer brand appeals to “discerning consumers” by pairing unique flavors like pear and chamomile, grapefruit and cardamom, and lime and lemongrass. We were drawn to the brand’s exciting flavor lineup and low sugar content, and we weren't disappointed. Our favorite flavor is actually the first one they ever made: pomegranate ginger.

These seltzer lemonades recently launched nationwide in four tasty flavors: Huckleberry Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, and Tropical Lemonade. The seltzers use vodka as their base, providing a nice contrast to the sweetness. They make for a great adult version of everyone's favorite summer beverage.

-196 is Japan's number one hard seltzer brand and it finally launched in the States this year. The vodka seltzers currently come in four flavors, including lemon, grapefruit, peach, and strawberry. What's great about these is that they truly taste like a vodka soda you'd order at a bar.

The husband-and-wife team behind the brand wanted to shake up the hard seltzer status quo when they first launched the Volley brand. While their flavors aren’t particularly groundbreaking, they use 100 percent agave tequila and organic fruit juice, unlike most other hard seltzers. We absolutely loved the packaging and their commitment to high-quality ingredients. The seltzer is definitely tequila-forward, and it tastes closer to a real cocktail than any of the others we tried.

Lunar is the love child of two friends who wanted their hard seltzer to capture “Asian Americana in a can.” After rounds of testing (including brewing in their own apartments!), the duo launched their line of hard seltzers. The plum flavor divided our team: some thought it smelled like “Elmer’s glue,” while others said it reminded them of childhood and freeze pops. Almost all of us preferred the lychee flavor because of its “light, floral” taste and “delicate sweetness.”

When we think of major hard seltzer brands, High Noon is near the top of the list. Their recipe uses vodka in place of generic grain alcohol, and they flavor each can with real juice—and you can taste it. Our tasters said each High Noon actually tasted like the flavor listed on the label. However, because of the real juice, the sugar content is a little higher than many other seltzers on the market. “I would probably get a bad hangover with these,” said one of our testers, “but it’d be worth it.”

Our favorite sparkling water gets a splash of booze and we’re all for it. Each can has Topo Chico’s signature effervescence with subtle fruit flavors. Our tasters loved that the brand used a light touch when it comes to flavor, versus the overwhelming sweetness found in some other hard seltzers. Our favorite Topo Chico flavor is pineapple because it “isn’t too sweet” and is “perfectly crushable.”

Many of our tasters had already heard rave reviews about Spindrift Spiked, and this drink definitely didn’t disappoint. Each flavor is made with real fruit juice and has a bright hue. Some of us initially thought the bright colors were “concerning,” but the taste more than made up for it. We especially loved the Half Tea Half Lemon flavor, which “tastes like a real Arnold Palmer.” A close second is the Blood Orange Tangerine, with its “natural citrus flavor” that tastes “super refreshing.”