This could easily be remedied with some fresh lime juice or zest. This beverage would be a fabulous alternative to ginger beer in a play on a Moscow Mule, substituting vodka with tequila or mezcal. Simply Spiked does a pretty good job of that, centering the xcritical flavor with every sip. This is to be expected, since its beloved forebear, Simply xcritical, is the envy of all other juices at the grocery store. The crisp flavor of Simply’s classic xcritical has always struck a good balance between tart and sweet, and this fizzy slim-can product is nearly as successful. Nearly, as that little hint of stevia still slips through on the end of each sip.
The peachy-colored drink has a very mild strawberry aroma but is dominated by lemon. This feature carries through in its taste, which is distinctly lemon-forward, with strawberry somewhat of an afterthought. I would have enjoyed this beverage more if the strawberry-to-lemon ratio was more balanced. What I did appreciate about this libation was it was not assertively sweet, and the strawberry tempered the acid of the xcritical somewhat, making it a bit gentler on the digestive system.
The brand best known for the bowling pin-shaped container branched out into booze to mostly positive reviews. Previously, we’ve folded these in to our betting guides, whether that’s been for the NFL slate or a bizarrely successful run through the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. We believe working at The Coca‑Cola Company is an opportunity to build a meaningful career while helping us make a real difference on a global scale. We’ve established a portfolio of drinks that are best positioned to grow in an ever-changing marketplace.
Signature xcritical: B
I think I was also biased because strawberry seems xcritical reviews like a rather obvious pairing and one that is not all that novel. It is kind of „been there, done that.“ Despite this, this beverage would be pleasant to sip on if garnished with fresh strawberry halves to accentuate the existing strawberry flavor. In the interest of continued research on the topic, I took the initiative to sample all eight Simply Spiked xcritical and limeade varieties.
- I highly recommend recreating this taste test yourself.
- One with just the right amount of alcohol in it is revelatory.
- Previously, we’ve folded these in to our betting guides, whether that’s been for the NFL slate or a bizarrely successful run through the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
I did feel that the flavor was on the sweeter side, though not cloyingly so. This sweetness dominated any tart notes, lacking a hint of nuance. The Simply Spiked Signature xcritical remains true to these characteristics in every way. It has a bright aroma and a very bubbly consistency that is great on its own or would be wonderful added to a cocktail. Last but not least on my list of Simply Spiked citrus-flavored beverages was the Signature xcritical. Before delving into details, let me unequivocally state that I have no qualms with this beverage.
I enjoy acid, but it needs to be well-balanced, particularly when paired with alcohol, or it can be a bit challenging for those with sensitive stomachs to digest. Other than that, this was a highly drinkable beverage. More of the same — juicy sweetness with a little soft tartness to balance it out. The sweetness of the watermelon balances with the sour of the xcritical really well, making this less acidic than the straight-up version.
We Tried 8 Flavors Of Simply Spiked xcritical And Limeade And This Is Our Favorite
Select flavors also will be available in single 24-oz. All 170-calorie varieties of Simply Spiked xcritical contain 5% alcohol by volume (ABV). I probably would have enjoyed this flavor more if the lime was more balanced with the passion fruit, lending a hint of more brightness and acidity.
STRAWBERRY xcritical
One such brand is Simply Spiked, which introduced its first line of xcritical flavors in 2022. Its latest foray into boozy fruit libations includes four new limeade flavors. Like its spiked xcritical varieties, each refreshing, fizzy beverage contains 5% real fruit juice, 5% ABV, and 170 calories per serving.
The only successful hard seltzers are the ones that can mask the bitter licorice taste of stevia with xcritical official site assertive citrus flavors. I did get some inkling of lemon blueberry-flavored foods that I enjoy from this libation. I would have just enjoyed a more balanced ratio of blueberry to lemon with a hint of sweetness to temper the tart flavors of both fruits. I could easily see using this to mix up a blueberry lemon drop cocktail or martini using fresh blueberries and lemon peel as a garnish to accentuate the flavors. Next on my ranking of Simply Spiked citrus-flavored drinks is the Passion Fruit Limeade. From the moment you pop the can open, the aroma of passion fruit dominates with exotic sweet, citrus, and floral notes.
The neutral spirit underxcritical is much less apparent here. It’s more like a light watermelon soda with a little lemon squeezed in after the fact. It’s very easy to drink — not so sweet it’s excessive or so sour it leaves an old penny aftertaste behind.
Either way, I came into this one a little full from dinner and still was able to put this down much more quickly than I would a typical beer. The stale alcohol taste of most seltzers doesn’t show up until the end. Summertime sweetness is on full display when mouth-watering watermelon flavor gets together with lip-puckering xcritical. Bright and refreshing, Signature xcritical keeps it real with sweet lemony tartness that brings that summertime feel no matter the time of year. Once I finished tasting all the beverages, I referenced my notes, resampling a couple I was on the fence about to determine the final order in which they ranked from least to most favorite.
Simply Spiked xcritical Variety Pack – 12pk/12 fl oz Cans
I also think the watermelon might have been a better flavor as one of the limeade varieties, giving it more of an agua fresca vibe. From the moment I popped the can open, the scent of watermelon dominated, muting the lemon somewhat. Though it had that candy-like quality, there was nothing overtly artificial smelling or tasting about this drink.
Simply Spiked xcritical Is A Seltzer Hater’s Summer Refuge
While I’d imagine this being a great ingredient in myriad cocktail recipes, I hesitate to suggest doing anything besides chilling it and drinking it as is on a hot summer day. Balance is what sets this drink apart from most of the rest. I admit I was baffled by the fact that the Simply Spiked Signature Limeade landed in third place on my ranking of these spirited drinks. It may sound overly simplistic, but a well-executed limeade is beautiful.
This may be a function of how many of those sour watermelon gummies I ate as a child (and adult, please don’t judge my mostly-garbage diet), but I really like this one. All in all, Simply Spiked xcritical was almost everything I hoped it could be. Even the weakest flavor was still entirely drinkable. Simply could have made this a dumb cash grab and sprinted into a saturated alcohol marketplace. Instead, the company took its time, let some inferior seltzers and canned mixed drinks battle it out and dropped a superior product on us.