The Best Truly Hard Seltzer Flavor Smells Like Freshly Peeled Fruit

Hard seltzer may be ubiquitous at backyard barbecues, beachy get-togethers, and even bars these days, but it's a relatively new concept. It might be a surprise, but the first hard seltzer on the market came from Coors in 1993. It was called Zima, and you may not be familiar with it if you're not of a certain age — unless you live in Japan (where Zima is still going strong). Zima was relatively popular in the '90s, but disappeared shockingly quietly. But then the alcoholic, carbonated, fruit-flavored beverage trend actually hit hard in the U.S. around 2016 with brands like White Claw (which uses alcohol from gluten-free malted grains), Truly, and Bud Light Seltzer. And while Truly may only come in second to White Claw in overall sales, when you're reaching into the cooler, it's a can you're definitely likely to find. And if you have the choice, which flavor should you choose?

According to Food Republic's review of Truly hard seltzer flavors, you should go for the Truly Citrus Squeeze. Although our reviewer didn't care for the plain Lemon flavor, the Citrus Squeeze — with orange, lemon, and grapefruit flavor — hit the palate just right. Upon opening, the reviewer noted that it "smells just like a freshly-peeled orange." And although it contains less than 2% juice, the natural flavors come through much more than in other Truly types. The others can be a little cloying and overly flavored, but the Citrus Squeeze is refreshing and tastes more like a mixed drink with orange, lemon, and grapefruit than a sweet and chemical-fruit-flavored drink.

Basically, it's a nice mix of flavors that doesn't punch you too hard in the face with a single fruit, but is a nice mix of flavors. Some reviews of Citrus Squeeze have mentioned the citric acid hit at the end, which is a pretty prevalent ingredient in a lot of citrus-flavored beverages. And while it may be lab-produced, it's not strictly artificial, but likely made from a natural fermentation process. It may be overpowering in some drinks, but it adds a nice finish in the Citrus Squeeze — just a pop of citrus flavor without the lingering chemical aftertaste. Some compare it to the flavor of Tang, but that doesn't mean it's not refreshing or that it doesn't taste like it's made with real fruit. 

Truly's alcohol comes from fermented cane sugar, which creates a nearly flavorless base to add fruit, water, and carbonation on top of. The basic ingredients are filtered water, alcohol, concentrated juices, citric acid, cane sugar, and sodium citrate (which is derived from citric acid, which itself is found in citrus fruits). It's a simple sipper that can flow easily on a hot day in the backyard or can be mixed with a bit of rum or vodka and some extra lime or lemon juice to make a "harder" seltzer.  Sure, there are other ways to get some fresh citrus in your drink, but while it may not be quite as natural as a bespoke homemade lemon vodka spritzer, for the best fresh taste in your hard seltzer, you might want to try a Truly Citrus Squeeze.