I Tried Bubly’s New Super Mario Galaxy Seltzers, Here’s My Honest Review

Are you ready to slingshot yourself into the outer limits of galactic flavor? Well, we’re talking about seltzer today, so don’t get too worked up. Specifically, we’re talking about the new, limited edition Mario Galaxy Bubly flavors. 

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Here’s the deal: Bubly (makers of some pretty darn good flavored seltzers) teamed up with the upcoming movie, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, to create three new “galactic-inspired” flavors in color-changing cans (the little star guys, “Lumas,” change color when chilled). There’s also a giveaway component. Select 8-packs of the Mario-themed Bubly contain special cans that feature Rosalina. Find one of those, and you’ll win a trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Pretty fun!

But are these new Bubly flavors any good? I tried all three to find out. 

New Bubly Flavor!

Bubly Dragonfruit Stardust

Target

Pros: This is my favorite flavor out of the trio. It purports to be pineapple and dragonfruit flavor, and the pineapple really comes through. Dragonfruit is extremely mild. I’m not sure why brands even try to make dragonfruit-flavored things, aside from the fact that the name of the fruit is cool. Anyway, the pineapple flavor is fresh and not super sweet, which I really appreciate. Flavored seltzer is becoming too much like diet soda. It shouldn’t be sweetened that much! 

Cons: While it does taste the most natural of the lot and it is certainly pineapple-y, it’s still fairly generically “tropical.” I wish they opted for another fruit to pair with the pineapple to give it a little something more interesting.

Credit: Liv Averett / Target

Rating:

7.5/10

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New Bubly Flavor!

Bubly Cosmic Swirl

Target

Pros: Bubly took more of a swing with this one; it’s berry-vanilla flavored. You don’t see “vanilla” in a lot of seltzers. Perhaps there’s a reason for that (more on that in a second). But I applaud Bubly for trying something new. It definitely has a berries-and-cream flavor—almost like a very light, less sweet, flavored cream soda. 

Cons: The vanilla flavor is odd. It makes the water taste like a Creme Saver (remember those?) that’s had the sugar drained from it. And the berry flavor leans more medicinal than fresh. It’s all just a bit too fakey for me. Still, thanks to the fairly mild flavor and comparatively restrained sweetness, I’d have no problem finishing a can.

Credit: Liv Averett / Target

Rating:

7.5/10

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New Bubly Flavor!

Bubly Meteor Melon

Target

Pros: This hot pink can says it’s watermelon lime flavor. I don’t get a lot of lime. But the watermelon is certainly present. This is the sweetest out of all three Mario Galaxy Bubly flavors. And while it doesn’t taste like a watermelon Jolly Rancher dupe like so many watermelon-flavored things, it definitely tastes more like fake melon than real melon. But somehow it also tastes a bit cucumbery too, like spa water. Sweet spa water. 

Cons: It’s too artificial tasting for me to want to drink more than one. And if you don’t like it when watermelon-flavored things taste like cucumber, then you’re not going to appreciate this flavor. Also, as I mentioned above, where’s the lime? I didn’t get much citrusy acidity. It could’ve helped balance out the sweetness.

Credit: Liv Averett / Target

Rating:

7.5/10

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