We Tried Lotza Soda And Your Mixed Drinks Will Never Be The Same

Lotza soda is new on the scene. They’re a soda that markets themselves as “The Soda Made To Party.” They want to be the brand of sparkling soda that you bring out for a night of fun and drink on its own or use it as a mixer. Which truthfully, I’m all for. I love a half-assed cocktail that’s just a shot of liquor mixed into a premade drink.

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Each can aims to offer fruit-forward flavor with functional ingredients. Lotza does this by using real fruit, no artificial additives or preservatives, and utilizing adaptogens, electrolytes, and antioxidants. Each of the three flavors (citrus smash, wild berry burst, and tropical twist) are all caffeine-free and contain 6g of sugar with 30-35 calories.

The only thing left is to see how they stack up. Are they successful in replacing your drab ol’ overused soda or are you better off sticking with the classics? Let’s find out.

Citrus Smash

Pros: I think this would be the best of the three flavors to use as a mixer. It’s just a little too much by itself. Which I do then see the irony of me recommending you add liquor into the equation. I just think you’re looking for more if you’re already investing into a mixed drink so it’ll work out well.

Cons: The citrus flavor is just a smidge too strong. It reminded me of the air freshener scent of fresh linen. It’s just not what I want my drink to smell like. Something a notch milder would go a long way for casually drinking an entire can with your dinner.

Wild Berry Burst

Pros: I love a wild berry soda. We get so many grape sodas out in the world but how many general berry sodas are there? Not enough! Lotza utilizes raspberry puree and blueberry juice to achieve wild berry status. The raspberry ends up winning on the front end and the blueberry closes up the rear for a nice balance.

Cons: In a reverse from the citrus smash version, I’m struggling to see how I would use this as a mixer. I ultimately think that’s a testament to how good it is. The entire experience would be tainted by adding anything else to distract from just how much I like the wild berry flavor. I do have to take a Spork off of the meter because it doesn’t fully land in the “drink on its own or as a mixer” promise.

Tropical Twist

Pros: There’s a lot of similarities between the tropical twist and citrus smash. Granted, most of the ingredients are the same. The tropical has all the same ingredients as the citrus with the addition of pineapple, mango, and passion fruit. The winner of the three in this lineup is definitely the pineapple. That sets it up nicely to be a refreshing sip under the sun or a fantastic base for a rum cocktail.

Cons: Like the citrus, the tropical twist is just a tad too much on its own. It’s not as extreme as the citrus but more out of balance than the berry. Lotza uses the same base for all three flavors, but I think the added berries were enough to mellow things out while the other two struggle in that category.

Our Verdict

At the end of everything, I think Lotza delivers well on their promise of a soda you can drink on its own or make a quick cocktail with. I think they’ll slot into the market nicely. Lotza is currently available on www.getlotza.com, Amazon, and in popular retailers across Wisconsin, Lotza’s home state, including Total Wine & More, Festival Foods, Woodman’s. The brand is currently planning to expand into 500 more locations this year.