6 Best Sodas I’ve Tasted So Far This Year

When we aren’t eating hamburgers in our cars or skulking around our local grocery store’s frozen aisle, you can rest assured that we’re taste testing sodas, new and old. Seriously, the work fridge doesn’t contain a single bottle of water, but it overflows with cans of soda. It’s our own little slice of heaven on earth for fans of carbonation and high fructose corn syrup. Here are some of the best sodas we’ve tried so far this year.

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Nichol Kola

Most people are going to be resistant to what I’m about to say, but I need you to trust me (a professional food taste tester): This glass-bottled, old-timey-looking craft cola tastes better than Coke. In fact, my colleague Justine described it as a “Cokier Coke”—it just has so much flavor. If you happen to have a craft soda store in your neck of the woods, keep an eye out for this stuff.

Read our ranking of the best colas

Mountain Dew Supernova

Our neighbors to the north have universal healthcare (ugh, no fair) and they also have a new version of an old Mountain Dew flavor we love: Supernova. It’s strawberry-melon flavored and even though it lacks the original’s ginseng kick on the finish, it’s really good. If you happen to have a Canadian friend, ask them to send you a bottle or two.

Read the full review of Mountain Dew Supernova

Fanta Crimson Sour Cherry

Black cherry sodas are a dime a dozen, but this new Fanta flavor is classic red cherry—like, bright-red Kool-Aid flavor. And it’s tart without being sour enough to make you thirsty all over again.

Read the full review of Fanta Crimson Sour Cherry

Sprite Chill Mango Citrus

Sprite Chill has consistently impressed us. The lemon-lime soda with the cooling sensation has come out in a handful of varieties (Cherry-Lime was another banger), and this Walmart exclusive flavor earned high praise from critic Tyler Bowers. We love the way the mango flavor blends with the lemon-lime soda itself.

Read the full review of Sprite Chill Mango Citrus

Coca-Cola Cherry Float

Okay, we’ll admit that this dessert-y Coke tastes a lot like regular ol’ Cherry Coke, but Cherry Coke is one of the best sodas on the planet. And you can definitely taste the creaminess if you put your mind to it.

Read the full review of Coca-Cola Cherry Float

Dirty Mountain Dew

Frankly, it took waaaay too long for Mountain Dew to make a soda that’s infused with the rich, creamy flavor of cream soda. Thanks to the dirty soda trend, we now know this works (like, really well).

Read the full review of Dirty Mountain Dew

About the Author

Howdy! I’m Gwynedd, Sporked’s managing editor. I live in Los Angeles and have access to the best tacos the U.S. has to offer—but I’m a sucker for a crunchy Old El Paso taco night every now and then. I’ve been at Sporked since 2022 and I’m still searching frozen mozzarella sticks that can hold a candle to restaurant sticks. Why you should trust me: I’ve been a journalist for 20 years (yikes), a consumer of food for 40-plus years, and I’m truly hard pressed to think of foods I don’t like (or that I can’t tolerate at the very least). Oh and one time I cooked my way through Guy Fieri’s cookbook and wrote about the journey through Flavortown. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s Original Savory Thins. Fat free plain yogurt (usually Fage or Nancy’s). Honeycrisp apples. Sweet cream coffee creamer for my at-home Americanos. A frozen cauliflower crust pizza and some jarred mushrooms to top it with. Old El Paso Stand ‘N Stuff taco shells and Gardein Ground Be’f, even though I think “be’f” is a nightmarish contraction. Favorite ranking: Stouffer’s frozen dinners. I don’t own a microwave (I get my cancers the old fashioned way!), so I love taste testing things that I don’t really buy to eat at home. Least favorite ranking: Soy sauce. Don’t get me wrong, I love soy sauce—but consuming that much sodium in one sitting is probably illegal in some countries. Our frozen enchilada taste test was a close second; the smell of microwaved corn tortillas still haunts me.