Credit: Liv Averett / Kroger
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If you haven’t checked in with them lately, Smirnoff Ice makes way more than lemonade-y malt beverages these days. I have a lot of close personal experience, having tried pretty much all of of the Smirnoff Ice flavors—16, to be precise. And they’re continuing to expand their boozy repertoire with a new variety pack of vacation-inspired flavors called Smirnoff Ice Icy Island.
As Sporked’s resident Smirnoff Ice expert, I tasted all four Smirnoff Ice flavors in the new variety pack. I did it by myself in my home while my children and husband were sleeping. I’m pretty sure that’s not how these bevvies are meant to be consumed, but my party boat is in the shop and my sorority is across the country, so what else was I supposed to do?
Here’s my full, honest review of all four flavors in the new Smirnoff Ice Icy Island variety pack.
- Smirnoff Ice Smirnoff Ice Paradise Punch
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Pros: It’s definitely fruit punch in that nostalgic way. It’s cherry forward (it’s described as a blend of cherry, orange, and citrus) and reminiscent of Kool-Aid—but fizzy. If you’ve ever been on some vacation activity where they handed out free cups of spiked punch, this will taste familiar.
Cons: It’s very, very sweet with a super concentrated flavor. You’re definitely not going to want to pound these suckers. This is a one and done, then move on to the White Claw or High Noon portion of the day.
- Smirnoff Ice Watermelon Wave
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Pros: On the can, this flavor is described as watermelon and blueberry. Now that’s a pairing you don’t see every day. Kudos to Smirnoff Ice for trying something new!
Cons: I think this is the weakest flavor out of the pack. It tastes more like cucumber than it does watermelon (they’re related, I know, so it makes sense but it’s still weird). And there’s a tang to it that you don’t usually expect from watermelon, so perhaps that’s the blueberry. It all comes together to have a sort of gum-like flavor that I just don’t love.
- Smirnoff Ice Strawberry Sunset
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Pros: This is the most classic Smirnoff Ice flavor out of this variety pack. It tastes like strawberry lemonade—light on the strawberry. It’s tart and sweet and spritzy. It’s a traditional Smirnoff Ice with a hint of strawberry thrown into the mix. If you’re nervous about new Smirnoff Ice flavors for whatever reason, try this one first. It will ease you into the experience.
Cons: It’s kinda boring compared to the other flavors.
- Smirnoff Ice Tropical Tiki
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Pros: Described as a mix of pineapple, mango, and orange, the flavor of this tiki-inspired Smirnoff Ice is surprisingly more subtle than the other flavors. It leans into the pineapple flavor and the tanginess of the fruit, rather than pure sweetness. If presented with an icy tub of these cans, I’d grab this flavor first.
Cons: This is quibbling, but it definitely doesn’t taste authentically “tiki” in any way. It’s also still pretty darn sweet. But these are Smirnoff Ices we’re talking about. Of course it’s sweet.
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About the Author
Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients.
Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it.
What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now).
Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test!
Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.
Justine Sterling
Ariana Losch
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!