Ben Stiller’s Soda Is Finally Here and We Tried All Three Flavors

Ben Stiller has already given us so much. Where would we be without this image imprinted on the American cultural consciousness? (I also highly recommend seeking out this Ben Stiller-David O. Russell banger from 1996 that might have snuck past you while you were busy being in elementary school or whatever.) But his latest project isn’t a show or a movie (alas, I’m still holding out for a Cable Guy sequel), it’s…a carbonated beverage. Yep, Stiller’s Soda is finally hitting stores (Target stores, to be precise).

Stiller’s Soda calls itself “the World’s Refreshing-est Soda” and every can promises “30 calories, no fake stuff,” and only 7g sugar. So how is it low cal and low sugar without “fake stuff”? It’s sweetened with organic cane sugar (the second ingredient listed after water), and also monk fruit extract and stevia leaf extract (sigh—more on that sigh down below). While, I still think they should have called it “Stiller Sparkling” (a punny take on the question “Still or sparkling water?” at restaurants), I set those misgivings aside and tried new Stiller’s Soda in three flavors: Lemon Lime, Root Beer, and Shirley Temple. Here’s what we think.

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Stiller’s Soda Lemon Lime

Stiller’s Soda

Pros: This is my least favorite of the Stiller’s Soda flavors, but it isn’t terrible. Since it’s made with all-natural ingredients, it tastes more like lemon juice concentrate than it tastes like the crispy, punchy lemon lime sodas you know and love. BUT we like that you can definitely detect both lemon and lime flavor in there if you’re determined to.

Cons: Stevia-sweetened drinks have a tendency to linger on the palate. A lot of people must not mind that because brands keep releasing stevia-sweetened drinks. But because of the stevia and the natural lemon juice flavor, it reminds me more of a prebiotic soda than a full-sugar soda (although the lemon lime flavor definitely outdoes Olipop). 

Rating:

5/10

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Stiller’s Soda Root Beer

Stiller’s Soda

Pros: This is pretty good root beer. It has a very creamy finish. In fact, there’s enough vanilla flavor in here, I’d say it’s almost like a root beer-cream soda hybrid. Lovely! 

Cons: The stevia aftertaste is definitely less noticeable in a soda with a more assertive flavor profile, but there are so many really great diet root beers out there (we’re partial to Hank’s), the only reason to pick this over one of those is if you’re strictly avoiding aspartame. 

Rating:

6.5/10

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Stiller’s Soda Shirley Temple

Stiller’s Soda

Pros: This is my personal favorite Stiller’s Soda flavor. As I said in another recent review of a Shirley Temple soda, the powerful sweetness of stevia actually kinda works in this application because Shirley Temples are so sweet as it is. It has a really tart pomegranate flavor that’s nice and refreshing, although it definitely overpowers the lemon lime soda base.

Cons: Stevia. I’ll leave it at that!

Rating:

8/10

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