Brian Nagele
Hard seltzers reign supreme as the go-to beverage for beach picnics, poolside parties, and much more. Whether you drink them as a healthier, carb-friendly alcohol option or simply enjoy the diverse flavor options, hard seltzers are everywhere.
Bud Light is one of the newest companies to hop aboard the hard seltzer train. Since 2020, they’ve put out various delicious beverage flavors.
You may be wondering which are the best Bud Light Seltzer flavors and which ones you should consider skipping. Keep reading for my ranking of the Bud Light Seltzer flavors and see if you agree.
Cranberry
Bud Light’s Cranberry hard seltzer is truly one of the best. It’s crisp, refreshing, fruity, and tart without being overpowering or sour.
A can of cranberry goodness has:
- 100 calories
- 3 grams of carbs
- Less than 1 gram of sugar
- 5% alc/vol
These features make it easy to sip as a guilt-free treat. Its bubbly texture and sweet essence of cranberry are a perfect combination that’s pleasing to anyone who enjoys a holiday-themed beverage.
The cranberry flavor is a part of the company’s limited-edition Ugly Sweater Pack, released during the holidays. As a result, you may have a tricky time getting your hands on a can in the middle of summer.
Black Cherry
Black Cherry is one of Bud Light’s best seltzer flavors. This popular seltzer flavor is a bold, fruit-forward beverage with delicate notes of sweet and sour cherries.
Unlike some hard seltzers, Bud Light’s Black Cherry smells as good as it tastes.
Many black cherry flavors fail to encapsulate the sweet, tart flavors of the original fruit, leaving you with a sharp, chemical-smelling beverage that burns when you drink it.
However, Bud Light does an excellent job with this seltzer. They balance the zingy effervescence with a genuine fruit flavor for a crisp, refreshing drink.
I enjoy drinking this beverage by the pool or at the beach; however, it’s a year-round drink perfect for any season or activity.
Lemon-Lime
Bud Light didn’t skimp on the carbonation with their Lemon-Lime flavor, which is something I love about it.
As a fan of lemon-live soda and plain tonic water with lime, I find Bud Light’s take on the hard seltzer option to be a perfect combination of the two.
Citrus is the star of the show with this particular seltzer. It’s zesty, vibrant, and a little bitter, but in a way that makes you crave another sip.
It will remind you of lazy summer afternoons and tropical vacations. It’s also a great go-to drink for partying in the fall.
If you’re in the mood for experimenting, this seltzer makes an excellent mixer for vodka or tequila-based drink.
Mango
Bud Light’s Mango Hard Seltzer is the first of their seltzer line I tried.
It has a mild beer-like aroma and taste, which may be offputting if you aren’t a fan of light beer. However, the layers of succulent, juicy mango are what you taste once you start sipping.
Although the mango flavor isn’t my favorite of the Bud Light hard seltzers, it’s sweet and tropical enough to inspire some relaxing sighs at the end of a long, hard day.
Pair this drink with your favorite coconut rum, and you’ve got a tropical flavor sensation!
Strawberry
As a hard seltzer fan, Bud Light’s Strawberry flavor doesn’t make the top of the list for me.
I’m usually a fan of berry-flavored hard seltzers, but upon cracking open the top and taking my first sip, I was a little underwhelmed.
The sweet and juicy berry flavor I wanted is lacking in this particular flavor. It tastes as though a single strawberry sneezed in the general direction of the carbonated water but didn’t jump in for a swim.
The essence of strawberry is present, but barely.
A redeeming feature of this particular hard seltzer variety is that it makes a great mixer.
It’s also a fantastic option for people new to seltzer or who prefer a more mild flavor palette.
Classic Lime Margarita
Just the thought of a crisp lime margarita, whether frozen or over ice, makes my mouth water.
The classic cocktail is rather strong, a sweet and sour mix with delightful bursts of vibrant citrus, salt, and bittersweet tequila.
I was initially hesitant to try Bud Light’s take on this notorious drink. I worried the hard seltzer version of my favorite cocktail would be a weak, watery imitation.
However, its sweet, citrusy scent and heavy lime flavor were a perfect combo. A single sip brings to mind vacations to the beach and youthful Spring Break trips when life was simpler.
Nothing will ever beat a classic margarita, but, in a pinch, Bud Light’s Classic Lime Margarita is a tasty, low-calorie option. Check out other canned margaritas if you like this one!
Watermelon Mojito
A traditional mojito combines white rum, fresh mint, and citrus for an intoxicating blend of sweet and bitter. Adding in juice or fresh fruit only elevates the classic cocktail.
Unfortunately, the Watermelon Mojito hard seltzer doesn’t live up to the majesty of its cocktail cousin.
The mint flavor and aroma are far too overpowering, while the watermelon flavor isn’t very noticeable.
The carbonation is strong, and the flavor is consistent throughout, it just wasn’t the flavor I was hoping for.
I really wanted to love Bud Light’s Watermelon Mojito hard seltzer, but I think ultimately there are better flavors.
Mango Mai Tai
Next up on the Bud Light tropical hard seltzer list is the Mango Mai Tai.
It combines all of the elements you love about the traditional Mai Tai cocktail in a sippable, transportable can.
Bud Light’s take on the Mango Mai Tai has a light pink color and smells vaguely like fruit punch.
Although mango flavors in this beverage aren’t as prominent as the traditional Mango seltzer, the Mai Tai version is sweeter and fruitier. Like most of their seltzers, the Mango Mai Tai is:
- 100 calories per can
- Packed with flavor
- 5% ABV
From the soothing static of freshly popping seltzer bubbles to the sweet taste of the tropics, it’s safe to say the Mango Mai Tai is one of the best Bud Light seltzer flavors.
Strawberry Daiquiri
A traditional daiquiri contains rum, juice, and sugar poured in a tall glass over ice.
Depending on your bartender and the quality of alcohol at their disposal, some daiquiris are sweet enough to rot the teeth straight out of your skull. Which, if you like sweet cocktails, isn’t a bad thing!
Bud Light’s Strawberry Daiquiri hard seltzer is a member of their “Out of Office” limited edition box.
This vacation-themed collection celebrates the sweet and tropical flavor combinations enjoyed during the hot summer months.
The Strawberry Daiquiri hard seltzer is an explosion of pink and wild berries. It’s on the sweeter side of their seltzers and made with stevia.
Although it can’t replace an expertly made daiquiri, Bud Light’s hard seltzer version of the tropical concoction is sure to please.
Wild Berry Platinum
Bud Light Platinum differs from classic Bud Light in flavor.
I was intrigued when I found out Bud Light also makes a platinum version of their hard seltzers.
To put it mildly, the Wild Berry Platinum is a wild ride. The drink is a strong concoction of mixed berries, both in flavor and aroma.
There are notes of sweet and sour alongside a perfect level of carbonation. I’m continually surprised by the complexities in this elevated hard seltzer variety.
At 8% ABV, the Wild Berry Platinum is significantly stronger than traditional Bud Light hard seltzers. It also has 170 calories and 5 grams of carbs.
This increase didn’t bother me, but if you enjoy hard seltzers for their low-cal, low-carb features, Wild Berry Platinum may not be for you.
Citrus Platinum
If you aren’t a fan of berry flavors but are curious about the Platinum hard seltzers, I recommend trying the Citrus Platinum.
Like its Wild Berry companion, the seltzer packs a stronger punch at 8% ABV. It’s a delightfully refreshing beverage that combines all of your favorite citrus fruits and packs them into a single Bud Light can.
It has sour notes from lemon and lime, a bitter grapefruit tang, and a vibrant sweetness from the orange.
Initially, the drink smells overwhelmingly like lime juice. As you drink it, the other layers of citrus fruit come to the forefront.
Overall, I consider the Citrus Platinum one of the best Bud Light seltzer flavors.
Apple Crisp
Apple Crisp is another limited edition hard seltzer from Bud Light’s Ugly Sweater pack. Next to Cranberry, this is my favorite of the Ugly Sweater pack varieties.
Bud Light’s Apple Crisp hard seltzer tastes like a spiked cider with the barest hint of baking spices.
It’s crisp and refreshing while simultaneously remaining warm and comforting.
Drinking this hard seltzer makes me think of trimming Christmas trees and sitting in a horse-drawn sleigh through a snow field.
I love adding a dash of cinnamon to this seltzer to enhance the Christmasy flavors.
Ginger Snap
The Ginger Snap hard seltzer is an ode to the sweet and spicy cookie.
In my opinion, Bud Light succeeds in making this beverage smell and taste like a yummy holiday dessert, but I don’t enjoy those flavors in such a cold beverage.
There are warm notes of ginger, molasses, and spices, like nutmeg and cinnamon.
The separate flavors mix in your mouth, creating a boozy holiday treat you may consider leaving out for Santa to try.
This seltzer tastes like it should be loaded with calories, but it’s as low-calorie as the rest of Bud Light’s range. This is certainly not my favorite – some flavors aren’t meant for seltzer.
Peppermint Pattie
Unfortunately, the final Ugly Sweater pack occupant is less than impressive.
It mixes two of the most delicious wintery ingredients: peppermint and chocolate. But the flavor isn’t quite right.
If you’ve ever dreamt of drinking Vick’s Vapor Rub after enjoying a Tootsie Roll, you might very well enjoy this flavor.
This seltzer flavor might not be so bad if it was solely one or the other. But the weak, watery essence of low-quality chocolate thrown in the mix with peppermint is unbalanced and off-putting.
I didn’t think the carbonation played well with the aroma of peppermint either.
