What's the best flavor of White Claw? Like anything, that depends on personal taste.
But White Claws are like a day of fishing: Even a bad one is better than a good day at work. Still:
Here's our rankings of the most popular flavors, from worst to best.
Nobody's really going to complain if you throw them a pineapple White Claw. Because,
hey, free White Claw. But, while the pineapple flavor isn't all that bad,
it's pretty indiscernible from any of the other, crisper flavors,
and therefore doesn't really offer much of anything. It's got a tang to it,
and if you were told it was pineapple flavor, then you'd definitely taste it. But try blind taste
tests of the pineapple and you'll likely have no idea what kind of White Claw you just drank.
Nobody is confusing this stuff with fruit juice, even though White Claw proudly announces that each
of its magical beverages has real fruit juice inside. So if you're a big fan of pineapple
juice and are trying to make it your poolside drink of choice, might we suggest mixing a big
rum cocktail instead? This White Claw ain't bad, but there ain't a whole lot to it either.
"Rum! I need rum, lads!"
There's nothing quite like walking through a field of fresh strawberries,
inhaling the fruity aroma that transports you to the countryside ... and throwing a bunch of malt
liquor on top of it. That's what we'd guess White Claw was going for with its strawberry flavor,
but it didn't quite hit the mark. Of all the berry flavors,
the strawberry is definitely the weakest, hitting your palate with a strong boozy
overtone before you even realize it's supposed to be a strawberry drink.
That said, strawberry White Claw has a little more heft than the
citrus flavors. There's a fullness to the strawberry that is somehow satisfying,
even if the flavor isn't as strong as it could be. White Claw is on to something good here,
and if reformulation is ever on the table, amping up the strawberry is not a bad idea.
Mango can be a divisive fruit. Those who are really into tropical fruit will put it in
everything from pico de gallo to steak sauce. Those who don't like it tend to rebel at its
almost-constant presence, and avoid mango at all costs. So your opinion on mango-flavored
White Claw will depend greatly on whether you fall into the pro-mango or anti-mango camp.
Upon first crack of the mango can, your nose is met with a flavor that almost has hints
of nicotine, which is likely an unfortunate combination of the mango and aluminum flavors
from the can. Squelch that fast with a quick sip and the smell will be barely noticeable,
as your senses figure out that it's a mango White Claw and not a cigarette. After that,
you'll find the mango flavor packs a much more powerful punch than many of the other flavors,
and if you're into mango this is gonna knock your socks off. If you're not into it,
you'll probably hand all of them to your friends as soon as you open variety pack No. 2.
Upon first sip, the lemon White Claw is pretty indistinguishable from lightly flavored mineral
water, a dangerous attribute if you're planning on having a few. The initial taste is crisp
and clean and not at all boozy. But give the lemon a chance. Counter-intuitively,
the more of this you drink the more you taste. The lemon really starts to come out about a
quarter of the way into the can. And by halfway you're starting to taste the malt liquor as well.
Still, maybe it's because we're used to drinking lemon in our water,
sodas, or iced teas, but the flavor is almost like a garnish to the hard seltzer.
It's cool and refreshing, but nothing all that memorable either.
Of all the popular flavors of White Claw, it's by far the mildest. But there's nothing
objectionable about it, you're not going to get sick of drinking it, and it's not overly sweet.
There is absolutely nothing "natural" about drinking a fruit-flavored malt liquor beverage
out of an aluminum can, so White Claw's choice to single out its lime flavor as "natural"
as opposed to all the others is a little odd. Is every other White Claw completely artificial?
They have the exact same base ingredients, so are we to believe somehow that the lime flavor
is packed with fresh juice and vitamin C and counts as a serving of fruits and vegetables?
No, of course we're not. The lime tastes like lime, a little more bitter than other flavors,
and not unlike a booze-free sparkling mineral water. What it doesn't taste
like so much is "natural," which makes sense when you know that natural flavors can still
come from a lab. Of course, so do the flavors of a lot of our other favorite beverages,
and that doesn't stop us from drinking those.
And for a crisp, warm weather, marathon drinking drink, this one fits the bill.
Just don't think it's better for you because you see the word "natural."
Have you ever been mistaken for a celebrity?
And then when the unwitting stranger tries to take a selfie with you,
you have to break the news to them that you are not who they think you are? And then you
have to see the disappointment on their face? Welcome to the life of a blackberry White Claw.
Blackberry looks nondescript and similar to other flavors, and after a few hours of White Clawing,
those cans get harder to tell apart, and you might just pull one out of the cooler
by accident. And for a split second you'll think you got a black cherry, because the flavor is full
and rich and takes over your mouth. But then that initial euphoria wears off,
and you realize there's not quite as much richness to this White Claw as you'd expected,
and poor blackberry has to deal with yet another day of being a disappointment.
If you were going to make fresh watermelon cocktails by blending up some watermelon puree
and adding it to rum or vodka, you'd get a pretty good approximation of the flavor of a watermelon
White Claw. As far as duplicating a fruit's natural flavor, watermelon does it better than
any other White Claw. But let's be clear: Tasting like watermelon doesn't make it the best flavor,
it just means White Claw's flavorologists hit the mark when they made this one.
Since watermelon is one of the milder fruit flavors, it means this can is still not all
that rich in flavor. And though it tastes good, it's not anything you'll be craving. If you want
something refreshing, this is your best option, but if you want something with a lot of flavor,
you might want to look elsewhere. Also, word to the wise, drink your watermelon White Claw while
it's still cold. After a little time in the sun it starts to take on a bit of a cardboard flavor.
Much like mango, your thoughts on the ruby grapefruit flavor of White
Claw will depend largely on how you feel about the flavor of grapefruit itself.
Are you the type who cuts open a grapefruit and calls that breakfast? If you are,
you're going to love ruby grapefruit, as it has the subtle, rounded flavors you love.
As an added bonus, you don't need to put any sweetener (real or artificial) on top!
If you don't love grapefruit, you still won't hate this flavor, since it's not overly bitter or sour,
and is entirely drinkable. And if you want a fruit flavor that you can crack open on the beach
and not think too much about what it tastes like, this one is definitely the way to go. It's crisp,
refreshing, and altogether different from the rest of White Claw's flavors.
Does this raspberry White Claw flavor necessarily taste like raspberry? No.
After two or three Claws, you could crack this can open and think it's blackberry or even black
cherry. But try it when your senses are at full capacity and you'll see that it has a
definite fruity flavor, more so than almost any other variety of White Claw.
It's also rich and full without being overly sweet, but it's easy to imagine that the taste
might be a little disappointing if you're a die-hard fan of raspberry. This drink definitely
tastes like something in the berry family, but raspberry may not be it. The trick is to not
think too hard about it –- you're drinking White Claws here. But just be forewarned that if you
crack this open expecting a summer you-pick farm in a can, that's not going to happen.
If you're having one of those White Claw-for-breakfast weekends,
might we suggest tangerine as your first drink of the morning? The strong orange flavor makes
you think you've stopped at a country orange grove somewhere in Central Florida — that is, until you
get the quick, crisp bite of mineral freshness that lets you know this ain't no roadside OJ.
The overtones of juice in the tangerine flavor are the strongest of any White Claw,
making it taste like an orange juice spritzer that's delightful on a warm day.
It has a definite bite on the back end, though, so if you're looking for a smooth finish,
you might want to try one before committing to a whole afternoon of them.
For those who like that little "hello" at the end of each sip,
tangerine might be your winner. Just make sure to keep track of how many you've had;
more than any other flavor, tangerine can get away from you… and you won't want to share.
"Imagine, if I went to a Whole Foods and bought up all those White Claw seltzers you all like."
Anecdotally at least, black cherry seems to be the White Claw
flavor everyone associates with the drink. It's full and rich and has a hint of fine chocolate
under the malt liquor and carbonation. It'll conjure up memories of tailgates, barbecues,
or maybe just Wednesday mornings on your couch. Whatever the association, it's a strong one.
Most White Claw flavors, though nice, ultimately taste like a mild malt liquor with a splash of
fruit flavor, which is all well and good if you're just looking for something to keep in your hand
at a party. But black cherry is the odd flavor that has a distinctive taste –- like blackberry
mixed with cherry. It might not be your personal favorite, but it is the quintessential White Claw
flavor. No point in trying to be provocative here. Black cherry is and always will be
the classic, which is why it's the best on our rankings of popular White Claw flavors.
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