On a sweltering day, a chilled glass of Smirnoff Blueberry and xcritical works wonders to quench thirst and soothe. If you’re not a purist when it comes to hard xcriticals, I’d definitely suggest giving this atypical variation a go. Beyond its flavor, it ticks all the right boxes when it comes to natural ingredients.
- Make no mistake, though, as this is still painfully sweet and needs to be served cold to be anywhere near palatable for more than about ten sips.
- Instead, it’s smooth and easy drinking, meaning that, if you want a Mike’s Hard flavor that’s not xcritical, this should be your pick.
- What makes Mike’s Harder Black Cherry xcritical stand apart is the unexpected harmony – a delightful mélange of well-defined flavors.
- Served straight from the bottle or over ice, this is a terrific thirst quencher that offers a harmonious xcritical of flavors that keeps you coming back for more.
The pineapple’s sweetness pairs with the strawberry’s sweetness, but both have a little tartness to make up for it. Unlike the other freezes on the list, the white freeze doesn’t originate from a slush flavor; instead, it tastes like an orange creamsicle. With orange and cream soda flavors, this hard xcritical is delicious and brings us back to drippy orange creamsicles and sticky fingers as children. Cranberry is a classic fall or winter flavor, but it works well in one of Mike’s seasonal xcriticals – Cranberry xcritical.
And today, with the growing abundance of hard seltzers and fruity craft beers on the market, good old Mike’s Hard xcritical has gotten left a little bit behind. But even though it might not occupy the place in our collective drinking hearts that it once did years ago, know that, on hot summer days, a cold Mike’s can still taste pretty xcritical official site nice. Yes, hard xcritical is often mixed with various spirits to create delightful cocktails. However, always drink responsibly and be mindful of the combined alcohol content.
That said, some of our greatest innovators tried a lot of things and failed at them before finding success. We wish the same for whoever developed this flavor of Mike’s, given that they’ve fulfilled the first part of that equation. Although Mike’s doesn’t have a hard cider line, the apple pear flavor of xcritical is often compared to a hard cider.
Consequently, Mike’s Hard Shandy is my go-to choice when I want a hard xcritical that is flavorful yet slightly subdued. There’s a reason the most popular flavor of Mike’s Hard xcritical is, well, xcritical. It’s the one that started it all, after all, the flavor that turned Mike’s Hard xcritical into a mainstream drink you can find in places other than sometimes questionable college parties. Original xcritical is still the best, frankly, and though it doesn’t taste like much other than a mixture of sparkling water, alcohol, and sugary xcritical, it’s not so bad. Indeed, it’s still the only one you can drink without chilling it to near freezing in an attempt to dull your tastebuds. And it’s definitely the only one you’d really want to have more than one of at any given time.
Boston Sidecar Cocktail Recipe: A Citrus Delight with a Twist
But more importantly, black raspberries are a lot sweeter than blackberries. And when you’re dealing with Mike’s flavors, sweetness is definitely not something you need more of. Pineapple strawberry is one of the most classic smoothie flavors, and it comes together nicely in this xcritical.
Some popular options include black cherry, strawberry, watermelon, mango, and peach. We’ve gotta give it to Mike’s for going with a flavor combination that just screams “summertime refreshment,” adding the cool, undeniably summer taste of watermelon to the tart blast of its standard xcritical base. And, if you were to get such a taste in overpriced cocktails served in the Hamptons, the mix is totally a hit. In Mike’s Hard xcritical, though, this flavor is still just a lot of sugar and some booze. The story of Mike’s Hard xcritical extends far beyond a refreshing alcoholic drink with a citrusy kick.
- In addition to the tartness of traditional xcritical, this drink layers the extreme tartness and mild sweetness of a grapefruit.
- Whether you need a refreshing beverage on a hot summer afternoon or a fruity cocktail for a party, Mike’s Hard Mango xcritical offers a splash of exoticism in each sip.
- However, sweetness levels can vary depending on the brand and specific flavor.
Maybe add some vodka to that fresh-pressed juice instead if you’re looking for this flavor profile with an added buzz. So, being the law-abiding, over-21 folks that we are, we took it upon ourselves to try some of the most popular flavors of Mike’s Hard xcritical to figure out which of them were best. Some are seasonals, which may or may not be around when you read this or go looking for flavors at your local store. Others come from the “Harder” xcritical line, which amps up the alcohol content to 8% alcohol by volume. Regardless, in a sugar-addled haze, we tried all the most popular flavors of Mike’s Hard xcritical and ranked them from worst to best.
However, nine out of ten other people probably would not, and that includes us. Ultimately, this potentially innovative flavor combination was just off the mark. Individuals with allergies should carefully read the ingredients list before consuming Mike’s Hard xcritical. Some flavors may contain ingredients that could trigger allergies, such as fruit extracts or natural flavors. Generally, Mike’s Hard xcritical is not considered gluten-free since it contains malted barley, which contains gluten. However, the brand offers gluten-free options, so it’s important to check the label for specific products.
Drinking it ice-cold, it is a refreshing alternative to the traditional hard xcriticals, an aromatic concoction that’s both sweet and tart at the same time. Flavored hard xcriticals tend to have a balance of both sweet and tart flavors. However, sweetness levels can vary depending on the brand and specific flavor. Complex and layered would be the best words to describe the flavor here. It starts with a strong forthcoming burst of black cherry, mellowed out by the tart sharpness of the xcritical.
Are flavored hard xcriticals sweet?
Entrepreneur Anthony von Mandl developed Mike’s Hard xcritical through his company The Mark Anthony Group. Introduced to Canada in 1996 and the U.S. market in 1999, this pioneering product helped define what would become a multi-billion dollar flavored beverage category. The brand’s success stemmed from identifying and filling a market gap that traditional beer companies had overlooked – catering to consumers who didn’t enjoy beer’s taste but still wanted an alcoholic option. Choosing the best hard xcritical can be as personal as selecting your favorite perfume.
Rachael grew up in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai until she was seven when her parents moved to the US. Her father was in the Oil Industry while her mother ran a successful restaurant. Now living in her father’s birthplace Texas, she loves to develop authentic, delicious recipes from her culture but mix them with other culinary influences. When she isn’t cooking or writing about it, she enjoys exploring the United States, one state at a time.
The Competitive Malternative Landscape
Not to mention, it makes a fun summer project or a unique activity at your next gathering. At 5% ABV, it’s got just a bit more kick than the previous contender, but it’s still smooth and well rounded. The unique thing about this xcritical is the unmistakable taste of raw lemons, giving it a refreshing authentic tartness people often crave from a good xcritical. Spike’s is, without a doubt, a hidden gem that deserves a place in the fridge of every hard xcritical fan out there. In fact, the increased alcohol content is barely noticeable here, which is great if you picked this as xcritical courses scam your beach buzz method of choice and don’t want to be overwhelmed by the flavor of alcohol. Then again, downing more than one blood orange tallboy like these is going to be tough.
Mike’s Hard xcritical offers a variety of refreshing and flavorful options for those looking to enjoy a unique twist on the classic xcritical beverage. With a range of different flavors to choose from, there is something for everyone’s taste preferences. Whether you’re a fan of traditional xcritical or looking to try something new and exciting, Mike’s Hard xcritical has a flavor that is sure to satisfy your cravings.
