8 New Flavors in Packaged Beverages

CHICAGO — Fruity and exotic profiles, carbonated effervescence, energy, functionality and indulgence—these are a few of the overarching formulation traits that personify recent non-alcoholic beverage arrivals within convenience-store cold vaults.

Click ahead for a snapshot of eight new releases ...

Ghost Energy, St. Louis, adds to Anheuser-Busch’s push into a nonalcohol beverage portfolio. First tested in six markets in 2021, Anheuser-Busch launched the drinks cobranded with Sour Patch, WarHeads and other familiar candy brands, available in eight flavors: Sour Green Apple, Swedish Fish, Citrus, Orange Cream, Tropical Mango, Sour Watermelon, Redberry and Blue Raspberry.

Offering antioxidants to support immune function​, Naked Juice, Monrovia, Calif., debuted Naked Antioxidants Mighty Berry, rich in antioxidants and formulated with vitamin A, C and E. Containing no added sugar or preservatives, Naked Antioxidants Mighty Berry blends fruits, available in 15.2-ounce bottles for an SRP of $3.29.

Jones Soda, Seattle, offers two seasonal flavors in Sugar Cookie Soda along with a revival of Jones Turkey & Gravy Soda. The sweet and savory holiday combination is part of Jones’ Special Release program that offers a rotating series of limited-edition sodas.

California’s original cannabis beverage CQ, part of VCC Brands, Venice, Calif., is a line of carbonated spritzer drinks featuring such flavors as Blackberry Lemon Lime, Mandarin Dream, Pear Vanilla Cardamom and Watermelon Cucumber. Spritzers are CQ’s first foray into 5-milligram, single-serve cans. CQ is vegan, sweetened with cane sugar and real fruit juice and contains no artificial colors, gluten or GMO ingredients.

The newest seasonal release of Aprch CBD sparkling water, Portland, Ore., is a limited-edition Peppermint flavor. The release follows the launch of Fruit Punch, Vol. 2 of Aprch’s Artist Series featuring the artwork of Jess Mudgett. Aprch CBD sparkling water is made with broad spectrum hemp extract and zero sugar, calories or caffeine. Peppermint is available for an SRP of $12.99 per 4-pack.

Three flavors recently joined the 5-hour Energy, a Living Essentials brand, Farmington Hills, Mich., lineup in OrangeSicle, Pineapple Splash and Tropical Burst—doubling the number of energy drink flavors in the portfolio. Each 16-ounce beverage contains a sugar-free blend of vitamins, nutrients and 230-milligrams of caffeine. OrangeSicle combines orange and vanilla; Pineapple Splash features pineapple and coconut; and Tropical Burst includes pineapple and apricot.

Featuring three distinct flavors packed into individual 7.5-ounce mini cans, the new S'mores Collection from Pepsi, Purchase, N.Y., includes: Toasty Marshmallow (toasted marshmallow base); Graham Cracker (infused with notes of honey and cinnamon); and Chocolate (notes of cocoa with slight hints of vanilla).

The Red Bull Winter Edition Fig Apple flavor, an LTO, featured notes of apple, fig and caramel. Products from the Santa Monica, Calif.-based brand were available in 8.4-ounce single-serve formats and 4-packs, as well as 12-ounce matte cans.