Before we get into the ranking, let me just address the pedants in the room. From one wine snob to another, let’s just acknowledge that most of the bottles on this list aren’t technically Champagne—they’re not from the Champagne region in France. Most are American sparkling wine. There’s also some Spanish Cava and Italian Prosecco. But most non-snobs just call all sparkling wine Champagne. So let’s just be chill, okay?

With that out of the way, let’s get to the ranking. Whether you’re looking for the best cheap Champagne for Mimosas, the best tasting cheap Champagne for a toast, or the best cheap sparkling rosé, here’s all the best cheap sparkling wine under $25. 

The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.

Best for Mimosas

Andre Brut

Total Wine

If you’re like me, you remember Andre as the super cheap sparkling wine that you bought by the caseload in college for “fancy” parties. It was usually chugged, not sipped, directly from the bottle. So I was a bit skeptical of our friend Andre. But, honestly, it’s pretty decent—especially when it comes to mixing it with juice. It’s fizzy, fruity (lemony and apple-y), and just a touch sweet. And it’s less than $6 a bottle. And that all makes it the best grocery store Champagne for Mimosas.

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

6/10

Sporks

Best Prosecco

Kirkland Signature Asolo Prosecco

Instacart

Costco is one of the best places to go for the best cheap sparkling wine. We’ll get to the real winner in a few entries, but Costco’s Kirkland Prosecco is a worthwhile buy, as well. It smells like nectarines and apricots. And those flavors follow through on the palate, too. It’s super bright and fruity and very, very gulpable. I wish there was a little more fizz, but if you don’t love the toastiness of a traditional Champagne, then Kirkland Prosecco is some of the best grocery store sparkling wine around.

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

7/10

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Best Host Gift

Chandon Brut Rose

Total Wine

If you love dry rosé, then give Chandon a go. It’s toasty and extremely dry (we’re talking not sweet at all). And the teeny, tiny bubbles really tickle your nose. It’s one of the best cheap Champagnes to pair with food (yes, I know, it’s from Napa, it’s not Champagne, I told you to chill out). Break it out with a lemony salad or a cheeseboard. Or give it as a gift. It looks expensive even though it costs less than $20.

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

7.5/10

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Best Cava

Freixenet Cava

Instacart

Freixenet is a supermarket staple for a reason. It’s tart. It’s lemony. Every glass effervesces with lots of little pin prick bubbles. It doesn’t have the toastiness of Champagne because it’s not Champagne. It’s Cava. And it’s some of the best cheap sparkling wine you can find pretty darn much anywhere. If you want something a little bit shmancier than Andre, this crisp bottle is the other best cheap sparkling wine for Mimosas or Bellinis.

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

8/10

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Best Sparkling Rosé

Josh Prosecco Rose

Total Wine

This sparkling rosé from winery-turned-meme-turned-celebrated-grocery-store-wine Josh is packed with lots of red fruit flavors. It tastes like a classic sparkling rosé—great for sipping on its own or pairing with food. I am picturing a bottle with sushi or a picnic or a sushi picnic.

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

8.5/10

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Best French Champagne

Kirkland Champagne Brut

Instacart

Yep, the second best cheap Champagne is actually from France—and it’s available at Costco. It’s just over $25 (I know, cheating) but it’s worth the splurge. It tastes like a classic, real Champagne. It has that toasty, lemony quality. It’s creamy. It’s effervescent. Serve this with some cheap caviar on New Year’s Eve (or a Wednesday). But don’t try to use it in a cocktail like a French 75—it’s too delicate to handle such bold flavors. Appreciate it on its own as some of the best supermarket Champagne.

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

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Best of the Best

Gruet Brut

Total Wine

Who would have thought that the best cheap Champagne actually comes from New Mexico. Made in the style of Champagne (aka methode Champagnoise), it has a complex aroma of sage and grape must. It tastes super fruity—lots of nectarines and apples—and then finishes crisp and rich. It tastes aged. And it’s just over $15 a bottle. That’s wild. This isn’t just good grocery store champagne, it’s some of the best tasting cheap Champagne around, so stock up.

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

10/10

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Other cheap Champagne we tried: Mumm Sparkling, Trader Joe’s Brut North Coast Sparkling Wine, Trader Joe’s Brut Rose North Coast Sparkling Wine, Ruffino Lumina Prosecco, Lamarca Prosecco, Chandon Brut, Winemakers Selection, Martini & Rossi, Kirkland Prosecco Rose, Korbel Brut, Cupcake Sparkling Rose, Cook’s Brut

The post Best Cheap Champagne from the Grocery Store appeared first on Sporked.

New Slurpee Flavor!

Mountain Dew Blue Shock Slurpee

Pros: This quite literally tastes like the original Mountain Dew—but blue. You know what I mean. There’s a sort of generalized “blue” flavor that folks think of when they think of a generic blue raspberry flavored Icee or treat. This tastes like a perfect blend of that blue flavor mixed with original Mountain Dew. And I mean that in the best way possible. It is fantastic. I think it does a great job at differentiating itself from Voltage, because you don’t get notes of classic Dew from Voltage like you do here.

Cons: Mountain Dew is known for their wacky and crazy innovative flavors, but if you’re looking for one of those, you won’t find it here. My only other critique is the same complaint that I have regarding all frozen drinks, which is that it melts too fast and the taste diminishes significantly when it starts to melt. But I am fully willing to accept that as a user error.

Credit: Liv Averett / 7-Eleven

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

The post We Tried the Mountain Dew Blue Shock Slurpee appeared first on Sporked.

Mountain Dew Baja Blast (Honorable Mention)

While it didn’t feel right to include this in the ranking overall, I had to throw Baja Blast into the mix as it did drop permanently this year as part of its 20th anniversary celebration. Baja Blast is undeniably one of the greatest Dews of all time. Our sources tell us that it is singlehandedly the best selling flavor of Mountain Dew other than Original, and I can’t say that I am surprised. There is just something special about the tropical flavor you get when you crack open a Baja Blast. I can’t say that I have ever had a drink that is anything like it. It’s absolutely unique and its place on the permanent lineup is totally earned.

Mountain Dew Freedom Fusion

I’ll admit, the initial wave of excitement you get when you try a new flavor has worn off for the patriotic trio and I’m going to be a little harder on Freedom Fusion than when I initially tried it. Unlike my initial review, I now get a lot more of the lemonade flavor than I did when I first tasted this peach-lemonade Mountain Dew flavor. I think that makes it a little bit less desirable. While I think the flavor worked well as a Slurpee, I’m loving this one as much as I did initially.

Should it come back? I’d love to see the Freedom Fusion Slurpee make a return to 7-Eleven and Speedway. But as Pepsi cut the planned 2025 return for Freedom Fusion, I wouldn’t expect to see it any time soon.

Mountain Dew Infinite Swirl

While 7-Eleven Exclusive Infinite Swirl and its pineapple berry flavor are quite pleasant, I think the pineapple shines better in Baja Point Break Punch and I think the berry shines more in Star Spangled Splash. Pretty good, but other flavors got it done a little bit better.

Should it come back? As of now, Infinite Swirl is still an exclusive Mountain Dew flavor at 7-Eleven and Speedway, so you still have an opportunity to grab it.

Mountain Dew Baja Point Break Punch

Baja Point Break Punch is Baja Blast spinoffs of all time. It’s got a really great classic fruit punch flavor to it, combining the flavors of raspberries and pineapple really well. That said, when compared to all of the other 2024 flavors of Mountain Dew, I can’t say that it stands out.

Should it come back? I think part of the charm of the Baja spinoffs is that Mountain Dew tries something new every year. Although I like this flavor, I’d rather see what’s next rather than this one again. (I’m personally hoping for a Tiger’s Blood Icee-inspired Baja Blast spinof—watermelon, strawberry, and coconut, for those not familiar.)

Mountain Dew Liberty Chill

While I love the Krabby Patty gummy-like flavor that the patriotic Dew presents, I don’t love that it promises 50 flavors in one Dew when it is definitely only one. That said, I’d definitely pick it up again.

Should it come back? Maybe in a few years, but I don’t think it needs to come back any time soon (and Pepsi seemingly agrees, having cancelled the planned 2025 release).

Mountain Dew Game Fuel Citrus Blackberry

I was disappointed that this ended up being raspberry blackberry instead of the purely blackberry flavor we’d initially heard we were going to get. While I certainly don’t dislike Game Fuel Citrus Blackberry and will happily drink it while it’s on shelves, it is very raspberry forward and reminds me much of Mountain Dew Spark.

Should it come back? I’d love to see a pure Blackberry Game Fuel. But as for Citrus Blackberry? I think it can stay in 2024.

Mountain Dew Baja Laguna Lemonade

If you’re not a mango fan, this Baja Blast spinoff definitely wasn’t for you as it was almost entirely mango. But I am a mango man, so I’m letting my bias show here. Laguna Lemonade was fantastic. To date, it is my favorite Baja spinoff of all time!

Should it come back? Baja spinoffs are sort of like VooDEW—they’re new every year, and I think repeating a flavor would take away from the fun of it. Laguna Lemonade was an absolute treat and I hope that next year’s Cabo Citrus tops it and stuns me once again!

Mountain Dew VooDEW 6.0

We were big fans of both the soda and Froster versions of the 2024 VooDEW. Sipping this VooDEW soda still gives me an incredible strawberry experience, which I think beats out every other VooDEW flavor (except for, perhaps, 2020’s Fruit Candy Explosion VooDEW aka Skittles).

Should it come back? By nature, it doesn’t really make sense for Mountain Dew to re-DEW a VooDEW flavor (particularly since VooDEW is not even getting a release in 2025). Will I miss it though? Absolutely.

Mountain Dew Star Spangled Splash

It pains me to my core that the 2025 release of Star Spangled Splash was cancelled. I originally spoke highly of Star Spangled Splash, and I am still just as hooked on it. The natural strawberry flavor combined with the hint of raspberry makes for the absolute perfect summer flavor. It’s easily the best patriotic DEW I have ever had. This is my favorite Mountain Dew release in the last decade that is not named Pitch Black or Citrus Cherry Game Fuel.

Should it come back? While it isn’t coming back in 2025, here’s hoping it returns one day. I would love to see it be made into a Slurpee a la Freedom Fusion at 7-Eleven.

Mountain Dew Game Fuel Citrus Cherry

Game Fuel Citrus Cherry has been in my personal top three best Mountain Dew flavors of all time basically since I first tasted it. That combination of cherry and citrus fuels you while you’re gaming (whether or not you’re actually playing World of Warcraft), and it leaves you wanting more. Though it’s a close fight between Citrus Cherry and Star Spangled Splash, Citrus Cherry is the best Mountain Dew flavor released in 2024.

Should it come back? It should come back and it will be back in 2025! Our sources have indicated that Game Fuel is likely to be back to the annual release status it had previously.

The post Every 2024 Mountain Dew Flavor, Ranked appeared first on Sporked.

Our Dream Stocking Stuffer: Yellowbird Hot Sauce Set of 4 Minis

Hot sauce is a classic stocking stuffer, but this four-pack of minis is even more fun than that bottle of Grandpappy’s Colon Destroyer you found when you did your holiday shopping at the gas station near your parents’ house. In addition to coming in adorable little squeeze bottles that look like they would contain paints, Yellowbird hot sauces are delicious. They’re so delicious, in fact, that two of them made our ranking of the best hot sauces. You get one of those—habanero—along with three other flavors, serrano, sriracha, and ghost pepper. If you’re shopping for someone who thinks heat is the spice of life, this is a perfect stocking stuffer. —Gwynedd Stuart

Our Dream Subscription Box: Tinned Fish Club

You don’t just get tinned fish with this subscription box. Every shipment comes with three cans of seafood from around the world (including many Sporked-approved brands) as well as curated condiments or snacks meant to pair with said seafood. It’s a seacuterie board in a box! They’ll also send recipe ideas, information about each tin, and really adorable teeny-tiny wooden forks. I received a few months of this subscription box as a gift from my very smart and perfect husband, and I was very sad when it ended. Again, please! —Justine Sterling

Our Dream Bougie Food Gift: Rustichella d’Abruzzo Egg Pappardelle

A month ago, I had the pleasure of attending Rustichella d’Abruzzo’s 100-Year Celebration, where I listened to the family behind this artisanal Italian pasta company relay their history and ate some of the best dishes of my life. (I still dream about that baked cannelloni). I won’t be dramatic and say Rustichella d’Abruzzo has ruined regular store-bought pasta for me forever (I simply love pasta too much for that to be the case), but I do actively budget to stock up on their products when I can. Their egg pappardelle is rich and velvety, with a hint of savory flavor that pairs beautifully with heavier sauces—personally, I can eat this with just butter, salt, and a spritz of lemon, and it’s still one of the best meals in my kitchen. Egg Pappardelle is my pasta pick from their plethora of options; but if you’re gifting to a pasta lover this year, shop around, see what noodles make your heart canoodle. Squid ink spaghetti? Pumpkin Torchio? I swear, it’s all incredible. —Ariana Losch

Our Dream Kitchen Appliance: Rocco Super Smart Fridge

Listen. I know buying a $1,500 beverage fridge seems demented, but, A., This is a list of our dream gifts, so let us dream, dammit, and B., This is so much more than a mini fridge. It’s quiet. It’s sleek. It’s beautiful enough to double as a piece of furniture in your living room or bar. It has slide-out shelves that hold a variety of drinks so your friends don’t have to rifle through your dusty leftovers to find something to drink. You can even control the temp from your phone. If you take soda (or seltzer or wine or mocktails) seriously, this is such a cool thing to own. —Gwynedd Stuart

The post Here’s What the Sporked Editors Want for Christmas This Year appeared first on Sporked.

This isn’t a ranking of all the Powerade flavors known to man, but it’s all the Powerade flavors I could find by my deadline. Missing from this lineup are this past summer’s three Sour Powerade flavors, as well as Melon and Strawberry Smash Zero. We’ll keep an eye out for these Powerade flavors and hopefully add them in alongside the new XTRA Sour Powerade flavors coming in 2025. 

Before we get into the ranking, I do want to include one honorable mention: Powerade Jungle Juice. It isn’t a real flavor, but I had to know what one tablespoon from all 11 Powerade flavors mixed together would taste like. It is good. Like, “Powerade needs to sell this” good. Powerade scientists, go try this yourself and give me credit for the millions of dollars it’ll make next year. 

Okay, now onto ranking the Powerade flavors (Powerade Zero flavors, included).

The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.

Grape

Powerade Grape

Walmart

I didn’t have high hopes for this Powerade flavor, but good lord—it’s awful. Some people have great nostalgia for Children’s Dimetapp; I’m not one of those people. I’ll stir table salt into tap water before buying another bottle of this.

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

1/10

Sporks

Grape Zero

Powerade Zero Grape

Walmart

In what would turn out to be a trend, I actually liked the Powerade Grape Zero variant slightly more than the full sugar version. A spoonful of sugar doesn’t always help the medicine go down any better. That said, this is still hyper-artificial concord grape flavoring at its worst.

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

1.5/10

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Orange

Powerade Orange

Amazon

How is Powerade whiffing what should be the easiest flavors? Orange is as standard as they get, but this is just watered down Sunny D. The aroma right is promising, but the flavor does not deliver in the slightest.

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

3/10

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Orange Zero

Powerade Zero Orange

Walmart

Again, this Powerade Zero flavor is better than the full sugar version. It actually tastes what it smells like! Sure, it both smells and tastes like a cup of store-brand orange Jell-O, but at least it’s consistent.

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

3.5/10

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Lemon Lime

Powerade Lemon Lime

Amazon

If you’ve ever smelled Lemon Pledge, you know exactly what my nose went through when I opened this Powerade flavor. That said, the flavor was pleasantly mellow compared to the abrasive aroma. This was also surprisingly heavy on the lime flavor for a lemon lime drink, which is a rarity. (That said, it’s nothing compared to my beloved Pocari Sweat.)

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

5/10

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Mixed Berry Zero

Powerade Zero Mixed Berry

Walmart

While the full sugar Mixed Berry Powerade easily places in the top three best Powerade flavors, this zero-sugar zero-calorie version didn’t impress me nearly as much. The flavor-to-sodium ratio is more unbalanced in this than any of the other flavors of Powerade Zero. That said, the berry flavor and sweetness is still strong enough to put this in the upper half of the many, many Powerades I’ve guzzled this month.

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

5.5/10

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Fruit Punch

Powerade Fruit Punch

Walmart

This is the first Powerade flavor I’d actually consider to be “good!” If my beloved Gatorade Glacier Cherry is out of stock, this has just barely made it onto my reserve bench of full-sugar hydration drinks. Sure, it’s just lightly-salted Hawaiian Punch, but sometimes that’s all you can ask for.

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

7/10

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Fruit Punch Zero

Powerade Zero Fruit Punch

Walmart

This Powerade Zero is definitely sweeter tasting than the full-sugar version, but it’s also the most balanced of the Powerade Zero flavors with the extra salt. (Did I mention every single one of these bottles is bragging about having 50% more electrolytes than “the leading sports drink?”) I went back and forth between this and the full-sugar version trying to decide which I liked better; they’re truly equal. Follow your heart (or your diet) when choosing between the two.

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

7/10

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Strawberry Lemonade

Powerade Strawberry Lemonade

Walmart

On the tartness scale of lemonade to pink lemonade, this Powerade flavor is comfortably in the middle. The strawberry flavor is so “real” that it actually tastes unripe somehow. Not in a bad way; it’s just interesting that they went so far away from a more “candy” strawberry flavor. This is one of the two newest Powerade flavors; I hope this marks a trend for the brand moving forward.

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

7.5/10

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Mountain Berry Blast

Powerade Mountain Berry Blast

Walmart

This is the first Powerade flavor that I could honestly confuse with a Gatorade. This is nearly on par with the best of the blue Gatorades, and would fit right in with the lesser blues. It has a great berry flavor with a powerful sweetness that makes you forget this is supposed to be even close to good for you. (This feels like a good time to mention that anything on this list scoring seven and above is easily worth your time; these final placements just came down to personal bias towards certain kinds of flavors.)

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

8/10

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Island Burst

Powerade Island Burst

Instacart

Here we are at the top of the mountain. Ten Powerade flavors down, we meet our last flavor standing: Island Burst. It’s a little funny that the best Powerade flavor is also the one that sounds most like an obscure Gatorade flavor. And, true to form, the only flavor this bottle claims is “Tropical Punch.” Pineapple, guava, mango, kiwi—whatever flavors are actually in this, the mix is fantastic. This is another new Powerade flavor; I can’t wait to try whatever they think is gonna top it.

Credit: Merc / Intacart

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

The post 11 Powerade Flavors, Ranked from Worst to Best appeared first on Sporked.

These aren’t the seven rarest flavors per say; I’m keeping this list relatively recent to help pare down the giant list of options. (An article exclusively covering flavors like the ~40-year-old Mountain Dew Aurora from Japan wouldn’t be hugely relevant to our modern sensibilities.) Some of these are still on shelves, and the rest pop up on eBay or other specialty sites from time to time. Of course, I can’t recommend you drink expired soda, but most of these are available online if you know where to look.

Mountain Dew Maui Burst

I get asked my favorite flavors of soda pretty frequently (can’t imagine why), and I get a lot of confused looks when I mention this one. Maui Burst is a Dollar General exclusive flavor of Mountain Dew—and a very good one at that. Lucky for everyone, it is still being produced! This pineapple-flavored Dew has been available consistently since October 2019; you can find it in bottles and cans at your nearest DG.

Mountain Dew HoneyDEW

This is the only foreign release I’ll be covering on this list, but there’s a technicality: People did find this soda mistakenly stocked on American shelves right next to the Canadian border. While this honeydew-flavored Dew was initially planned for release in both the States and Canada back in 2023, it ended up sold exclusively to our upstairs neighbors. According to our own Tyler Bowers, this will be returning to Canada permanently starting in 2025. I hope to have it again someday—without having to smuggle it across a border.

Mountain Dew Uproar

Mountain Dew Uproar was sold exclusively at Food Lion grocery stores (Get it? Lion? Roar?) from late 2021 to mid-2023. Speaking of smuggling soda across borders, I ended up bringing quite a few 2-liters of this strawberry kiwi Dew back from Virginia Beach a few years ago. Great name, but you didn’t miss much if you never tried it.

Mountain Dew Supernova

Tyler “#BringBackSupernova” Bowers would never speak to me again if I left this off the list. Mountain Dew Supernova was a strawberry-melon Dew last seen on U.S. shelves in 2011. I’ve never tried it, but it’s popped up in Canada multiple times since the last stateside release—most recently in 2023 as a Slurpee.

Mountain Dew Dewshine

Oh man, I really miss Dewshine. This clear citrus-flavored Dew was made with real sugar and sold exclusively in glass bottles and jugs from 2015 to 2017. The name “Mountain Dew” as a slang term for moonshine goes back to the 1800s at least, so this was a great callback to the origins of our wildest mainstream soda brand.

Mountain Dew Baja Deep Dive

Back in 2022, codes under the caps of that summer’s Mountain Dew Baja variants could be submitted online to enter a giveaway for one of 18,000 6-packs of “Baja Deep Dive.” It seems like everyone who entered won one of these packs, but a giveaway-exclusive Dew still counts as being ridiculously rare compared to any flavors that actually saw a retail release. The actual flavor was never revealed; as we know, Mountain Dew is no stranger to mystery flavors. I still have a few cans in storage for a rainy day—or maybe a review here on Sporked? (Leave a comment if you want to make it happen.)

Mountain Dew Cake-Smash

Much like my last rare soda rundown, the top spot goes to a birthday cake-flavored soda. The flavor was originally planned for a retail release in 2020 to celebrate Mountain Dew’s 80th anniversary, but the pandemic killed those plans. The following year, this Mountain Dew flavor saw the full trilogy of rare soda releases: social media giveaway, online sale that sold out quickly, and being given away in a single location while supplies last. I never tried this one; maybe Santa will order me one off eBay next month.

The post 7 Rare Mountain Dew Flavors Ever Dew-Devotee Needs to Try appeared first on Sporked.

What’s the 2025 Halloween Mountain Dew flavor?

In lieu of a VooDEW flavor, Mountain Dew is reportedly teaming up with Trolli to release a flavor that will feature the brand name and flavor right on the label! The flavor of this collaboration will be cherry lemon, a popular flavor of Trolli candy. No mysteries to solve this time, dear readers. 

When will this new Mountain Dew flavor collab be available?

Our sources tell us that this collaboration is going to be available the same time of year that VooDEW was traditionally available. So, you can expect it to start appearing in September and be available through the end of spooky season. 

Will it be available in zero sugar?

Yes! Mountain Dew Trolli Cherry Lemon will be available in both full sugar and zero sugar in bottles and cans. No one misses out on this drop! 

Even though it won’t be a mystery to solve as it was in years past, this new Mountain Dew flavor collaboration still has us very excited and I’ve already added it to my 2025 hunt list. Have you? 

The post Here’s What’s Replacing Mountain Dew VooDEW in 2025 appeared first on Sporked.

I wanted to consume this as intended, so I simply drank it right out of the fridge. When I opened the bottle, the aroma that hit my nose can only be described as “grandma’s closet.” It’s like years of perfume spritzes and mothballs conspired to create this scent. Unfortunately, the flavor wasn’t much better.

New Product!

Trader Joe’s Vanilla Cardamom Cold Brew Coffee

Affiliate

Pros: Trader Joe’s has shown themselves to be fairly proficient in brewing cold brew coffee (we really like their original unflavored arabica cold brew). And that does translate into this version. The coffee itself is more mild than a traditionally brewed cup. That, combined with the money you’d save from getting your caffeine fix from a coffee shop, gives me hope that this could be the right fix for someone who enjoys this flavor profile more than I do.

Cons: If you’re not familiar, cardamom is an aromatic seed that’s peppery, piney, and a little bit citrusy, too. It’s great in certain dishes and drinks, but I fear that someone overdid it here. You’re much better off just getting Trader Joe’s plain cold brew and adding in your own cardamom and vanilla. I think you could play around and create a blend with a much more enjoyable ratio. It sucks to have to go the extra mile, but at least you’re still saving some time and money.

Rating:

3/10

Sporks

The post The Cold, Hard Truth About the New Trader Joe’s Cold Brew appeared first on Sporked.

After three taste tests, this ranking of Mountain Dew flavors continues to be a work in progress. See, Mountain Dew flavors are being released and discontinued all the time. We’re still on the hunt for full sugar Spark, as well as the new and returning Game Fuel flavors. So, bear with us. This is not a complete list of every Mountain Dew flavor—but it is a lot of them. 

If you’re new to the wide world of Mountain Dew flavors and looking for the best Mountain Dew flavor to try first, this list is a good place to start. And if you’re just looking to get into a fight because we ranked what you believe to be the best Mountain Dew flavor far too low on this list, then we’ll see you in the comments. 

Here are 17 Mountain Dew flavors, ranked from worst to best.

The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.

Voltage

Mountain Dew Voltage

Walmart

Put this Mountain Dew flavor in a hummingbird feeder. This is so sweet it should not be consumed by humans! (Don’t actually feed it to hummingbirds; I’m not sure what they’re allowed to eat.) It’s supposed to be blue raspberry and citrus flavor, apparently, but there’s no tang whatsoever. Something had to be the worst flavor of Mountain Dew, and Mountain Dew Voltage is it. — Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

4/10

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Diet Mtn Dew

Diet Mountain Dew

Target

Diet Mountain Dew is so inferior to Mountain Dew Zero. I’m not even sure why Diet Mountain Dew exists. If you’re into this, I’m sure you have your reasons and you should keep drinking it. If you’re looking for a low-calorie Mountain Dew option that doesn’t taste strongly of artificial sweeteners, this is not the best Mountain Dew flavor for you. There’s a better one out there. — Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Target

Rating:

5/10

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Major Melon Zero

Mountain Dew Major Melon Zero

Walmart

This extremely pink Mountain Dew flavor purports to be “charged with watermelon,” which is pure gibberish. And while I appreciate that, it’s simply far too sweet to have more than one sip. It smells and tastes like a watermelon Jolly Rancher, but it has that telltale fake sugar flavor at the finish. If you insist on drinking this watermelon Mountain Dew flavor, stick to the full sugar version. — Justine Sterling

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

5/10

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Major Melon

Mountain Dew Major Melon

Instacart

Major Melon (though better than Mountain Dew Major Melon Zero) is way too sweet. The watermelon flavor is super artificial. There’s really no reason to buy this Mountain Dew flavor. There are way better versions of melon soft drinks out there. (We’re big fans of the Watermelon Lime Olipop.) — Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

5.5/10

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Baja Blast Zero

Mountain Dew Baja Blast Zero

Target

The original Mountain Dew Baja Blast is shockingly subtle in flavor (not a sentence I ever thought I’d write). It’s very sweet, yes, but it’s too nuanced to be turned into a diet soda. All Mountain Dew Baja Blast Zero tastes like is generic diet soda. It’s sweet and bland. — Justine Sterling

Credit: Liv Averett / Target

Rating:

5.5/10

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Frost Bite

Mountain Dew Frost Bite

Instacart

Mountain Dew Frost Bite is a forgettable Mountain Dew flavor. I had to go back to my notes multiple times just to remember what it tastes like. I have a good memory, especially when it comes to soda, so that’s saying something. It’s mostly just sweet (it’s supposed to taste like “cool melon”). It’s certainly not one of the best Mountain Dew flavors, but I do like the shark on the label! — Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

5.5/10

Sporks

Thrashed Apple

Mountain Dew Thrashed Apple

Instacart

We’ve finally reached the start of the best Mountain Dew flavors—the ones we’ll willingly drink again. Mountain Dew Thrashed Apple actually tastes like a green apple! It’s super sweet, but it has a nice tartness that balances it out. I wouldn’t make this my everyday Mountain Dew flavor, but it is nice and definitely something you should reach for if you love green apples. — Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs

Rating:

6.5/10

Sporks

Mtn Dew Zero

Mountain Dew Zero

Target

Mountain Dew Zero is actually pretty good. Typically, I don’t like diet soda but I didn’t mind this. Make sure you buy Mountain Dew Zero (a lower calorie Mountain Dew that tastes similar to the real deal) and not Diet Mountain Dew (a gross drink that tastes like fake sweetener). — Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Target

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Code Red

Mountain Dew Code Red

Instacart

Mountain Dew Code Red is not for me, but I cannot deny that it’s good. I don’t typically like cherry, but this soda does cherry right. If a cherry hater can enjoy this, it has to be good! The cherry flavor is sweet, fruity, and refreshing. I get why so many people go hard for Mountain Dew Code Red! It’s up there with the best Mountain Dew flavors. — Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Point Break Punch

Baja Point Break Punch

Walmart

Dropped in March of 2024 as part of the 20th Bajaversary (a time we all remember fondly), this limited edition Baja Blast variant tastes extremely fruit punchy. Like, it essentially tastes like Red 40. You have to like that extra-sweet, faux fruit flavor. It was a fun temporary addition to the Baja line-up, but I wasn’t too sad to see it go and I won’t be hunting it down on the Mountain Dew Discords. — Justine Sterling

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

VooDEW

Mountain Dew VooDEW (2024)

Walmart

Sporked Mountain Dew correspondent Tyler Bowers thinks this could be one of the best VooDEW flavors to date. It has a strong strawberry flavor, which Tyler likened to Strawberry Laffy Taffy or Strawberry Starbursts (the brand confirmed the mystery flavor was pink fruit candy). It’s sweet—very sweet—but it’s not saccharine. — Justine Sterling

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Baja Blast

Mountain Dew Baja Blast

Target

I expected Mountain Dew Baja Blast to be a punch of flavor in my face. But it’s actually quite gentle, much like its beautiful, pale teal hue. It’s a hard flavor to pin down. It doesn’t taste like anything from nature. If pressed, I’d say it tastes like fruit punch, if said fruit punch were created by an alien who had never actually tasted fruit punch, but had someone describe it to him. One thing’s for sure: It’s very, very sweet. But it’s not as one note as Mountain Dew Baja Blast Zero. There’s some acidity. Even though it’s not the best Mountain Dew flavor, it’s a welcome addition to the permanent in-store line-up.  — Justine Sterling

Credit: Liv Averett / Target

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Laguna Lemonade

Mountain Dew Baja Laguna Lemonade

Walmart

This limited time Baja Blast flavor was released alongside Baja Point Break Punch in March of 2024 in celebration of the 20th Bajaversary. And I really think they should bring it back as a permanent Mountain Dew flavor. It’s advertised as a mango lemonade flavor and it really tastes like mango. It’s tropical and, though it doesn’t taste like lemon, it does have some bright, zippy, orange soda-esque acidity. Bring it back! — Justine Sterling

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Spark Zero

Mountain Dew Spark Zero

Instacart

This Mountain Dew flavor is one of the best diet sodas I’ve ever had. It’s sweet and tart and a little sour. It is supposed to taste like raspberry lemonade and it actually does. So many of the new Mountain Dew flavors are way too sweet, but this one is just right. — Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Pitch Black

Mountain Dew Pitch Black

Instacart

This is one of the most beloved of all Mountain Dew flavors and I get it. Pitch Black is good! It was discontinued and then brought back because fans love it so much. It was formerly described as “Black Grape” but is now “Dark Citrus.” I don’t really know what either of these names mean, but I taste both grape and citrus in Pitch Black. I would happily drink a glass of this again. — Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Original

Mountain Dew Original

Target

Until our most recent Mountain Dew flavor taste test, we had the original Mountain Dew as the best Mountain Dew flavor. It’s so sweet and citrusy and refreshing. If you don’t like the original Mountain Dew, why are you even reading this list?! But there is a better Mountain Dew flavor out there… — Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Target

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Purple Thunder

Mountain Dew Purple Thunder

Walmart

Originally launched as a Circle K exclusive, you can now get this purple Mountain Dew flavor at Kroger-owned stores. It’s purported to be a berry-plum flavor, though it tastes pretty grape-y to me. Whatever the actual flavor, it’s so good. It’s sweet, for sure, but it has enough acidity to balance out the sugar, which is often lacking in Mountain Dew flavors. And the color? It’s gorgeous. It’s a beautiful violet—not the color of anything you should put in your body but beautiful all the same. I know people are going to come after me, but this really is the best Mountain Dew flavor out there (until our next taste test of every Mountain Dew flavor, of course). — Justine Sterling 

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

The post 17 Mountain Dew Flavors, Ranked appeared first on Sporked.

For those of you who don’t know a ton about wine, other than that you like to drink it, you may be surprised to learn that there’s a type of wine called marsala. I know, right? I thought it was just a way to prepare chicken. But it turns out that the marsala in chicken marsala is referring to wine! So, what is marsala wine? What is in marsala wine? Is marsala wine red or white? Does marsala wine go bad? Can you drink marsala wine? Let’s wind down and talk about marsala wine!

What is marsala wine?

Marsala wine is a fortified wine, produced around the Marsala region of Sicily. Marsala wine has many cooking applications and is used to make a rich, nutty sauce. What exactly is fortified wine? It’s basically wine that has some extra alcohol added to it. To make fortified wine, a distilled spirit is added to regular wine. Usually, that distilled spirit is brandy. Other examples of fortified wine are port, sherry, and madeira. Some people confuse marsala with madeira since they’re both fortified wines with similar names. But madeira is Portuguese. Marsala wine has PDO status, or Protected designation of origin. That means the European Union makes sure only the real stuff from the Marsala region is labeled as marsala. 

What is in marsala wine?

Okay, so it’s fortified wine from Marsala but what’s in marsala wine? How do you make Marsala wine? Is it a red or a white? Slow down there, wino. I’m getting to it. Marsala wine can be several different colors and sweetness levels. A lot of the marsala wine we see in U.S. grocery stores looks like a white wine, but there is also red Marsala. It just depends on the grapes used. There’s ambra, or amber, made with white grapes like Grillo, Cattaroto, and Inzolia. There’s oro, or gold, made with those same grapes but aged longer. And there’s rubino, or ruby, made with a combination of red grapes and about 30 percent white grapes. Marsala wine can also be classified by how long it’s aged, from “fine”o—aged under a year—to “stravecchio”—aged over 10 years.

Can you drink marsala wine?

Sure, it’s mostly known as a cooking wine, but you can definitely drink marsala wine as well! And I don’t mean taking an occasional slug from the bottle while you’re making some chicken marsala. You can legit sip on this stuff. The younger wines are better for cooking, while the older stuff is great as an aperitif or dessert wine, depending on if you get a dry or sweet variety. 

Just make sure you’re drinking a reasonably freshly-opened bottle of marsala. While fortified wines can last a lot longer than regular wines once they’re opened, they can still go bad. An opened bottle of marsala can last about four to six months. You can store an unopened bottle for several years as long as it’s in a cool dry place and not, like, in the back seat of your car. 

Where to find marsala wine in the grocery store?  

You can usually find marsala wine in the wine or liquor section of your local grocery store. Make a marsala evening by having a marsala aperitif, then eating chicken marsala, and finish it off with a sweet dessert marsala.

The post What Is Marsala Wine? appeared first on Sporked.

Eggnog is great because it’s so damn rich and luxurious. Eggnog has buttery, thick, fatty richness going for it, and that’s reflected in the nutritional facts (don’t read those on a carton of eggnog, btw). But, hey, all the best foods certainly shorten our lifespans. And in addition to being dangerously decadent, the best eggnog is also warmly spiced and comforting. Eggnog, like all of us, contains multitudes. 

Every holiday season, we scour the dairy aisle to find new eggnog brands, limited edition eggnog flavors, and more options for the best store bought eggnog that we may have overlooked. And just to be clear—these are all non-alcoholic options. If you want to spike your nog, you’ll have to BYOB (bring your own bourbon, brandy, or, uh… b-rum).  We’ve got oatmilk eggnog, lactose free eggnog, low fat eggnog, almond milk eggnog, or classic, full-fat, full-dairy eggnog. We looked for eggnog with a deliciously rich flavor, bold spice, and appropriate thickness. Good eggnog should feel like a special treat. So what’s the best store bought eggnog for the holidays this year? Let’s get into it.

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Best Lactose Free

Lactaid Lactose Free Eggnog

Walmart

Instacart

As we found in our best lactose free milk taste test, lactose free milk is often quite sweet on its own—so it’s a good base for eggnog. And this lactose free eggnog is still creamy, too. My only issue with it is that it’s not spiced enough for my liking. It tastes like liquid vanilla pudding or melted vanilla ice cream, which is not a bad thing. I just wish there were more spices in the mix to make it taste more like the holidays. — Justine Sterling  

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

6.5/10

Sporks

Best Vanilla

Shamrock Farms Vanilla Spice Eggnog

Instacart

Shamrock Farms Vanilla Spice Eggnog is basically a vanilla milkshake disguised as eggnog. That might not appeal to everyone, but it’s undeniably delicious. It’s extra thick, rich, and creamy, with a sweet vanilla flavor that’s gently warmed by a mild blend of cozy spices. It’s more of a dessert than a classic, old-timey holiday drink; I could see kids (and vanilla latte devotees) really enjoying this egg nog flavor. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Best Almond Milk Eggnog

Almond Breeze Almond Nog

Instacart

Almond Breeze almond milk eggnog actually edged out a lot of the full-fat eggnogs I tried. The almond flavor provides some really excellent flavor. It’s made with cane sugar, rice starch, and almond milk, and it maintains that fatty, spiced nog flavor that we were looking for in the best dairy free eggnog. Managing editor Gwynedd Stuart was a big fan of it, citing it as “refreshing.” I concur. This is the best vegan eggnog if almond milk is your alternative milk of choice. — Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Flavored

Kroger Rich & Creamy Cinnamon Eggnog

Ralphs

Kroger came out with a full line of eggnogs this year, including pumpkin flavored eggnog, vanilla eggnog, and low fat eggnog. But the cinnamon flavored eggnog was the only one that really stood out. If you’re interested in eggnog but don’t like nutmeg, then allow me to introduce you to this cinnamon-only eggnog, it may be the best tasting eggnog for your palate. Think of creamy, thick chocolate milk—now imagine the chocolate is gone and instead it’s cinnamon. That’s what this eggnog tastes like. It also reminds me of Häagen-Dazs cinnamon ice cream, which is probably my favorite Häagen-Dazs ice cream. If you feel similarly, head to your local Kroger or Kroger affiliate, ASAP. —Justine Sterling 

Credit: Merc / Ralphs

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Eggnog with Booze

Sprouts Organic Eggnog

Instacart

Now this is eggy eggnog. (How eggy is it?) It’s so eggy, that it droops and gloops out of the damn container like fancy Christmas sludge. Because of the thickness, I think this is the one of the best eggnog brands to mix with alcohol. The problem with mixing things like bourbon and rum with store bought eggnog is that the nog becomes too thin and thus loses its iconically thick texture. That won’t be a problem with Sprouts eggnog, which is almost made for booze. And the flavor of Sprouts’ eggnog is on point too. The nutmeg provides some warm, nutty notes. And it’s rich, buttery, and delicious. Buy it, then stir in some alcohol with confidence. — Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett/Instacart

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Extra Creamy

Broguiere’s Eggnog

Amazon

Instacart

This eggnog made me say “good lord” out loud (to absolutely no one but myself). Broguiere’s eggnog is curiously rich, but I think the secret ingredient is egg yolk powder. That powder offers a lot of rich, fatty, condensed flavor, so the egg flavor in this nog is really off the charts. Broguiere’s puts their eggnog in a faux milk bottle complete with a smiling cow on the label, so it comes off as eggnog straight from the farm—but that’s misleading. Broguiere’s uses corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup in their ingredients. Combine that with egg yolk powder, and it doesn’t exactly scream homemade. It could also benefit from some aromatics. Still, the flavor is very, very good. Sweet, creamy, and lavish, Broguiere’s is the best eggnog for those who like a full egg yolk flavor. — Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Vegan Eggnog

Chobani Oatmilk Oat Nog

Walmart

Chobani makes the best non dairy eggnog we tried. You get the thickness of a classic eggnog—we’re talking super-duper creamy—and the flavor is spot on. It’s sweet and nutmeg-y. And you don’t really even taste the oatiness of the oatmilk. You could definitely pass this off as standard oatmilk, which makes it the best vegan eggnog to buy. —Justine Sterling

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Classic

Trader Joe’s Egg Nog

Trader Joe’s

If you’re a devoted Trader Joe’s shopper during the holiday season (which, I totally get it—the winter vibes are immaculate), don’t even look anywhere else for the best eggnog. This stuff is everything you want. It’s creamy without being too heavy. It’s frothy, but still smooth and rich. It brings the whole gamut of spices with every sip—and you can really taste the cinnamon here, too. I’ve noticed that even some of the best eggnogs could use a cinnamon stick or two. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Classy

Promised Land Old Fashioned Eggnog

Instacart

Ralphs

To me, the best eggnog almost tastes a little boozy, even when it’se alcohol-free. Promised Land’s Old Fashioned Eggnog finishes on a neat, sophisticated note that actually reminds of bourbon in an Old Fashioned. (Maybe that’s just the power of suggestion in the name, but I swear I can taste it!) The kick of nutmeg adds a clean, punchy spice that balances the rich creaminess and elevates the overall taste. I’m addicted to this stuff, plain and simple. It’s limited edition, too, so buy it while you can! —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Low Fat Eggnog

Organic Valley Reduced Fat Eggnog

Instacart

Ralphs

I can’t believe this is low fat eggnog. Okay, maybe it’s not, like, fat-free, but it is 33% less fat than Organic Valley’s regular eggnog. And you’d never know it. It’s so, so thick and decadent. But even beyond that, it’s a very unique eggnog. It tastes like it was spiced with freshly grated nutmeg. You get this drying effect on the end of every sip, which keeps you coming back for more. And while it’s certainly sweetened, it’s not super sweet. You won’t mistake this for melted ice cream. If you want an eggnog that’s scaled back on fat but still a treat, this is the best eggnog brand for you. —Justine Sterling 

Credit: Merc / Ralphs

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Spiced

Alexandre Organic A2/A2 Homegrown Eggnog

Instacart

Ralphs

Alexandre Homegrown Eggnog is the best tasting eggnog in my opinion. While a lot of products just sort of mysteriously list “spices” in the ingredients, Alexandre lists cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, and turmeric. That’s a lot of warm, spiced flavor, and no other eggnog comes close to matching Alexandre’s wonderful blend of aromatics. Alexandre eggnog is also made with cane sugar, egg yolks, organic milk, and organic cream. Alexandre is one of the best eggnog brands for those who like to feel a little fancy and decadent. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Southern Comfort Traditional Egg Nog

Walmart

Instacart

Amazon

Southern Comfort eggnog is rich, creamy, and has just the right amount of sweetness. A lot of eggnog can be far too sugary, but Southern Comfort gets everything just right. It’s made with milk, cream, egg yolks, and also high fructose corn syrup. I don’t love that there’s high fructose corn syrup in it (like, why?), but the taste is absolutely undeniable. For me, the best part about it is you really taste the egg yolks. It’s deliciously rich because of that bold, eggy flavor. Sweet, subtle, and luxurious, Southern Comfort is the best eggnog we tried. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Other products we tried: Southern Comfort Vanilla Spice Eggnog, Alta Dena Eggnog, Simple Truth Eggnog, Califia Farms Eggnog, R.W. Knudsen Eggnog, Lucerne Eggnog, Hood Eggnog, Silk Eggnog, Kroger Rich & Creamy Pumpkin Egg Nog, Kroger Rich & Creamy Low Fat Egg Nog, Kroger Rich & Creamy Original Egg Nog, Good & Gather Oatmilk Holiday Nog, Bolthouse Farms Holiday Nog, So Delicious Coconutmilk Holiday Nog, Favorite Day Egg Nog, Favorite Day Light Egg Nog, Good Karma Dairy Free Pumpkin Spice Nog, Trader Joe’s Oat Non Dairy Egg Nog, Trader Joe’s Almond Nog

The post We Found the Best Eggnog at the Grocery Store appeared first on Sporked.

What will Pepsi Gingerbread taste like?

First off, no, they didn’t puree and carbonate Gingy from Shrek. No gingerbread men were harmed in the making of this new Pepsi flavor. Pepsi tells us that this flavor blends the classic taste of Pepsi with a festive mix of brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and molasses. Sign us right up!

How can I get Pepsi Gingerbread?

There are two ways you’ll be able to get your hands on a mini can of Pepsi Gingerbread Zero Sugar (yep, only available in mins): 

1. Starting December 4th, you can secure a can by purchasing two packs of Pepsi mini cans (any flavor) from Pepsi’s Tiktok shop. Pepsi told us that supplies will be limited—so be fast!
2. Don’t want to spend your hard earned cash? Also starting December 4th, you’ll be able to enter for a chance to win a can on Pepsi.com.

Will there be a full sugar Pepsi Gingerbread?

We don’t say this often (and usually it’s the other way around), but this new Pepsi flavor will only be available in zero sugar.

Will I ever be able to buy Pepsi Gingerbread in stores?

Unfortunately for now, it seems that Pepsi is keeping Pepsi Gingerbread as a limited edition flavor available only on their website and Tiktop shop. No store release is planned for now—but perhaps if the reception for it is good we could see one!

Is Pepsi Gingerbread a good idea?

Stay tuned! We’ll post our review the second we get our hands on a can.

The post Gingerbread Pepsi Is Coming Out SOON, Here’s How to Get a Can appeared first on Sporked.