With summer now at its practical end, it’s a better time than ever to reflect on what was undoubtedly the drink of the 2024 season: Surfside canned cocktails. It’s the fastest-growing canned cocktail on the market, and is increasingly popular amongst the Jersey Shore bars.
I did the hard work. I tasted every single Surfside flavor—from classic Iced Tea Vodka to the new Strawberry Lemonade—and I have narrowed the list down to my favorites. These are the top five Surfside flavors, according to me.
What Is Surfside?
Before we get started on the ranking, let’s discuss the drink itself. Surfside is a canned, ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail made by Stateside Vodka. The brand combines its premium vodka with natural mixers such as iced tea or lemonade.
No matter the flavor, Surfside always uses real tea and juices, sticking to their popular format of 100 calories, two grams of sugar and zero bubbles.
The catalog contains the classic flavors, each paired with vodka: Iced Tea, Lemonade, Iced Tea + Lemonade, Peach Tea and Green Tea. Additionally, the brand added new flavors for 2024, such as Strawberry Lemonade, Raspberry Tea, Raspberry Lemonade and Black Cherry Lemonade.
Honorable Mentions
Black Cherry Lemonade
Surfiside’s new Black Cherry Lemonade option is quite good, sporting flavors akin to an ice-cold black cherry Italian ice on a hot day. This flavor is decent right out of the can but becomes excellent when you pour it over ice. I can see Black Cherry becoming a staple.
Raspberry Tea
The all-new Raspberry Tea Surfside takes me back to a simpler time: coming home from school, throwing cartoons on and cracking open a cold can of raspberry tea. This was a ritual for me, and as an adult, Surfisde has given me a way to tap into that nostalgia while I indulge in recreational drinking. It’s a win-win.
The Top 5 Surfside Flavors
5. Strawberry Lemonade
Right out of the gate, a new flavor is making it’s way toward the top. The Strawberry Lemonade Surfside is refreshingly tart with great strawberry flavor. It reminds me of the strawberry lemonades that were popular at chain restaurants in the 2000s, albeit alcoholic and notably less sweet. For those who like fruity drinks, this is a clear standout as a fruit-forward RTD option, without the headaches or hangovers.
4. Iced Tea & Lemonade
Is anyone surprised? This classic flavor combines the brightness of lemonade with the balanced nature of brewed iced tea. It’s easily one of the top RTD cocktails of the summer. I like it because it’s easy to drink and the combo of lemonade and iced tea is a classic flavor that is perfect for all occasions.
3. Lemonade
This one is my go-to when I need something refreshingly tart to take the edge off. Surfside’s lemonade tastes like actual lemonade made from real lemons, which puts it far and away above other options on the market. Without an offensive alcohol flavor, it’s almost too easy to drink… almost.
2. Iced Tea
Never a doubt that this classic would find its way into the top 3. Surfside’s Iced Tea + Vodka is a staple throughout bars at the Jersey Shore. Surfside takes every other hard iced tea from year’s past and improves it with less cloying sweetness and better quality spirit. And while you may look at this as a summer drink, I believe iced tea to be season-less. That is to say that I will be enjoying plenty of Surfside Iced Teas throughout the winter months.
1. Peach Tea
Make room for the Queen of Surfside flavors, Peach Tea. Take the same great base as the previously mentioned Iced Tea and add just a touch of peach flavor. You’re left with an RTD cocktail that’s as easy to drink as it is delicious. It’s subtly sweet and packed with real peach and tea flavor—without any semblance of an alcohol burn. This is the hard iced tea to end all hard iced teas. The Queen: Peach Surfside.
