Saranac Soft Drinks

Product Type:Carbonated Soft Drink: Regular; Container: 12 fl oz (355 ml) glass
BevNET Review: Who can argue with a Shirley Temple? We can’t. As much as we’ve been unimpressed by Saranac’s other soda offerings, this one does indeed taste like maraschino cherries. It’s probably not that hard to pull off, and we think they’d get something more effective if they used real sugar, the simple sweet flavor isn’t bad at all. Definitely worth a try if you know what a Shirley Temple is.

Product Type:Carbonated Soft Drink: Diet; Container: 12 fl oz (355 ml) glass
BevNET Review: Surprisingly, this is our favorite of the Saranac offerings, because, while it does have high-fructose corn syrup, it’s limited in the mix, allowing a few other flavors, like wintergreen, to emerge. According to the bottle, there aren’t any artificial sweeteners in the mix; the lower ratio of HFCS to the other ingredients allows for a mellower mix with reduced calories. It would be a winner, if they could somehow come up with a package that emphasized how good the 35-calorie concoction tastes.

Product Type:Carbonated Soft Drink: Regular; Container: 12 fl oz (355 ml) glass
BevNET Review: This root beer, made by the Matt Brewing Co., is another argument in favor of this esteemed family business to stick to brewing beer, although a slightly less vehement one than the company’s other sodas. With a sweet, uncomplicated flavor and a surprisingly light body, the 1888 root beer is fairly drinkable, but it’s not going to hold up against more established brands in terms of taste or style. Why the Matt family chose to go with High Fructose Corn Syrup in this mix is beyond us.