This week’s product reviews — Stiller’s Natural Sodas, Jolene Coffee and premium soda Something & Nothing — once again proves that, whether you’ve got a celebrity founder or not, great taste always wins out in beverages. To submit your beverage product to BevNET for review, click here. And to browse past reviews, check the archive here.
Created by actor Ben Stiller, Stiller’s is a new entrant in the better-for-you soda space. The initial lineup includes three varieties (Lemon Lime, Shirley Temple, and Root Beer) each formulated with natural ingredients. Each 12 ounce can has 30 calories, and 7 grams of added cane sugar, sweetened further with a blend of organic stevia and monk fruit. The brand positions itself as a cleaner and lighter take on familiar soda favorites, now boasting the “world’s most refreshing-est” taste.
Things that stand out:
- All three of the products have a straightforward, mainstream flavor profile and do a great job of invoking a feeling of nostalgia. They are sweet, but not too sweet, with a clean, crisp finish. They do a nice job of masking the monk fruit and stevia, with only a slight note of each at the drink’s finish.
- Retro-inspired branding that feels approachable, authentic and reflective of its founder’s passion for soda. With bright metallic colors that differentiate each flavor, the brand looks polished and mature.
- Clear messaging around “No fake stuff” and 30 calories, effectively appealing to health-conscious consumers.
Things to consider:
- The connection to Ben Stiller is definitely notable and we think it could be pretty easy for a consumer to miss (it’s directly mentioned in the back panel copy). We’re not suggesting that they slap Ben Stiller’s face on the can, but it will be interesting to see how this is incorporated into the brand.
Rating: 
Jolene is a startup RTD coffee brand co-founded by Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis and radio host Shane Powers. Its first two products, an unsweetened Black cold brew coffee (zero sugar and 10 calories) and White oat milk latte (10 grams added sugar and 110 calories). Each SKU comes in an 8 oz. can and is made with organic coffee; the White additionally uses sunflower oil, guar gum and other ingredients.
Things that stand out:
- The flavors are smooth and easily drinkable. The white latte is a little on the sweeter side, and feels and tastes on par with other top canned oat milk lattes on the market.
- The packaging is minimalist and clean, evoking a premium, on-trend brand identity that the coffee in the can largely lives up to.
- At just under 120 mg of caffeine per 8 oz. can, the coffee provides a proper energy boost although it may be a lot in a small package for some consumers.
Things to consider:
- Text on the side of the can mentions the brand was founded “by two friends” but makes no mention of Kiedis. Trying to avoid an immediate association with a celebrity appears to be a deliberate decision but we wonder if doing more to associate Jolene with its famous founder would help, at least as the brand establishes itself in the market.
- The coffee is certainly good enough to be competitive, but we wonder how differentiated it is in an RTD coffee category that has struggled to grow in recent years. The brand has room to further develop messaging around its value proposition and difference.
Rating:
Something & Nothing Orange & Mandarin
Originally pitched as seltzers, the London-based brand revamped its identity to “premium soda” and is making inroads to the US market with an exclusive release, Orange & Mandarin. Packaged in a 12 oz. can, the SKU contains 13 grams of sugar from juice (30% total) and 60 calories.
Things we liked:
- Much more than a seltzer, but clearly not a heavily sweetened soda, S&N finds an attractive middle path between the two. There’s a bright pop of fruit flavor from the juice, but the use of botanicals softens the edges and brings some subtle depth.
- The package is attractive, presenting a minimalist art gallery vibe centered around abstract imagery referencing the ingredients. The tagline of “premium soda, inspired by travel” connotes a simple but sophisticated drinking experience.
- Both the presentation and the drink itself should be widely appealing; this would be a good fit at a quick-service eatery, a white-tablecloth restaurant or as a mixer behind the bar.
Things to consider:
- In taking on a popular flavor directly, there’s the chance this one gets lost in the mix of orange soda options. Communicating the differentiated “premium” approach will be key to capturing attention.
- We like the centered image for each flavor, but it may not be instantly clear to consumers on first glance what that is.
Rating: 