Sparkling Ice -Talking Rain: Black Raspberry

The Black Raspberry flavor of Sparkling ICE’s can lineup is, like the rest of the canned flavors, a straight adaptation of the brand's PET-packaged offering of the same name. Made with 3 percent black raspberry juice, the product, which is labeled as zero-calorie, has a fruity flavor that tastes pretty similar to a black cherry soda. It’s sweetened with sucralose, which results in the product having a light sweetener aftertaste. Otherwise, the product has a soda-style flavor profile that is, at least as far as similar products go, quite enjoyable. Perhaps the only thing that we’d like to see changed is the coloring that’s in the product -- the liquid is very bright (though you can’t see it unless poured out of the can). As for the packaging and branding, the company has done a nice job of adapting their existing brand equity to a different package format. The 8 oz. slim can looks great and offers a new option, both in format and size (there’s also a fridge pack), to consumers. Plus, and perhaps more importantly, it feels more upscale than Sparkling ICE's flagship product. That being said, it certainly seems like a product that can help the brand reach an expanded audience. Overall, a very enjoyable and well-executed product.