Gorgie
Launching on November 8 at Target, Shirley Splash is the latest release from GORGIE and another take on one of the major RTD flavor trends of the past year, the Shirley Temple. GORGIE’s version features the familiar bright cherry-citrus flavor profile but with a functional edge: 150mg of green tea caffeine, B Vitamins, Biotin and L-Theanine, plus no sugar or artificial sweeteners. Keep tabs on getgorgie.com.
Pepsi Vanilla & Cream
After launching Wild Cherry & Cream last year, Pepsi is leaning on the flavor trend yet again for its fall LTO innovation. The soda giant is launching Pepsi Vanilla & Cream, available in regular and Zero Sugar versions, this fall in 12-pack cans and 20 oz. bottles. Get more details at pepsi.com.
LEVIA
While Massachusetts voters contemplate a potential end to recreational cannabis sales in the state, Bay State-based beverage maker LEVIA isn’t waiting around. The brand’s latest innovation, Bad Apple, is available in medical and adult-use dispensaries now, with 5 mg THC per 12 ounce can, plus zero calories and no sugar. Find out more at drinklevia.com.
SANS
Coffee without coffee? That’s more or less accurate here. Coming out of South Korea, where it just opened its flagship location in Seoul, SANS is a new coffee substitute packaged in 6.5 gram instant powder sticks that dissolve in water or milk. It comes in two versions – Focus & Energy (200 mg caffeine + cordyceps, lion’s mane and Korean red ginseng) and Recovery & Balance (caffeine-free with organic chage, reishi and tart cherry). You can read more and order for yourself at sansfoundry.com.
Plift
With an uncertain future ahead for the hemp beverage category, Chicago-based brand Plift is pivoting with a pair of new innovations: Sessions and Rest. The former line takes Plift under the 0.4 mg THC per container threshold for compliance with federal regulations, and is available in two versions: Sessions Sparkling Soda (Tart Lime and Crisp Ginger) and zero-calorie Sessions Sparkling Water (Zesty Lemon and Bold Cherry), both sold in 8-packs, including a variety pack. Meanwhile, Rest (pictured above) goex THC-free with a plant-based CBN (10 mg per serving) beverage crafted for everyday sleep support and packaged in an elegant 750 mL bottle. For more details on both releases, head to plift.com.
Uncle Matt’s
It’s a big month for Florida-based premium juice specialist Uncle Matt’s. First, the brand is launching another functional innovation in the form of Organic Orange Hydrate, a potassium-rich (600 mg) blend of coconut water, orange juice, pineapple juice and Celtic sea salt, plus Aquamin sea minerals. The brand is also giving Orlando Magic fans something to cheer about with blue spirulina-tinted Magic Lemonade, an official collaboration and charity fundraiser with the NBA franchise that’s available at the Kia Center Arena and at all Publix stores in Central Florida. Learn more at unclematts.com.
Rite
As part of a new class of next-gen energy drinks without caffeine, Rite is a new female-focused functional drink designed around “quiet energy,” in the guise of a zero-sugar 12 oz drink pairing 200 mg paraxanthine with 2 g goBHB ketones. It’s available in Blackberry Lemonade, Blue Raspberry, Lemon Lime, Strawberry, Watermelon Lime, and White Peach, priced at $3.49 per can. The founding team includes MusclePharm and TruBar founder Brad Pyatt; Rob Rogers, founder of Ketone Labs; Brian McCaslin, co-founder of recently acquired Coco Café; and beverage industry guru Ken Sadowsky. Explore more a riteenergy.com.
CocoBana
As you might guess from the name, CocoBana uses coconut and banana as the inspirations for its zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. The product uses a combination of organic coconut water, organic banana and organic lemon, with added electrolytes from Redmond Real Salt and Aquamin. Its sold in 12-count bags for $29.99 at the brand’s website and on Amazon. Find more information at drinkcocobana.com.
Momentmn
Hydration mixes may be everywhere right now, but we haven’t seen a flavor like this before. New York-based wellness brand momentm has introduced Ignition: Poached Peach as its first-ever seasonal LTO, a flavor inspired by peaches slowly poached in spiced syrup. Get more details at momentm.inc.