Black Cherry Soda
In late 2000, I purchased single bottles of twelve black cherry-flavoured sodas I came across on Pop the Soda Shop with the intent to discover the best black cherry soda. Unfortunately, those twelve didn't encompass all the available black cherry sodas on the market (notably, brands like Hanks Soda and Jones Soda Company were omitted due to lack of funds and lack of availability at the time), but the twelve I selected do represent a good cross-section of the black cherry soda universe.
In the following paragraphs, I will evaluate the look, feel, taste, and general impression of each of these twelve beverages. I have attempted to be objective about them, and haven't graded or scored them in any way - your interpretation of my impressions should be enough to guide you in your selection of which soda to purchase next time you're shopping for obscure brands of black cherry soda.
Please note that neither Pop the Soda Shop nor any of the soda brands I have reviewed is giving me a kickback or percentage of any revenues generated due to these reviews, so even if you don't like me, you can still click the links to purchase the sodas and feel secure in your knowledge that I'm not getting a cent of your money.
Willie's Hemp Soda - Black Cherry
I was surprised when I had to actually use a bottle-opener to remove the top from this bottle. Most bottled beverages these days seem to have twist-off metal caps that look like the bottlecaps from days of yore, yet can be removed by hand without the use of a tool. Having to pull out my pocketknife and pry this one off with the little-used bottle-opener provided a nice, old-style touch to the drinking experience. The soda, which bills itself as "100% Legal," is brewed with hemp seed oil and ginseng extract. It has only mild carbonation and a strong, acidic yet sweet flavour. There is an unusual, yet not unpleasant, undertaste accompanying every sip (probably because of the out-of-the-ordinary ingredients), as well as a powerful and very sweet aroma. However, the soda isn't something made to quench thirst. It requires delicate sipping, as the spicy acidity of the beverage makes large drinks difficult, and there is a slight tinge of an aftertaste that can linger for quite a while after the bottle is empty.
Visit the Willie's Hemp Sodas website.
Bundaberg Burgundee
The bottle doesn't say "black cherry" or "soda" or "pop" anywhere on it. The only clue I had to what kind of beverage this was (other than "full-flavoured", as it says on the label) was the fact that carbonated water was listed under the ingredients. Other than that, it could easily pass as a bottle of exotic imported beer (indeed, it is an import for me, all the way from Australia). The first thing I noticed upon picking up the bottle was its unique little cap, with a pull-tab to remove it. The aroma hit my nostrils upon removing the cap: a smooth, almost liquory scent. The flavour followed suit, a very creamy and flavourful drink with little carbonation. All in all, a pleasant, sweet experience which I would definitely not mind repeating.
Purchase Bundaberg Burgundee at Pop the Soda Shop.
Dr. Brown's Natural Flavor Black Cherry Soda
The Dr. Brown's' sodas both came in cute little 10-oz. bottles, which would have been even cuter if their price reflected the fact that they don't have as much liquid inside as most of the other bottles. However, my hope was that the sodas would make up in superb flavour and balance what they lacked in volume - a hope that unfortunately went unfulfilled. The soda is more carbonated than either of the other two that I've tried thus far, and the flavour seems natural - slightly more bitter than the others, and with definitely less sugar to smooth the taste over. There is a very mild (but not unpleasant) aftertaste. It seems more like a soft drink than a delicacy (like the other two) - something you'd want to swig in large gulps, not roll around on the tongue and explore. A rather mediocre soda overall.
Purchase Dr. Browns Black Cherry Soda at Pop the Soda Shop.
Thomas Kemper Old Fashioned Black Cherry Soda
Wrapped in a pretty, unpretentious brown label, this soda tells you that "if life isn't a bowl full of cherries, at least it can taste like one!" And boy, does it ever! By far the best of the four sodas I have tried so far, Thomas Kemper produces a nicely sweetened (with pure Washington Honey, says the ingredients) and well-balanced soda with just the right amount of carbonation. There isn't even a hint of any sort of distracting undertaste or aftertaste, and the soda can easily be consumed either in straight guzzle mode or gently and delicately. The flavour remains strong when a taste is rolled around on the tongue, and is genuinely refreshing when consumed in large gulps. The label says it's "proudly brewed in small batches," and it shows. Everything about this soda is pleasing and well-done. It will certainly be a hard act to follow.
Visit the Thomas Kemper Soda website.
Hansen's Signature All Natural Black Cherry Soda
With by far the most distinctive bottle I've seen in a long time, Hansen's also distinguishes itself through its complete lack of preservatives, artificial colours and flavours, and caffeine. A completely natural soda in a gorgeous full-bottle label, the drink itself is more carbonated and acidic than some, and has a slightly bitter aftertaste, but the dominant black cherry flavour is excellent and quite pleasing. Despite is slightly stronger than usual carbonation, the soda can still be guzzled (if one so chooses) or sipped to enjoy the full flavour of each taste. This soda has so far been the only one to prompt questions while I was drinking it - undoubtedly because of the unusual bottle. A close second to Thomas Kemper.
Visit the Hansens Natural Corp. website.
Mad River Black Cherry Explosion
The label says "Pure - Natural - Refreshing." It's wrong on three counts. By far the worst of the sodas in this review so far, this flavoured water isn't worth the cost of the glass it came in, much less the actual price I paid for it. Made with "cherry juice concentrate, grape juice concentrate, black cherry flavor," the incorrect taste of the soda is obvious from the first drink. A bitter undertaste accompanies every sip, and the soda almost feels like it leaves a film inside one's mouth - probably because of the artificial colouring and flavouring. The flavour is closer to that of badly-made cough medicine than black cherry soda. I urge conoisseurs to avoid this putrid, overly-acidic concoction at all costs.
Purchase Mad River Black Cherry Explosion at Pop the Soda Shop.
Boylan Bottleworks Brand Black Cherry
Boylan Bottleworks is (I believe) one of the more well-known brands in this survey, and unfortunately so, for while the taste of the soda is pleasant, it contains many artifical colours, flavours, and preservatives as well, and the carbonation is more powerful than usual. While leagues better than the Mad River, Boylan still falls short of Thomas Kemper or Bundaberg when it comes to overall body and flavour. A solid soda that doesn't disappoint, but isn't as impressive as it could be.
Purchase Boylan Bottlworks Brand Black Cherry at Pop the Soda Shop.
Root 66 Black Cherry
A very mild-flavoured yet nicely acidic drink, this soda seems to have a mild hint of root-beer flavour hidden in each sip which provides a nice change from straight black cherry flavour. Definitely a soda able to hold its own in this competition, the Root 66 people have created a wonderful beverage with no discernible aftertaste to spoil the sweet flavour of the drink. Definitely a soda I would love to find more of.
Visit the Root 66 website.
Pirate's Keg Gourmet Black Cherry
Sporting one of the most attractive labels of the whole bunch, I hoped the Pirate's Keg soda would turn out to be one of the best of this bunch. Happily, my hopes were realised in the first taste of this genuinely well-balanced drink. The tastebud-overpowering sweetness eminent in some of the other sodas wasn't present, and the acidity of the soda provided a pleasant tingle. Oddly, the main flavour of this beverage wasn't in the liquid itself - it was in the aftertaste. While nice on the tongue, the real strong black cherry taste hit after the mouthful was swallowed. An excellent drink that ranks among the top few in this review.
Visit the Pirate's Keg Gourmet Soda website.
Cool Mountain Gourmet Soda - Black Cherry
A clear bottle with a clear label, this soda was by far the sweetest of the bunch. The acidity was at an excellent level, however, and the flavour quite pleasing, once I got my tastebuds past the candyesque sugariness of the drink. It had no discernible aftertaste, just a nice, strong black cherry flavour. The company tries to be environmentally friendly, by stating that "We at Cool Mountain feel it is in the best interest of Mother Earth if we all recycle?" (Question mark theirs - I don't know why) and also telling you, "Recycle or else!" Overall, a satisfying drink, and especially nice if you happen to like very sweet beverages.
Visit the Cool Mountain Gourmet Soda website.
Diet Dr. Brown's Natural Flavor Black Cherry Soda
Only very slightly better than the Mad River soda, this drink takes everything that was poor about the non-diet Dr. Brown's and accentuates it with the replacement of natural sweetener with the noticeably worse NutraSweet. A bad-tasting drink with a bad aftertaste, it even leaves a slight burning sensation in the throat after a few sips. Not a drink I would want to buy more of.
Purchase Diet Dr. Brown's Black Cherry Soda at Pop the Soda Shop.
Sodawerks by Dirty Dawg: Blackforest Cherry
A surprisingly good drink that, despite the very amateurish look of the label, turned out to be one of the best-tasting sodas in this bunch. The label itself sports what looks like a rabid cartoon dog drinking from a frothing bottle and is a gaudy pink colour. At the very bottom, it says, "Not Too Fizzy & Not Too Sweet!" It definitely knows what it's talking about, because the carbonation and acidity is at a very nice level, and is well-balanced with the amount of sugar in the drink. A unique and powerful black cherry flavour helps lift this beverage from the ranks of medicore sodas to one of the top few, taste-wise, in this review. If only it didn't have such an ugly label, I would absolutely love it.