BeeKneeBob

In the past few years there has been a steady stream of new and innovative sodas reaching grocery store shelves, like probiotic drinks and craft sodas with unique flavors. The functional drink category has really taken off like wildfire. I’ve never seen such a large offering of fizzy drinks with alternative sweeteners and vitamin infusions. The group sets them apart as a healthier option to standard soft drinks. Stiller’s Soda is just one of those new additions.

If you’re like me, when you see the name “Stiller,” your mind immediately brings up the image of actor Ben Stiller, known for his roles in movies like Zoolander, Meet the Parents, and A Night at the Museum. And no, you’re not crazy — this soda is actually endorsed by that Ben Stiller. He loves soda just as much as we do, and he co-founded Stiller’s Soda as a way to offer a fun soda “while giving people something they can feel good about drinking.”

What Makes Stiller’s Soda Healthy?

For starters, the sugar ingredient is toned down, though not entirely eliminated. Each 12-ounce can of soda has only 7 grams of sugar, which is extremely low considering the average soda contains 39 grams. Stiller’s uses a hybrid of cane sugar mixed with two natural plant sweeteners, stevia leaf and monk fruit extract. In total, each can of Stiller’s soda equals 30 calories.

What classifies Stiller’s as a ‘functional soda’ is the combination of vitamins B12, C, and D:

• Vitamin B12 is known to help fight against brain fog and fatigue by helping out in red blood cell formation.
• Vitamin C is a popular antioxidant and immune booster, providing energy and protection from stress.
• Vitamin D is also known for immunity support while also absorbing calcium to build healthy bones.

This drink skips one trend: probiotics and prebiotics. Stiller’s Soda specifically uses the term “no-biotics” to classify their sodas. They’re not claiming to be a super-healthy soda to stand alongside carbonated health supplements. Instead, they aim for a happy medium as an old-school fountain drink without the junk.

The Flavors (and the Taste Test)

Stiller’s Soda offers a trio of classic carbonated flavors: lemon lime, root beer, and Shirley Temple. From the get-go, the packaging is ultra nostalgic. Pay a visit to the brand’s Instagram page, and you’ll be greeted with 80s-style advertisement mock-ups and cool vaporwave music. On the Stiller’s Soda website, Ben is featured in an introduction video framed by a computer browser window straight from the 90s. The marketing is clear: these drinks are meant to take you back to a simpler time.

So how do Stiller’s Sodas taste? Here’s my take on the trio:

Shirley Temple

The ‘Shirley Temple’ is Stiller’s signature, because it happens to be Ben Stiller’s personal favorite. The drink, named after the famous child star, is a combination of ginger ale and maraschino cherry. His version tastes more like a sugar-free energy drink. The cherry note is the strongest — a little syrupy and tart — but it’s significantly weakened by the vitamins and carbonation. Think of Stiller’s Shirley Temple soda as a fruity seltzer water.

Root Beer

The reviews I’ve read from other consumers is divided on Stiller’s Root Beer. It’s reminiscent of cream soda. The carbonation is particularly strong here, wrapped up in a root beer flavoring of caramel and vanilla. On its own, the root beer tastes okay. When you pair it with something sweet, say a piece of chocolate or a cookie, that’s when Stiller’s Root Beer truly shines.

Lemon Lime

Stiller’s Lemon Lime soda is the most familiar and accurate. It tastes like the other lemon lime carbonated drinks on the market, just lighter. After the fizziness settles, this one resembles a diet soda with a slightly sour aftertaste. The color of Stiller’s Lemon Lime is not clear but cloudy.

Is Stiller’s Soda worth buying?

As far as flavor goes, Stiller’s Soda is definitely unique. The lemon lime is the most accessible of the three flavors, while the Shirley Temple and root beer varieties don’t quite reach their full flavor potential.

Stiller’s natural soda is available on Amazon in individual flavors and a variety pack. A 12-pack will set you back 30 bucks ($2.50 per 12oz can). I find this expensive and not something I will buy often.

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Worth buying? Hard to say. It’s worth trying at least once, and if given the opportunity, it’s a fine beverage choice if you’re counting your calories. For this reason alone, I’m on team Stiller’s. I also believe if you already have a familiarity with sparkling water or drinks with alternative sweeteners, Stiller’s would work for you.

The high price keeps me from becoming a regular customer, and I can think of other functional sodas that are both affordable and accessible in local stores. If more flavors are added to the lineup, I would consider giving them a try, just as I did with the variety pack!

Have you tried Stiller’s Soda yet? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary sample of this product from Stiller’s Soda in exchange for my online review.