Fizzliss - Cranberry + Apple + Vodka product reviews

Having never tried fizz free RTDs/fizzy drinks, I was intrigued by these when they came up for review. I am normally a gin and tonic girl, but thought I would give the vodka cranberry and apple variety a try in the FizzLiss brand.

I wasn't really sure what to think of a fizzless drink, and kind of imagined it would be like an apple juice, being that apple as a flavour can generally take over, however, this drink wasn't quite what I expected, with the cranberry, apple and the vodka all coming through in the flavour, in a really complimenting way, with none really overpowering the other. The fact that it wasn't fizzy made the drink really refreshing, and less like lolly water that RTDs can be (sweet, sickly and fizzy). It wasn't too sweet, or too tart as I thought a drink having cranberry might be, it honestly was a really nice balanced combo of flavours.

As well as the actual product being tasty and moreish, the packaging is quite distinct for this also, making it easy to spot on the beverage shelf, and getting people to have another look as it isn't the standard aluminum can and pretty picture/symbol that a lot of RTDs are. The black can coupled with the simple lettering in standout colours looks very stylish and sophisticated. All in all the information is presented cleanly and clearly and works really well to create a memorable drink.

Whilst 'not a huge RTD fan, these I would buy again, as an alternative to my usual gin and tonic, which is really saying something!

Having already tried other drinks in this range, I finally got around to trying this one. To be honest, the idea of a cranberry drink did not appeal to me; I imagined an acidic, rather boring drink which would not taste of anything in particular. Well, I am always happy to be proved wrong. This drink rocks! It has a good rounded flavour; the cranberry, apple, and vodka are all easy to spot. Although they blend in well together, it is not difficult to isolate each of the flavours - something not always easy to do in a mixed drink.

I like the way that the cranberry taste, in particular, is nice and strong. Sometimes fruity drinks do not have a lot of character; they are more like a watered-down herbal tea. The apple comes across in its own right also; in fact, in some ways, the drink reminds me of a vintage cider. I can imagine this being a good drink to take on a summer picnic - suitably chilled, of course. Or even better, served in a long glass with lots of ice. My partner and I shared the bottle, having decided it would go well with our leftovers meal of quiche and vegetarian fritters.

Although on this occasion we just finished the bottle to wash down our dinner, we would like to sample it again (a 10-pack perhaps) as a component of another meal. Its slightly tart flavour would go well with rich food and we could imagine it used in place of a dessert wine with a cheeseboard, or possibly as a last-minute addition to a trifle. It would also be nice poured over plain ice-cream. There are lots of possibilities which do not involve actually cooking it, a process which would ruin the flavour and kill the alcohol content simultaneously.

I must admit that the packaging would command my attention even if I did not know what was inside the can. The plain, uncluttered lettering in white and silver on black is a real drawcard. It looks sophisticated and simple at the same time, but all the relevant information about the contents is included. It may seem trite to say that attractive packaging means you have more faith in the product inside, but many buyers have more confidence in spending their money on an item that has been well presented. If the manufacturer has gone to some trouble to produce a well-presented container, the contents too must have been through a rigorous planning process. This is one RTD I will be buying again.

Usually, I am a person that heads for the fizzy alcoholic RTD's as my go-to alcoholic beverage of choice, however I was keen to give this a go as I love the sound of the flavours. The can design is simple yet effective at catching your attention, the black with the contrasting pinks and reds around the top make the products packaging stand out, and there is no doubting what the brand or flavour of the drink is as it is smack in the middle. This product is 6% and 330ml, this contains 1.1% sugar and only 117 calories, which makes this a healthier option than some of the other alcoholic beverages available to purchase.

When I opened the can I was instantly met by the aroma of the contents, it smelt sweet and I would say it smelt more like apple than anything, after a few mouthfuls I was hooked, this is delicious, it did take a while for me to warm up to it though, as originally, I could taste vodka more than flavour. When I took the time to appreciate the flavours they worked well together, and the fact that there were no bubbles meant that I did not have to worry about the feeling of gassiness later in the evening. This drink went down well, and I could see myself purchasing it in the future for a healthier option, and I will be letting my friends know about this product, as like me they go for the sweet, fizzy types of alcoholic beverages.

I think that Fizzliss are a rising New Zealand company heading in the right direction and I am keen to see what other flavour combinations they create in their range, I see they also have an Old-Fashioned Lemonade + Vodka, and also a Pineapple, Passionfruit + Vodka flavour in their range currently.

Having tried another drink in this range, I wasn't too excited to try this, but try it I must! And I was surprised to find that it wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be. I liked the overall look of the can but did feel that the colours of the cranberry and apple were more of a pink and peach shades than reds, though maybe that's a result of better lighting in the photo...? My brain did miss the satisfying hiss of the can being opened but that kind of is in the name. I opted to split this with my mum, as I wasn't sure if I would like it or not and that way I wouldn't waste any.

I gave it a sip and I must be honest, I really did miss the bubbles and infact, it's so ingrained in me to expect bubbles, that I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't drinking a flat drink. The added bonus of it already being fizzless, is that I forgot about it for awhile and it was still in the same condition with no need to discard for being flat, since it couldn't get flat. Flavour wise I certainly enjoyed this more than I was. I'm not a big cranberry person but the flavour wasn't too strong, though I would have liked some more apple flavour - my mum agreed with my musings.

All in all, I'd drink this if nothing else available but I won't be buying myself any.

I decided to approach this drink differently. Instead of drinking from the can I poured my husband and myself half into a glass. I have to say it smells absolutely divine. I told myself beforehand to prepare myself for the heat and no bubbles so I was set.

My husband took a taste and said it tasted like water and he did not like. He said it was not tart enough and that he usually loves the flavours. So I was a tad worried but then again we do differ when it comes to cranberries - he loves the juice where as I can not stand it. He likes strong flavours where as I like them more sweeter. Just like in this situation - because in this case I absolutely adore this drink. It tastes like lollies with some heat behind them. I knew what to expect with the vodka so it did not come as a shock this time, I knew there was no fizz to it and it will be quite smooth going down and I loved the flavour. Before my lips even touched the liquid my nose was in over drive.

Now this is something I can see myself drinking. I do not drink alcohol besides the odd cider, but I really did enjoy this. I even ended up finishing my husbands drink. I could see myself drinking this after a long day at work. I find it relaxed me and I could not get enough of the smell. Definitely my favourite of the three flavours and one I am very keen to have again.