Review: Something & Nothing Premium Sodas, Complete Lineup

I’m often skeptical of “better” sodas because, well, they often taste like ass. Is it possible to make a carbonated beverage with no added sugar and no artificial flavors and make it taste good? Turns out you can: Something & Nothing has seemingly done the impossible with its collection of sodas, which use fresh grape fruit for sweetness and lemon juice for a tart edge. The remaining ingredients on the side of each can — which offer just 40 to 60 calories, depending on the variety — are easily pronounceable.

The UK brand made it to the U.S. with just 3 flavors in 2023 and now has 8 on the market. We tried them all.

Something & Nothing Pineapple & Pink Grapefruit Premium Soda – Here’s a fun little adventure: Clear pineapple on the nose, then grapefruit on the palate. Pineapple comes roaring back again on the finish. A table grape-like character provides an enduring sweetness, but the there-and-back-again construction makes for a fun, fruity romp. Try it with rum or gin. A

Something & Nothing Mango & Thai Basil Premium Soda – The Thai basil element dominates from the start, but it’s surprisingly quite refreshing with a briskly herbal, spicy, and slightly sweet attack. That sweetness is the mango talking, which offers a tightly tropical vibe, meandering into coconut water notes and finishing with flavors of makrut lime and lemongrass. A-

Something & Nothing Cucumber Premium Soda – Drew’s personal favorite is a winner, a substantial cucumber flavor complemented by lemon and mint. Unlike in the Yuzu expression (see below), the mint is more nuanced, buried deep in the background and coming across more like an accent. A light twist of lemon gives the finish a bright, cleansing lift. Great with gin, or vodka if you must. A-

Something & Nothing Ginger & Key Lime Premium Soda – This is one of the most straightforward offerings in the S&N stable, landing somewhere between a ginger ale and a racier ginger beer. The ginger is spicy without being overwhelming. The key lime is a bit overwhelmed and as such isn’t as readily detectable (or identifiable as key lime) but it definitely doesn’t detract from the experience. Drop a shot of rum in this and you are ready to go, no garnish needed. A-

Something & Nothing Yuzu Premium Soda – A brisk citrus attack is complemented by an herbal quality that approximates lemongrass, all a prelude for the finish, which showcases a surprising final item on the ingredients list: mint. Dried mint notes become so prominent on the fadeout that it’s a surprise that mint is not officially listed in the product name alongside yuzu, given the super-sized impact it has. It’s a reasonably fun sipper solo, but I really enjoyed this with Campari. B+

Something & Nothing Sicilian Lemon Iced Tea Premium Soda – The only tea-centric expression in the S&N lineup, this one feels more mildly carbonated than others in the lineup, which is probably a good thing to avoid drowning out the more delicate notes of tea leaf. Lemon however is the big focus here, and there’s plenty of it, the tea notes playing second fiddle and turning a bit herbal as it develops, with a light earthiness to the finish. Bigger fans of tea than me will probably thrill to this more artisanal version of an Arizona. B+

Something & Nothing Orange & Mandarin Premium Soda – Orange Crush done the natural way. This one’s fairly innocuous and straightforward, and while orange soda isn’t a flavor I ever gravitate to, here it at least comes across with both nostalgia and authenticity. There’s more overt sweetness with this expression than in other S&N offerings — but that tracks given the inspiration. B

Something & Nothing Hibiscus & Rose Premium Soda – I wasn’t exactly jonesing to get my lips on this flower-flavored soda, but the florals are light enough to make this approachable even for someone not thrilled about the idea of dipping into a carbonated version of grandma’s perfume. That said, it’s flowers from start to finish. A little cranberry flavor in the mix helps add some gentle sourness as a tempering element, but the overall construction never quite comes together beyond that. Also not sure what would you do with this. Add gin? B

each $34 per 12-pack of 12 oz cans [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]

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