Vive ∙ Blood Orange
Cold Hard Facts
Available in 12 oz. skinny cans sold within 12-can variety packs
2g sugar
100 calories
8 calories from sugar, 92 calories from alcohol
Flavor Profile
My first impression was that the flavor was slightly stronger and more artificial than a lot of seltzers, and it was certainly more than the “hint of blood orange” promised on the can. It starts off with a strong LaCroix flavor, and then fades into a light, but distinctive and surprisingly pleasing Sunny D aftertaste. It was almost creamsicle-esque. I was worried this Vive would taste like orange Gatorade or a Popsicle, but that was far from the case.
This isn’t the only blood orange seltzer on the market, as Truly has had Sicilian blood orange in the past. Spiked Seltzer brand spiked seltzer has a Valencia orange, and Truly also has a plain orange. I’m not sure how this stacks up to actual blood oranges for flavor, but I would still trust Vive to explore other types of orange. Mandarin, perhaps, or clementine?
Drinkability
Of all of the Vive flavors in the fridge, this one seemed like the best post-gym shower seltzer, which was what I needed at the moment. It was satisfying, but it’s on the boozy side (5%) to be the ideal workout recovery alcoholic beverage. This seltzer was not as crisp as, say, a beer in the shower, but it was refreshing. It’s nice to enjoy a single can of this particular Vive, but, in the same way you cannot pound Sunny D all day, it wouldn’t be as enjoyable to have more than one or two of these at a time.
Price
Vive brand seltzers are relatively new, so it’s tough to say what pricing will be like as they travel farther from the source and as their production gains economies of scale. Given that Braxton Brewing Company is very close to our HQ and Vive is new, here is the HardSeltzerReviews.com price index estimate:
Dive Bar
$3-5 for a 12 oz. can
Bar/Restaurant
$4-6 for a 12 oz. can
$5 at Braxton Brewing Co.
Store
$18 for a 12-pack of 12 oz. cans
Recommendations
This one might not play well with other seltzers or mixers, due to the potentially cloying orange drink undertone. I wouldn’t serve it over ice, either. Again, if you wouldn’t do it to Sunny D, I wouldn’t do it to Vive’s Blood Orange seltzer.
Summary
Taste
4/5
Price
$$$
Drinkability
3.5/5
Hangover Ease
3/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Not the weakest link
The orange Tang might not appeal to everyone the same way, but it’s not an off-putting or particularly challenging flavor. This one won’t bring a variety pack down, but it’s not the most versatile either. Vive seltzers are reliable in flavor and are comparative to the industry standard for sugar, ABV, carbs, and calories, so it’s worth a try if it’s available.