Holiday drinks are one detail I’d rather choose before guests arrive. At Food Lion, these six sodas are worth considering for festive meals, movie nights, mocktails, parties, or a quiet treat for yourself.
Prices were checked at foodlion.com on October 24; they vary by store and change with each week’s ad.
1. Coca-Cola Holiday Creamy Vanilla Soda – 12 pk – $8.99
Creamy vanilla gives classic Coke a holiday-dessert turn that suits movie nights and casual gatherings. I’d bring out this 12-pack when regular cola feels a little too everyday.
Taste: Vanilla-frosting sweetness softens the familiar caramel-like cola flavor. The standard carbonation keeps its creamy mouthfeel from becoming too heavy.
Make It Better: Pour it over ice cream for an easy float, or serve it very cold over ice alongside salty snacks.
Parting Thoughts: Dessert-soda drinkers should enjoy the nostalgia, though anyone wary of extra sweetness may prefer classic Coke.
2. Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry Soda – 12 pk
Holiday mocktails get more interesting with this annual cranberry-and-spice variation on lemon-lime Sprite. Its 12-can format is handy when both children and adults need a festive alcohol-free option.
Taste: Tart cranberry cuts across the crisp lemon-lime base, while warm spice adds a distinctly wintry note. The fizz stays light and lively rather than syrupy.
Make It Better: Add rosemary and fresh cranberries for a polished mocktail, or use it as a vodka mixer for the adults.
Parting Thoughts: The spice makes this more distinctive than ordinary cranberry soda, but purists may miss a simpler fruit profile.
3. 7UP Shirley Temple Pomegranate & Cherry Flavored Soda – 12 pk – $8.99
Nostalgia is the draw here: 7UP turns the familiar Shirley Temple combination of pomegranate, cherry, and lemon-lime into a limited holiday soda. The 12-pack works especially well for family parties where a playful mocktail belongs on the table.
Taste: Sweet cherry and pomegranate lead, followed by a citrusy lemon-lime lift. Its light, refreshing fizz keeps the candy-like fruit flavors moving.
Make It Better: Use it as a punch base with fruit, or turn it into a Dirty Shirley with vodka.
Parting Thoughts: Anyone who loved Shirley Temples as a kid will understand the appeal, while less-sweet palates may want plenty of ice.
4. Canada Dry Cranberry Ginger Ale Soda Caffeine Free – 12 pk – $10.99
For a more traditional holiday table, cranberry Canada Dry brings fruit flavor to caffeine-free ginger ale without requiring any mixing. I like it with dinner or set out over ice when guests want something familiar but seasonal.
Taste: Cranberry provides a tart edge against the ginger ale’s gently spicy flavor. Crisp bubbles give each sip a clean, refreshing finish.
Make It Better: Serve it over ice in a punch or use it in a Poinsettia; there is no current store offer, so I’d also watch for a future deal before stocking up.
Parting Thoughts: Its balanced tartness makes it an easy crowd-pleaser rather than the boldest soda in the cart.
5. Cheerwine Holiday Punch Soft Drink
Southern holiday parties are exactly where this ready-to-drink Cheerwine blend earns its place. Cherry soda, ginger ale, and pineapple notes create an instant punch option for hosts who would rather skip a long ingredient list.
Taste: Bold cherry meets bright pineapple, with ginger adding a little spice to the fruit-forward profile. The carbonation feels smooth and refreshing rather than sharply fizzy.
Make It Better: Chill it well and add sherbet scoops or fruit just before serving; adults can also spike individual glasses.
Parting Thoughts: Party hosts will appreciate the convenience, provided a full-flavored cherry-pineapple punch sounds better than a subtle soda.
6. Olipop Crisp Apple Prebiotic Soda – $2.79
One refrigerated can of Crisp Apple is my pick for a solo seasonal treat or a small mocktail experiment. It brings 5 grams of sugar, 9 grams of fiber, and 50 calories to an apple flavor designed for the holiday season.
Taste: The flavor lands between sparkling apple juice and gummy apple rings, mixing crisp fruit with a sweeter candy note. A light fizz gives it lift without the forceful carbonation of some conventional sodas.
Make It Better: Keep it cold and pour it into a glass as the base for an apple-forward holiday mocktail.
Parting Thoughts: It is worth a look for prebiotic-soda drinkers, though the gummy-ring sweetness will not suit every apple-cider fan.
