Apple cider vinegar has achieved cult status in the wellness world, sitting pretty in pantries everywhere like the overachieving health nut of condiments. Devotees swear it’s a magic elixir for everything from gut harmony to shrinking waistlines and taming unruly blood sugar levels.
But let’s be honest — drinking straight ACV is not a pleasant experience, particularly if your taste buds are uninitiated. One sip and you’ll look like you just bit into a lemon. Thankfully, some brilliant food scientists realized that maybe, just maybe, people don’t want to punish their taste buds in the name of health.
Enter the ACV drink revolution: Clever concoctions that smuggle all that supposed goodness past your taste buds without triggering a full facial contortion. These sneaky, healthy beverages team up the vinegar’s aggressive tang with friendlier ingredients like fruit juice, honey and ginger.
I’ve taste-tested the most promising apple cider vinegar beverage options so you don’t have to play Russian roulette with your palate. Here are the winners that’ll let you join the ACV bandwagon without the sour aftertaste.
What is the best overall apple cider vinegar drink?
When you picture a bottle of apple cider vinegar, you likely picture Bragg. As one of the most well-known ACV brands, Bragg uses raw and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar that includes “the mother,” which gives the liquid its slightly murky look — and is also what gives the ACV its potential health benefits. Bragg Refreshers have all-natural ingredients and are certified organic. They come in four refreshing flavors that each provide a kombucha-esque taste experience.
Read more: Apple Cider Vinegar 101: Potential Health Benefits, Side Effects and Proper Dosage
Video: Taste-Testing 6 Apple Cider Vinegar Drinks
Watch us sample various apple cider vinegar beverages. You can tell by our faces how they taste.
What we updated: May 2025
Updated listicle format. Removed an out-of-stock product from the list. Added additional product details and a comparison chart. Included an FAQ section at the bottom.
Best apple cider vinegar drinks of 2025
Pros
- Certified organic and gluten-free
- Four refreshing flavor choices
- No added sugars, coloring or preservatives
Cons
- Some flavors may have too much sugar
Why we like it: The Bragg Refreshers come in four tasty flavors: apple cinnamon, ginger lemon honey (my favorite), honey and green tea and Concord grade and hibiscus. Each 16-oz bottle includes all-natural ingredients and two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar sourced from 100% organic apples, creating a refreshing, slightly sweet beverage anchored by apple cider vinegar.
Who it is best for: If you like kombucha, you’ll enjoy Bragg’s Refreshers. These 40-calorie beverages are best served shaken and poured over ice. It’s also a good option if you’re looking for an apple cider vinegar drink that is USDA organic-certified, non-GMO, kosher and gluten-free.
Who shouldn’t buy it: If you’re watching your sugar intake, you’ll want to check the nutrition label first. Each flavor of Bragg Refreshers has a different amount of sugar, ranging from 10g in a bottle of the Concord grape and hibiscus to 20g in a bottle of honey green tea — however, it’s worth noting that there is no added sugar.
Pros
- Organic and raw apple cider vinegar
- Perfectly refreshing without being too sweet
- Uses premium New Zealand honey and real fruit juice
Cons
- Expensive ($39.25 for a 12-pack of cans)
Why we like it: New Zealand-based Sidekicks Sodas are not your typical sugar-filled soda. These fruity and tart beverages integrate healthy ACV with New Zealand honey and real fruit flavors. All four Sidekick Sodas recipes are excellent — not too sweet and perfectly refreshing.
Flavor options include mango, strawberry, cherry and pear. I enjoyed strawberry the most and found the sparkling beverage tasted best when poured over ice. Sidekick Sodas come in cans and glass bottles (though the bottles are currently out of stock).
Who it is best for: Sidekick Sodas are best for those seeking a healthier yet flavorful and fizzy alternative to soft drinks. Each can contains 10 grams of sugar and all-natural ingredients, including raw, unfiltered ACV with the “mother.”
If you want to support a company that prioritizes sustainability, you’ll be pleased to know that Sidekick Soda partners with the Cherry Rescue Project to reduce food waste by salvaging aesthetically imperfect cherries.
Who shouldn’t buy it: If you’re seeking a super cheap apple cider vinegar drink, this isn’t it. A 12-pack of cans on Sidekick’s website costs $39.25 USD, while a 12-pack of glass bottles costs $45.50.
Pros
- Low in sugar and calories
- A ton of fun and refreshing flavor options
- Variety packs make it easy for parties
Cons
- Doesn’t use raw apple cider vinegar, so may not get the full health benefits of ACV
Why we like it: Poppi offers a popular line of low-calorie prebiotic sodas said to aid in digestive health. It boasts apple cider vinegar as the third ingredient after water and cane sugar.
Poppi doesn’t play around when it comes to flavor variety, which includes fun choices like root beer, cream soda, cherry cola, wild berry, alpine blast and many more. I tried lemon strawberry and ginger lime and found both delicious. The intensity of the apple cider vinegar is tamer than in some of the other beverages I tried.
Who it is best for: Poppi is ideal if you’re looking for refreshing flavor variety packs to have on hand during backyard grill outs, game day gatherings and summer fun in the sun with family and friends. They’re also great if you’re looking for a low-sugar option — the sodas aren’t too sweet, with only 4 grams of sugar and 25 calories per can.
Who shouldn’t buy it: Poppi uses some organic ingredients but is not certified organic. If you seek organic certification, you’ll want to look elsewhere. It’s also gluten-free but not certified gluten-free.
Pros
- Great way to drink your ACV quickly
- Boosts digestion and immunity
- Certified organic ingredients
Cons
- On the expensive side
- Not for casual sipping
Why we like it: If you prefer to down your ACV in one gulp, there are premixed apple cider vinegar-based shots you can take. Remedy Organic’s version is a powerhouse of ingredients to aid digestion and boost immunity with multiple flavor options.
Who it is best for: If you want the health benefits of apple cider vinegar but can’t stand the taste, consider a Remedy Organics shot. Depending on the intended function, they come in various flavors and ingredients: digest, energize, heal and protect. I enjoyed the digest shot, which includes apple cider vinegar, prebiotics, zinc, vitamins C and D, ginger and cayenne pepper to balance the tart flavor.
Who shouldn’t buy it: These shots are not for you if you want a fruity or fizzy drink to sip casually. A 12-pack of 2-ounce shots goes for $50 on Amazon, so it’s not the best choice if you need something cheap.
Pros
- Tons of vitamins and antioxidants
- Cheaper than most of the others
- Easy to take on the go
Cons
- Not the best taste
- Have to mix it yourself
Why we like it: If you want your apple cider vinegar with an extra shot of immune-boosting vitamins, try Emergen-C’s daily immune support packets with added botanicals for energy. Each 35-calorie packet contains 260mg of dehydrated ACV. It’s unclear if powdered apple cider vinegar is as potent as vinegar in its liquid form, but the powdered elixir contains loads of vitamins C, B-6 and B-12, so it certainly can’t hurt to slug one mixed with water.
Who it is best for: If you’re looking for a more affordable way to boost your immune system and receive the benefits of apple cider vinegar, try Emergen-C. All you have to do is mix the packet with 4 to 6 ounces of water. An 18-pack is $15 at Walmart, making them the cheapest on our list. They’re also caffeine-free, whereas others included here are not.
Who shouldn’t buy it: These drink mixes taste fine, but were my least favorite of the bunch. I missed the punch of fresh juice and tartness that comes with the other beverages on this list. It may not be the move if you’re only in it for the taste.
Pros
- Certified organic
- Easy to get your daily dose of ACV
- All flavors are tasty
Cons
- ACV taste is a bit strong
Why we like it: Bragg has a line of apple cider vinegar shots in several flavor combinations. All of them are pretty tasty, but the carrot ginger and pineapple cayenne were my personal favorites.
Who it is best for: The 20-calorie shots, sweetened with organic honey and fruit juice, go down smoother than rum punch in July. It’s a great option if you’re looking for an easy-to-swig apple cider vinegar beverage. It’s best to take the shot before or with a meal.
Bragg’s Organic ACV Shots are on the expensive side — a pack of four 2-ounce shots costs $20 on Amazon but frequently goes on sale for around $15.
Who shouldn’t buy it: These small shots pack a punch, so if you want something tasty to sip on, this isn’t it.
Remedy Apple Cider Vinegar Sparkling Water: I’m a massive sparkling water drinker, so it’s no surprise I connected with this one. It’s lighter and less intense than Bragg’s Refreshers. The sweetness of the blood orange and a bit of stevia help offset the tartness of the vinegar. If you’re a habitual seltzer drinker, you’ll likely find it easy to incorporate into your daily routine. ACV is the second ingredient after water in this 5-calorie beverage, but this balanced sparkling drink is one I could happily down every day. It’s also sugar-free and USDA organic.
It’s not on our main list primarily because it’s currently unavailable for sale in the US.
When buying a premade apple cider vinegar drink, consider the following:
- Type of ACV (raw or pasteurized)
- Type of drink (mixed versus shot)
- Other ingredients
- Flavor profile
- Price and your budget
Choosing the best apple cider drink for you depends on your goals. Are you drinking for the potential benefits of ACV or simply as a refreshing beverage? Do you prefer quick and easy shots or something to slowly sip on?
If you’re consuming it for health reasons, you’ll want to stick with one that uses raw or unpasteurized apple cider vinegar. It has “the mother,” which is the primary source of bacteria and yeast believed to house beneficial microorganisms and probiotics to help digestion. Most of the beverages on this list use raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar.
If you’re consuming it for the potential health benefits and not just for the taste, you’ll likely want to avoid those with higher sugar counts. Though most ACV drinks have much less added sugar than a typical can of soda, some brands may still have quite a bit (often because of the natural fruit juice sugars).
When trying premade ACV beverages, we considered multiple characteristics, including the overall taste, ingredients, flavor options, amount of sugar and calories, type of ACV used and the price. Multiple CNET experts tried seven kinds of apple cider vinegar drinks, including ACV sparkling water, a few blends of ACV and fruit juices and some flavored shots of premixed vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar drinks compared
| Brand | Single Price | Pack Price | Calories | Flavor(s) | Amount of ACV | Amount of Sugar | Certified Organic? | Gluten-Free? | Raw ACV? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bragg Refresher | $3.48 | $13.92 (4-pack) | 80 | Apple cinnamon, ginger lemon honey, honey and green tea, Concord grade and hibiscus | 2 tbsp | 10-20g | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sidekick Soda (cans) | $3.98 | $39.25 (12-pack) | 60 | Cherry, mango, pear, strawberry | 1 tbsp | 10g | No | Yes | Yes |
| Poppi Prebiotic Soda | $2.19 | $29.99 (12-pack) | <35 | Cream soda, doc pop, orange, strawberry lemon, cherry cola, orange cream, wildberry, lemon lime, ginger lime, raspberry rose, grape, cherry limeade, watermelon, classic cola, root beer, alpine blast | 1 tbsp | 4g | No | Yes | No |
| Remedy ACV Shot | $4.17 | $49.99 (12-pack) | 20 | Ginger tumeric, matcha, elderberry, apple cider vinegar | Unspecified | 4g | Yes | Yes | Unspecified |
| Emergen-C ACV Packet | $0.83 | $14.99 (18-pack) | 35 | Apple | Unspecified | 6g | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bragg ACV Shot | $4.99 | $19.98 (4-pack) | 20 | Pineapple cayenne, ginger tumeric, honey, carrot ginger | 1 tbsp | 4g | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remedy Sparkling ACV | $2.04 | $49.00 (24-pack) | 6 | Blood orange | Unspecified | 0g | Yes | Yes | Yes |
While there are many potential health benefits, apple cider vinegar is naturally acidic. If not consumed properly, it can cause adverse side effects, such as enamel erosion and digestive issues. It’s best to drink diluted apple cider vinegar and no more than 1 to 2 tablespoons daily.
If you’re not purchasing a premade ACV drink, you can make your own at home. It’s as simple as mixing it with water and honey, lemon, cinnamon or ginger for added flavor and nutritional enhancement.
Always consult your doctor before making significant changes to your diet, especially if you’re on medications or have underlying conditions.
More research is needed, but some studies have found that apple cider vinegar may aid in weight loss. Health experts suggest drinking ACV before or during a meal, as it can make you feel fuller. Mixing in lemon or honey can help make it more palatable, but there’s no magic concoction of apple cider vinegar guaranteed to help you lose weight.
It depends on what you’re using it for, but substitutes for apple cider vinegar in recipes include white wine vinegar, rice wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice.
Apple cider vinegar is fermented, producing an extremely strong tart flavor. It’s so sour that most people can’t help but make a face when drinking it plain.
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