Hey there, fellow drink enthusiasts! If you follow me on Instagram, you‘ve probably seen me posting about Loverboy hard teas and spritzes all summer long. As a self-proclaimed "drink influencer" always on the hunt for the trendiest new adult beverages, I knew I had to give this celeb-backed brand a try.
But before I get into my personal experience with Loverboy, let me give you a quick rundown on what they‘re all about. Created by Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula from Bravo‘s Summer House, Loverboy is a line of sparkling hard teas, spritzes, and canned cocktails made with "clean" ingredients like organic brewed tea, natural fruit juices, and zero artificial flavors. They‘ve been blowing up on social media for their Instagrammable cans and better-for-you positioning.
As someone who loves a good drink but hates feeling sluggish the next day, I was intrigued by Loverboy‘s promise of "a love affair you won‘t regret in the morning." But do they live up to the hype? I‘ve tried almost every flavor and analyzed the nutrition facts so you don‘t have to. Keep reading for my honest Loverboy drinks review!
Deep Dive Into Loverboy‘s Drinks
Before I get into my personal opinions, let‘s break down the basics of what Loverboy currently offers:
Sparkling Hard Teas
- 4.2% ABV
- 90 calories per 12 oz can
- 0g sugar
- Organic brewed tea base
- Sweetened with monk fruit and stevia leaf extract
- 5 flavors: White Tea Peach, Hibiscus Pomegranate, Lemon Iced Tea, Green Tea Ginger Lime, Half Tea & Half Lemonade
I‘ll be honest, I was a little skeptical of hard tea at first. But after trying Loverboy‘s sparkling teas, I‘m a convert! They‘re so light and refreshing, with a subtle sweetness that doesn‘t taste artificial at all. The White Tea Peach reminded me of a fancier version of a Snapple, while the Half & Half Lemonade tasted just like the classic Arnold Palmer.
My only critique is that at 4.2% ABV, these are definitely on the lighter side in terms of alcohol content. I found myself reaching for a second can pretty quickly. But that could be a plus if you‘re looking for a sessionable daytime drink that won‘t derail your entire day.
Loverboy Spritzes
- 6% ABV
- 150-160 calories per 8.4 oz can
- 2g sugar
- Made with "orange wine" (wine macerated with orange peels)
- Real fruit juices and natural flavors
- 5 flavors: Blueberry Lemon, Mango Peach, Pineapple Passionfruit, Pomegranate Ginger, Cherry Lime
The spritzes are where Loverboy gets to show off its mixology skills. These colorful cans pack a little more punch at 6% ABV, but still go down dangerously easy. Each flavor is bursting with real fruit that‘s perfectly bubbly without being too sweet.
As a wine lover, I was especially intrigued by the use of "orange wine" as a base. You can definitely taste a slightly tangy, skin-contact vibe that makes these more complex than your average canned cocktail. The Blueberry Lemon and Cherry Lime were my personal faves for their nostalgic popsicle vibes.
Loverboy Espresso Martini
- 12% ABV
- 200 calories per 8.4 oz can
- 0g sugar
- Made with orange wine, cold brew coffee, coffee extract, MCT oil
- Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free
- Sweetened with monk fruit
- Single flavor
I‘ll admit, I was most excited to try Loverboy‘s viral canned espresso martini. As someone who used to bartend, I know how much of a pain it is to make these from scratch. Loverboy‘s version sounded like a convenient shortcut, but I was curious if they could capture the real deal.
Spoiler alert: This thing is DELICIOUS. Upon first sip, you get a bold dark roast coffee flavor with the perfect amount of creamy sweetness, thanks to the monk fruit extract and MCT oil. It‘s lightly frothy like a just-shaken cocktail and doesn‘t taste artificial at all. The orange wine provides an interesting tang that keeps it from being one-note.
Compared to bottled espresso martinis I‘ve tried from brands like Mr Black, Loverboy‘s stands out for using cold brew coffee and natural sweetener. However, at $48 for a 4-pack, this is definitely more of a "treat yourself" purchase than an everyday sipper.
How Does Loverboy Compare?
To put Loverboy into context, I wanted to see how they stack up nutritionally against some other popular canned cocktails. Here‘s a quick comparison:
| Brand | ABV | Calories | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loverboy Hard Tea | 4.2% | 90 | 0g |
| Truly Hard Tea | 5% | 100 | 1g |
| Crook & Marker Hard Tea | 4% | 100 | 0g |
| Loverboy Spritz | 6% | 150-160 | 2g |
| Truly Lemonade | 5% | 100 | 1g |
| White Claw | 5% | 100 | 2g |
| Loverboy Espresso Martini | 12% | 200 | 0g |
| Mr Black Espresso Martini | 12.5% | 110 | 4g |
| Kahlúa Espresso Martini | 4.5% | 170 | 11g |
As you can see, Loverboy has some of the lowest sugar counts across the board, which is a big part of their "better-for-you" marketing. The hard teas and spritzes are on par calorically with other hard seltzers, while having a bit less alcohol.
The espresso martini is higher in calories than competitors, but also ditches the added sugar. So it really comes down to whether you prefer a sweeter drink or are looking to avoid sugar.
Loverboy‘s Brand Story
Part of Loverboy‘s appeal is the attractive millennial couple behind the brand. Husband-and-wife duo Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula, who you might recognize from Bravo‘s Summer House, founded Loverboy in 2018 after discovering a shared passion for "clean" cocktails.
As Kyle told Betches, "We would always show up to the Hamptons house with a Tupperware full of ingredients to make our own lighter, low sugar, gluten-free cocktails…Our housemates were always asking us to make drinks for them, so the idea for Loverboy was really born out of necessity."
I love this origin story because it feels so relatable. Who among us hasn‘t shown up to a party with our own "skinny" cocktail supplies to avoid the hangover-inducing jungle juice?
After two years of bootstrapping, Loverboy closed a $7M Series A funding round in 2021 and has expanded distribution to 44 states. The brand has also grown its e-commerce sales by over 1000%.
While Loverboy is still a relative newcomer compared to industry giants, they‘ve already made a splash with their distinct branding and better-for-you positioning. And having Kyle and Amanda‘s platform definitely hasn‘t hurt with attracting a dedicated Bravo fan base.
What Do Customers Think?
Of course, a brand is nothing without its customers. I scoured the internet for Loverboy drinks reviews to see what other people are saying. Spoiler alert: the overall consensus is very positive!
On Loverboy‘s website, the hard teas have an impressive 4.8 out of 5 star average rating from over 500 reviews. Fans rave about the taste and clean ingredients, with comments like:
"I have tried EVERY hard seltzer out there and none of them compare to Loverboy. There is no chalky weird after taste, no headache, and the flavors are perfection." – Kayla P.
"Love these so much! They‘re lightly sweet and bubbly. I feel good about the ingredients in them too." – Melissa A.
The spritzes are even more popular, with a near-perfect 4.9 average rating. Many reviewers call out how refreshing and flavorful they are, without being too sugary:
"The spritzes are so delicious and dangerous because they go down so easily! I love the real fruit ingredients you can taste." – Rachel D.
"These are perfect for bringing to pool parties and BBQs. Everyone always asks me for one once they try them!" – John M.
As for the espresso martini, it has a 5 out of 5 star average rating from several dozen reviews. People are obsessed with how close it tastes to a fresh espresso martini, without any of the work:
"I was shocked at how good this tasted. I‘m a bit of an espresso martini snob and this exceeded my expectations. Will definitely be stocking up for holiday parties!" – Lauren S.
Of course, no product is without its critics. A few reviewers complained that the hard teas and spritzes were "too expensive for what you get" or "tasted watery." Some also said they wished the ABV was higher.
But overall, the vast majority of customers seem to be raving fans of Loverboy. The brand also has glowing write-ups in publications like Delish, Refinery29, and PureWow.
My Loverboy Drinks Review: The Final Verdict
So, is Loverboy worth the hype? After trying every flavor and reading countless reviews, my answer is a resounding yes.
From a taste and ingredients perspective, Loverboy really delivers on its promise of an elevated drink experience. All of the flavors I tried tasted premium and natural, without the artificial aftertaste I often get from canned cocktails. I loved the use of organic brewed tea and real fruit juices in such fun varieties.
I was also impressed by Loverboy‘s low sugar and calorie counts, which make me feel like I‘m making a smarter choice for my body. While these definitely aren‘t "healthy," they do seem like a better alternative to most sugary mixed drinks.
The only downside I could see is that Loverboy‘s drinks are on the pricier end at around $3-4 per can. And as I mentioned before, the alcohol content is relatively low if you‘re looking for a stronger buzz.
But for me, the natural ingredients, sophisticated flavors, and cute packaging are worth the price point. I could totally see myself sipping the spritzes at a bachelorette party or impressing guests with the espresso martini.
At the end of the day, Loverboy is a perfect fit for my lifestyle as a millennial who loves a fun drink but hates feeling gross the next day. I think the brand is doing a great job at filling a gap in the market for a premixed cocktail that feels elevated and clean. The Bravo star power certainly doesn‘t hurt either!
If you‘re also someone who appreciates a well-crafted, not-too-sweet drink, I highly recommend giving Loverboy a shot. My personal favorite flavors are the White Tea Peach hard tea, Blueberry Lemon spritz, and of course the espresso martini for a special treat.
Ultimately, there‘s a reason why Loverboy has amassed a cult following in just a few short years. While they may not become your everyday go-to, they‘re a great option to have on hand for any occasion when you want to treat yourself and your friends to a next-level drinking experience without the guilt.
Did I make you thirsty? Cheers to that!
