The best apricot soda for you depends on which of three approaches you actually want: a syrupy apricot-nectar soda, a peach-apricot blend, or a tart craft apricot soda built on flavor rather than nectar. They all share the word "apricot" and a golden color, but the sugar load and where the flavor actually comes from vary a lot from one to the next.
What makes an apricot soda "the best" one
"Best" depends on what you’re optimizing for. If it’s a sweet, syrupy nostalgia drink, a nectar-style apricot soda wins. If you just want something fruity that isn’t cherry or orange, a peach-apricot blend will do the job without much real apricot character showing through. If you want the actual taste of an apricot — tart, floral, a little tangy — that’s a different shelf, and it’s the one Reckon Apricot is built for.
Three things worth checking on any can: whether the apricot flavor is natural or artificial, how much added sugar is in the full can (not a serving fraction), and whether the gold color comes from a plant source like carotenes or a synthetic dye.
Three types of apricot soda on shelves today
| Type | Flavor source | Sugar per 12oz | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apricot nectar soda | Apricot puree or nectar concentrate | ~38–42g | Sweet, syrupy, old-school fruit-soda fans |
| Peach-apricot blend soda | Blended stone-fruit flavoring | ~35–40g | A softer, less distinct apricot note |
| Tart craft apricot soda (Reckon) | Natural apricot flavor, colored with carotenes | 12g | Sun-ripe apricot flavor, controlled sugar, no artificial dye |
For a full breakdown of what apricot soda actually is and how it’s made, see What Is Apricot Soda? Meet the Underrated Fruit Fizz.
Where Reckon Apricot fits
Reckon Apricot starts from an old-world recipe and gets its color from carotenes — the same pigments that make carrots and apricots orange — instead of a synthetic dye. It lands at 80 calories and 12 grams of sugar per can, less than half the sugar of a typical cola, and it’s caffeine-free. Because it contains wheat (barley malt), it’s not gluten-free. That’s the honest trade: real sugar and a shorter ingredient list instead of a diet shortcut.
It’s also a genuinely useful pairing soda. Its tartness cuts through rich or savory food the way a cola never quite manages, which makes it an easy pour at a cookout table alongside something heavier. If you want to compare it side by side with the tart Cherry, see Tart Cherry vs. Sun-Ripe Apricot. Ready to try it? Go straight to the Apricot 12-pack, or get both in the variety pack.
Not too sweet. On purpose.
Frequently asked questions
Is apricot soda the same as peach soda?
No. Peach and apricot are related stone fruits but taste different — apricot is tangier and less sweet than peach, with a floral edge. Reckon Apricot leads with apricot, not a peach blend.
Does apricot soda have artificial color?
Reckon Apricot doesn’t. Its golden color comes from carotenes, the same natural pigments that color carrots and apricots, not a synthetic dye.