Beyond the Fizz: What is Simply Spiked Sweetened with?

October 17, 2025 •

4 min read

While the hard seltzer market has bubbled over with low-calorie options, many consumers are still hazy on the ingredients in their favorite drinks. This is especially true for popular brands, leaving many to ask, what is Simply Spiked sweetened with?

Quick Summary

Simply Spiked uses a combination of cane sugar and stevia extract for its sweet flavor, alongside real fruit juice from concentrate. This dual-sweetener approach contributes to its higher calorie and sugar content compared to many lighter hard seltzers, influencing its nutritional profile.

Key Points

Dual Sweeteners: Simply Spiked is sweetened with a combination of cane sugar and stevia extract to achieve its signature sweet flavor.
Higher Sugar Content: Due to the use of cane sugar, Simply Spiked has a higher sugar count (18g) and calories (170) per 12oz serving compared to many traditional hard seltzers.
Real Fruit Juice: The beverage contains 5% real fruit juice from concentrate, contributing to its rich flavor and sugar content.
Nutritional Awareness: For those monitoring sugar or calorie intake, Simply Spiked offers a different nutritional profile than many lower-sugar hard seltzer alternatives.
Flavor Profile: The mix of sweeteners and real juice gives Simply Spiked a sweeter, more complex, and less effervescent flavor than typical hard seltzers.
Important for Dieting: Understanding these ingredients is crucial for fitting the beverage into a balanced diet, as its calorie and sugar load can add up quickly.

The Sweetening Agents: Cane Sugar and Stevia Extract

Unlike many hard seltzers that rely solely on fermented sugar, Simply Spiked utilizes a specific combination of sweetening agents to achieve its bold flavor profile. The core sweetness comes from cane sugar, a traditional sugar source that provides a classic sugary taste. However, Simply Spiked also incorporates stevia extract to further enhance the sweetness. This zero-calorie natural sweetener, derived from the stevia plant, allows the beverage to achieve a higher perceived sweetness without a proportional increase in sugar and calories. The result is a richer, more robust flavor that sets it apart from many competitors, which are often described as less sweet or less complex.

Nutritional Impact and Sugar Content

While the addition of stevia helps to manage the overall sugar load, Simply Spiked is not a low-sugar beverage. For instance, a 12-ounce can of Simply Spiked Signature Lemonade contains 18 grams of sugar, with 17 grams listed as added sugar, contributing to 170 total calories. This places it on the higher end of the spectrum when compared to many hard seltzers on the market, which may contain as little as 2 grams of sugar per serving. The higher sugar and calorie count means it's a different nutritional proposition than a traditional hard seltzer. Consumers focused on a low-sugar or low-carbohydrate diet should be aware of this distinction when making their beverage choices.

The Role of Real Fruit Juice

A key differentiator for Simply Spiked is its use of real fruit juice, which has been squeezed and concentrated. This contributes to the drink's vibrant and authentic fruit flavor, and also introduces natural sugars alongside the added cane sugar. By using a combination of juice and natural flavors, Simply Spiked aims to deliver a richer taste experience, moving it closer to a canned cocktail or flavored malt beverage (FMB) than a simple hard seltzer. The various flavors, such as Strawberry Lemonade or Blueberry Lemonade, get their distinct taste from these juice concentrates.

Comparing Simply Spiked to Other Popular Options

To understand where Simply Spiked fits in the market, it's helpful to compare its ingredients and nutritional profile to other popular hard seltzers. The table below outlines some key differences.


Feature	Simply Spiked	White Claw	Spindrift Spiked
Sweeteners	Cane sugar and stevia extract	Fermented cane sugar	Fermented cane sugar, real fruit juice
Flavoring	Real fruit juice (from concentrate) and natural flavors	Natural flavors	Real squeezed fruit juice
Sugar (per 12oz)	18g (Signature Lemonade)	~2g (Standard)	Varies by flavor (e.g., Real Squeezed Lemon is sweeter)
Calories (per 12oz)	170 (Signature Lemonade)	100 (Standard)	~90-100 (Standard)
Flavor Profile	Rich, sweet, and juicy	Crisp, light, and less sweet	Bright, fresh, and authentically fruity
Base Alcohol	Fermented malt beverage (FMB)	Fermented cane sugar	Fermented cane sugar

Why Ingredients Matter for Nutritional Choices

For those managing their nutritional intake, understanding the sweeteners in any beverage is critical. The combination of cane sugar and stevia in Simply Spiked results in a higher sugar and calorie count than many competitors, meaning it's not a direct low-calorie substitute for a light hard seltzer. While it offers a richer flavor, this comes with a different nutritional profile that may not align with everyone's diet. For comparison, the WebMD article on hard seltzers highlights how they stack up against other alcoholic drinks, reinforcing the importance of moderation. When making a dietary choice, it's important to consider both the calorie and sugar count and how that fits into your overall intake. The transparency of ingredient lists allows consumers to make informed decisions based on their health goals and taste preferences.

The Bottom Line on Simply Spiked's Sweeteners

Ultimately, Simply Spiked's combination of cane sugar and stevia extract, along with real fruit juice, provides a distinct and potent sweetness that differentiates it from many standard hard seltzers. This formulation leads to a higher sugar and calorie count, which is a key nutritional takeaway. Consumers looking for a sweeter, more juice-forward hard lemonade experience will find Simply Spiked to their liking, while those focused on minimizing sugar and calories might opt for lighter alternatives. By understanding what contributes to the taste, you can make more mindful decisions about the beverages you choose to include in your diet.

Navigating Your Beverage Choices

In the diverse world of alcoholic beverages, informed choices start with reading the label. For Simply Spiked, the blend of cane sugar, stevia, and real fruit juice is a deliberate choice to deliver a specific, juicy flavor profile. This is different from the approach taken by brands that prioritize a lower calorie and sugar count. Your dietary needs and flavor preferences are personal, so being armed with the facts about what sweetens your drink is the best way to ensure it aligns with your nutritional goals. Always remember that, regardless of the sweetener, alcohol should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Note: This information is based on publicly available ingredient and nutrition data and may vary slightly between flavors and regional formulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Simply Spiked contains a mix of cane sugar and stevia extract, a natural zero-calorie sweetener, to create its sweet flavor profile.

Simply Spiked is often noted for being sweeter than many other hard seltzers, a result of its combination of cane sugar, stevia, and real fruit juice.

Yes, Simply Spiked is made with 5% real fruit juice, which has been squeezed and concentrated.

Simply Spiked is a flavored malt beverage derived from fermented sugar, not grains like barley, and is generally considered gluten-free, but those with celiac disease should always check the label.

A 12-ounce can of Simply Spiked Signature Lemonade contains 170 calories, which is higher than many lower-calorie hard seltzers.

The main differences are in the sweeteners used (Simply Spiked uses both cane sugar and stevia, while most use only fermented sugar) and the use of real fruit juice concentrate, resulting in a sweeter, more full-flavored beverage with a higher calorie and sugar count.

Stevia extract is a natural, zero-calorie sweetener derived from the stevia plant. It is often used to boost sweetness without adding calories or sugar.