I tested ‘new' 90s alcopops from Hooch to Reef – £1.68 winner is real blast from past & a bargain to boot

The Sun

2 days ago

GOOD news if you're gripped with Oasis comeback fever and pining for Nineties nostalgia.
Alcopops from the era are set for a revival with the fruity drinks back in the spotlight, thanks to our thirst for all things from the fun-filled decade.
Boozy lemonade sip Hooch is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a relaunch of its original 1995 can.
And with rum-laced Bacardi Breezers recently reintroduced, there's never been a better time to revisit these retro tipples.
But which ones are still worth glugging, and which might be better left in the past?
Here, drinks expert Helena Nicklin tries a selection and gives us her verdict.
Reef, 10 x 275ml, £8.50, B&M
THE recent return of Solero-flavoured sipper Reef helped fuel nostalgia for naughty-but-nice Nineties drinks – and one sip of this will take you straight back to 1997.
Flat and fruity, and made with a whack of real juice, this tropical-tastic tipple has a touch of the passion fruit martini about it and it's very inviting.
Super-sweet and tangy, it scores high on the summer refreshment scale, especially if it's served ice-cold straight from the fridge or cool box.
A great one for sunny days in the garden when you want a vibrant drink to match the mood.
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It's a great price when you buy the pack of ten, too.
Rating: 4/5
Aldi Blue, 700ml, £1.99, Aldi
KING of the dupes Aldi has ­unsurprisingly copied the best-selling, bright blue bevvy that is WKD – and here's the thing: in my opinion they've done it better than the original makers.
This toned-down vodka-based tipple tastes a little lighter than the original glugger but I'd say in this instance it's all the ­better for it.
The end drink is now not as claggy and made with less tooth- stripping sweetener.
Its generic fruity taste is still just as fake and non-specific, but if you like that blue fruit style and flavour you'll love this.
And it will save you a fair bit of money too, as it's way cheaper than the more famous ­alternative.
Rating: 3/5
Breezer Watermelon, 275ml, £3.29, Costcutter
THE rum drink you might remember from its former incarnation as a Bacardi Breezer is back with a bang and a new name for 2025.
Now just known as ' Breezers ', these colourful tipples have had a flavour overhaul too – and in my ­opinion the change has been for the better.
The new fruity flavours in the comeback line-up are orange, lime and a watermelon ­wonder, which is deeply refreshing and, ­remarkably, not too sweet despite what the ravishing red ­colour suggests.
Still in the original shaped bottle, it feels vaguely natural- tasting too, with a ­subtle boozy bite.
A guilty pleasure well worth a glug all these years later.
Rating: 5/5
VK Apple & Mango, 10 x 275ml, £9, Morrisons
WITH these boozy ­bottles working out at less than a pound a go when bought in bulk at Morrisons, the ­colourful, caffeine-fuelled alcopop- style ready-to-drink cocktails are almost suspiciously cheap.
Packing a punch in the flavour department though, this fruity apple and mango glugger is a decent enough drop.
And I have to admit that, if you find your energy levels flagging, one of these will ­certainly wake you up and leave you ­buzzing.
A drink with a proper kick, and not just from the vodka it contains.
Be careful not to have too many of an evening or you'll be awake all night . . .
Rating: 3/5
WKD Blue, 700ml, £3.50, Sainsbury's
THIS tingling tipple with its garish blue hue might take you straight back to your misspent youth but, remarkably, it is still so popular that it even has its own dupes in discount supermarkets, so clearly lots of people still enjoy drinking it.
Made with vodka, fruity flavouring plus an added caffeine kick, it's ­invigorating in a generic way but also without really tasting of anything in particular.
Drinking this is a sugary hangover ­waiting to happen – and it leaves your teeth feeling furry too, so your dentist ­probably won't like it.
Sup it if there's nothing else, but I think there are much better ­bottled premixed boozes out there.
Rating: 1/5
Smirnoff Ice, 700ml, £3.12, Asda
THIS Nineties classic is still going strong and, moving on from its nightclubbing days, it now looks smarter than ever with its retro-chic and vintage packaging makeover, which actually looks very cool.
As well as coming in a bottle you won't be embarrassed to be seen glugging from as a grown-up, the flavour seems to me to be much sweeter than it used to be back in the day.
9
Sipping this tastes of tart, cloudy lemonade with only the very faintest hint of a vodka kick, so if you don't like it too strong that might appeal.
Not a lurid colour and served very cold over ice with a slice, it's remarkably drinkable.
Rating: 3/5
Hooch Lemon, 440ml, £1.68, Asda
SPIKED lemonade Hooch was the ­original alcopop, as anyone who was around in the Nineties will know.
And to celebrate its birthday it has now been relaunched in a cool-looking limited ­edition can, like the one that originally hit shelves in 1995.
That's bound to be nostalgic enough for anyone who remembers it from the first time around, and its zesty lemon flavour and pale-ish colour remain pretty authentic too.
For drinkers of any age, the vodka hit feels more subtle and balanced than it used to.
One to opt for if you like Limoncello but want your drink long, and much drier! A real blast from the past.
Lovely with ice and a slice – and a bargain to boot.
Rating: 5/5
Malibu and Cola, 250ml, £2.25, Sainsbury's
NOTHING gives you those beach-holiday vibes quite like the coconut booze Malibu.
And this premixed rum cocktail, with those nostalgic flavours that will take lots of us right back to our carefree younger days, has been done really well.
Flavour-wise, it has a beautiful balance, with that creamy coconut rum just shining through the cola enough.
Obviously the mixer here is not 'the real thing' and it is very sweet – though it always was, even back in the day.
Serve this over ice with a twist of lime to tone down the sugar.
A delicious on-the-go cocktail you can rely on.
Fabulous and fun.