There is a moment when you first pick up a tallboy can of Liquid Death and something feels slightly off. The skull logo. The heavy-metal gothic font. The bold tagline that says “Murder Your Thirst.” This is not what we have been conditioned to think water should look like.
That is exactly the point.
Mike Cessario, a former advertising creative director from Delaware, launched Liquid Death in January 2019 after noticing backstage at a 2009 Vans Warped Tour that musicians were secretly drinking water out of Monster Energy cans so they would not lose their edge on stage. He asked a simple question: why are all the cool, edgy brands selling you something bad for you? By March 2024, the company had hit a $1.4 billion valuation and $263 million in global retail sales (according to NBC News), available in over 113,000 stores across the U.S. and U.K.
But beyond the branding, the question most people actually have is: which flavors are worth buying?
Here is an honest look at every Liquid Death sparkling water flavor, ranked.
Liquid Death Flavors at a Glance
| Product | Type / Calories | Key Notes | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severed Lime ⭐ | Sparkling / 10 cal | Bright citrus lime and orange, agave sweetness | Buy |
| Cherry Obituary | Sparkling / 10 cal | Agave-only (no stevia), clean and nostalgic cherry | Buy |
| Mango Chainsaw | Sparkling / 10 cal | Ripe, buttery fresh mango with a touch of agave | Buy |
| Doctor Death | Soda-Style / 20 cal | Dr Pepper style cherry-cream-spice swap | Buy |
| MTN Don't | Soda-Style / 20 cal | Mountain Dew style lemon-lime soda replacement | Buy |
| Berry It Alive | Sparkling / 10 cal | Earthy blueberry-blackberry background flavor | Buy |
| Piña Killada | Sparkling / 10 cal | Tropical pineapple-coconut, great mixer | Buy |
A Note on Ingredients Before You Buy
Most Liquid Death flavored sparkling waters use the same base: carbonated mountain water, agave nectar, citric acid, natural flavors, and stevia leaf extract. This results in around 20 calories per can and 4g of sugar from real agave, with no artificial sweeteners or high-fructose corn syrup.
One important thing to know: in early 2025, Liquid Death began adding stevia alongside agave to several of its flavors, a shift that sparked significant pushback from longtime fans on Reddit’s r/LiquidDeath community. Some flavors, particularly Cherry Obituary, kept the original agave-only formula. Others, like Convicted Melon and Grave Fruit, now carry stevia too. Where it matters, the difference in taste is noticeable. The stevia adds a slightly different sweetness that some people pick up immediately and others do not mind at all.
The plain mountain sparkling water (no flavor, no sweetener) remains a zero-calorie, no-sugar option if you just want the carbonation without the flavor experience.
Every Liquid Death Sparkling Water Flavor, Ranked
1. Severed Lime (Sparkling Flavored)
The flag-bearer. Severed Lime is the flavor that built Liquid Death’s flavored lineup, and it remains the one to try first if you have never had it. Real lime and orange essences give it a citrus punch that is bright without being sharp. The agave sweetness is subtle enough that it rounds off the acidity rather than competing with it.
Blind tests against San Pellegrino and Perrier have found Severed Lime holds its own. It is also one of the best sparkling water bases for a tequila cocktail or a simple vodka-soda. If you try only one Liquid Death, this is it.
- Calories per 12oz: 10
- Sugar: 2g
2. Cherry Obituary (Sparkling Flavored)
One of the few remaining agave-only flavors (no stevia), Cherry Obituary delivers a clean, genuine cherry taste without the medicinal edge that ruins most cherry sparkling waters. It reads like a light cherry soda, not a cough drop. The sweetness is restrained and the carbonation keeps it crisp from the first sip to the last.
Multiple testers independently compare it to Hansen’s Cherry Soda, a beloved regional brand from the 1990s, which is a useful reference point. It is nostalgic without trying to be.
- Calories per 12oz: 10
- Sugar: 2g
3. Mango Chainsaw (Sparkling Flavored)
Mango Chainsaw was part of Liquid Death’s original flavored launch and has held its audience since. The mango character is buttery and ripe, closer to a fresh mango than a mango candy approximation. The citric acid gives it a slight tang on the finish that keeps it from being too sweet.
Midwexican’s review described the mango as “buttery, juicy, and sweet, but well-balanced against a lovely tang,” which lines up with most people’s experience. If you are a mango fan, this is among the better mango sparkling waters on the market.
- Calories per 12oz: 10
- Sugar: 2g
4. Doctor Death (Soda-Style Sparkling)
Doctor Death is a cherry-cream-spice combination, think Dr Pepper but without 39g of sugar. It works because the cherry, vanilla-adjacent cream, and light spice notes actually layer properly instead of competing. The agave sweetness supports the flavor without overwhelming it.
At around 20 calories and 4g of sugar per 12oz can, this is one of the most convincing soda replacements in the sparkling water category. People who drink Dr Pepper regularly and are trying to cut back land on Doctor Death fairly often, and for good reason.
- Calories per 12oz: ~20
- Sugar: 4g
5. MTN Don’t (Soda-Style Sparkling)
The Mountain Dew parody. Liquid Death uses carbonated mountain water here specifically, not standard purified water, which you can taste as a slightly cleaner mineral base. Lemon and lime combine with agave to create a citrus soda profile that has about 90% less sugar than actual Mountain Dew per the brand’s own claim (2g vs. 46g per 12oz).
The Amazon listing makes the pitch clearly: “ripped out 90% of the sugar… you can crush a 12-pack without needing a nap or a dentist.” It is on the bolder, sweeter end of the Liquid Death lineup, but it earns its place for people in the soda-to-sparkling-water transition who need a real flavor hit.
- Calories per 19.2oz: 20
- Sugar: 4g
6. Berry It Alive (Sparkling Flavored)
Berry It Alive uses a mixed-berry profile that leans toward a blueberry-blackberry direction. It is less defined than Mango Chainsaw or Severed Lime but pleasant for everyday drinking. The berry flavor is genuine and not too sweet, though it reads as a background note rather than a punchy foreground one.
Good for people who want something easy to sip throughout the day without a single fruit dominating every sip. Not the most exciting can in the lineup, but consistently well-liked.
- Calories per can: ~10
- Sugar: 2g
7. Piña Killada (Sparkling Flavored)
Pineapple and coconut. The concept sounds like it could easily go wrong, and in many sparkling waters it does. Piña Killada mostly avoids the sunscreen-adjacent coconut trap because the pineapple is assertive enough to stay in front. The coconut note is present but light.
It is more fun as a cocktail base than as a straight drink. Combined with white rum and a squeeze of lime, it becomes something genuinely worth making at home. As a standalone can, it lands in the middle of the pack.
- Calories per can: ~10
- Sugar: 2g
8. Grim Leafer (Iced Tea)
Grim Leafer is a green tea flavor with 30mg of caffeine, which places it in a different category from the pure sparkling waters. It is lighter and less sweet than the fruit-flavored options, with a genuine green tea character rather than a candy interpretation of it.
The 30mg of caffeine is a gentle, coffee-free energy lift. Worth noting that in early 2025, Liquid Death began adding stevia to its tea lineup, which generated significant backlash on Reddit from fans who preferred the original agave formula. The change made Grim Leafer noticeably sweeter for some palates.
- Calories per can: ~20
- Caffeine: 30mg
- Sugar: 4g
9. Dead Billionaire (Iced Tea)
Dead Billionaire started life as “Armless Palmer,” a half-iced tea, half-lemonade play on the Arnold Palmer. Arizona Beverage Company sent a legal threat in November 2023 over commercial use of the Palmer name, and the name changed. The drink did not.
The lemon-tea balance is solid. Not too sweet, not too tart. The 30mg of caffeine makes it a reasonable early-afternoon pick-me-up. Same stevia caveat as Grim Leafer applies.
- Calories per can: ~20
- Caffeine: 30mg
- Sugar: 4g
10. Convicted Melon (Sparkling Flavored)
Watermelon is a difficult flavor to do in a sparkling water. It often veers into Jolly Rancher territory or fades out completely. Convicted Melon lands closer to Jolly Rancher than to real watermelon, which some people enjoy and others find too artificial-adjacent.
This flavor also carries stevia alongside agave, and the sweetness feels a touch more pronounced than the agave-only lineup as a result. It is not bad. It is just the most category-predictable of the Liquid Death offerings.
- Calories per can: ~10
- Sugar: 2g
11. Grave Fruit (Sparkling Flavored)
Grapefruit lovers tend to rank this higher than most. Others find it too polarizing. The citrus bitterness is accurate to real grapefruit, which is either the appeal or the problem depending on your relationship with the fruit.
Grave Fruit also now includes stevia, and the sweetness change is noticeable here because it sits a little awkwardly next to the grapefruit’s natural bitterness. If you loved this can before 2025, try it again before committing to a bulk order.
- Calories per can: ~10
- Sugar: 2g
12. Squeezed to Death (Sparkling Flavored)
Orange, tangerine, and blood orange combine here. It is brighter and more layered than a single-note orange sparkling water, which is the right call. The blood orange adds a slightly deeper, more complex citrus character.
Compared to the lime and mango options, Squeezed to Death plays it a little safe. It is good. It is not the one people reach for first in a fridge full of options.
- Calories per can: ~10
- Sugar: 2g
Side-by-Side Comparison of Flavor Ranks
| Rank | Flavor | Type | Sweetener | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severed Lime | Sparkling | Agave + Stevia | Best all-around citrus balance |
| 2 | Cherry Obituary | Sparkling | Agave | Cleanest cherry without medical notes |
| 3 | Mango Chainsaw | Sparkling | Agave + Stevia | Bold, buttery mango flavor |
| 4 | Doctor Death | Soda-style | Agave + Stevia | Dr Pepper style zero-sugar swap |
| 5 | MTN Don't | Soda-style | Agave + Stevia | Dew style citrus alternative |
| 6 | Berry It Alive | Sparkling | Agave + Stevia | Easy everyday dark berry blend |
| 7 | Piña Killada | Sparkling | Agave + Stevia | Better as a cocktail base with rum |
| 8 | Grim Leafer | Iced Tea | Agave + Stevia | Green tea flavor + 30mg caffeine |
| 9 | Dead Billionaire | Iced Tea | Agave + Stevia | Half tea, half clementine lemonade |
| 10 | Convicted Melon | Sparkling | Agave + Stevia | Jolly Rancher style watermelon |
| 11 | Grave Fruit | Sparkling | Agave + Stevia | Dry grapefruit, stevia adds sweetness |
| 12 | Squeezed to Death | Sparkling | Agave + Stevia | Tangerine and blood orange citrus |
Who Is Liquid Death Actually For?
Liquid Death is not trying to be the cheapest sparkling water on the shelf. A 12-pack runs roughly $18 to $22 depending on where you buy it, which puts it at the higher end of the mainstream sparkling water market.
But the brand has built something that LaCroix and Bubly have not: a sparkling water that feels at home at a concert, a tattoo shop, a barbecue, or a bar counter. Live Nation is an investor specifically because of how well it sells at live events. Tony Hawk, Machine Gun Kelly, and Swedish House Mafia are all early backers. That cultural positioning is real, and it matters to a lot of people who want to drink something healthy but do not want to hold a pastel can with flowers on it.
The flavored lineup is genuinely good, not just packaging. If you are quitting soda, Doctor Death and MTN Don’t give you real flavor at a fraction of the sugar. If you want a better cocktail base, Severed Lime and Mango Chainsaw are solid upgrades from plain seltzer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are all the Liquid Death flavors?
The main sparkling water lineup includes Severed Lime, Cherry Obituary, Mango Chainsaw, Berry It Alive, Convicted Melon, Grave Fruit, Piña Killada, and Squeezed to Death. The soda-style line includes Doctor Death, MTN Don't, Killer Cola, and Rootbeer Wrath. Iced teas include Grim Leafer, Dead Billionaire, and Rest in Peach.
What is the Doctor Death flavor?
Doctor Death is a cherry-cream-spice flavored sparkling water in the soda-style lineup. The flavor profile is comparable to Dr Pepper, made with carbonated water, agave nectar, citric acid, natural flavors, and stevia. Around 20 calories per 12oz can and 4g of sugar.
What is the Mango Chainsaw flavor?
Mango Chainsaw is a mango-flavored sparkling water with a buttery, ripe mango character and a slight tangy finish from citric acid. One of the original Liquid Death flavored releases and still one of the most popular.
What does Murder Mystery taste like?
Murder Mystery is a limited energy drink flavor released in January 2026 with 100mg of caffeine, no artificial sweeteners, and no sugar. It is part of the energy drink expansion, not the standard sparkling water line.
Is Liquid Death sparkling water healthy?
For sparkling water, the plain mountain water variety has zero calories, zero sugar, and zero sweeteners. The flavored sparkling waters have around 10 to 20 calories and 2 to 4g of natural sugar from agave. No artificial sweeteners, no high-fructose corn syrup. For comparison, regular soda has 39 to 46g of sugar per 12oz.
Does Liquid Death have stevia?
As of early 2025, most flavored Liquid Death sparkling waters include stevia alongside agave. A few original flavors like Cherry Obituary retained agave-only formulas. The stevia addition has been divisive among longtime fans. Check the ingredient list on current packaging.
Where is Liquid Death water sourced?
The mountain water was originally sourced from an underground spring in Austria. As of 2023, production shifted to U.S.-based facilities to reduce costs, per a Forbes report. The brand no longer prominently advertises its source location as it once did.
What can sizes does Liquid Death come in?
Liquid Death sells in 12 fl oz cans, 16.9 fl oz tallboy cans, and 19.2 fl oz king-size cans depending on the product and flavor.
Is Liquid Death more expensive than LaCroix?
Yes. Liquid Death typically runs $18 to $22 for a 12-pack. LaCroix runs $6 to $8 for a 12-pack. The difference reflects both the flavoring (agave and stevia vs. plain natural essence) and the brand positioning.
What is the best Liquid Death flavor?
Severed Lime is the most consistently well-rated across independent reviews. Cherry Obituary and Mango Chainsaw are close behind. For soda-replacement needs, Doctor Death is the most popular choice.
References
- Wikipedia. “Liquid Death.” en.wikipedia.org. Updated 2024.
- CNBC. “Liquid Death CEO Mike Cessario: We Chose ‘the Dumbest Possible Name’ for Water.” cnbc.com. November 2022.
- NBC News. “It’s Just Water in a Can. How Did Liquid Death Become a Billion-Dollar Brand?” nbcnews.com. March 2024.
- Forbes. “Even With a $700 Million Valuation, Liquid Death May Need a Lot of Luck.” forbes.com. April 2023.
- Forbes. “Liquid Death’s Billion-Dollar Valuation Stresses the Power of Brand.” forbes.com. March 2024.
- Thirstybear.com. “All 17 Liquid Death Flavors Ranked.” thirstybear.com. April 2026.
- Amazon product listings for ingredient verification: Severed Lime, Doctor Death, MTN Don’t, Squeezed to Death. amazon.com.
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025 to 2030, realfood.gov.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Get the Facts: Sugar-Sweetened Beverages,” cdc.gov.