Local Motion Vodka Sodas: A Fresh Approach to RTD Cocktails
When the opportunity recently arose to taste and review Local Motion Vodka Sodas, I was intrigued to see how they compared to other ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktails I’ve tried. I wasn’t too familiar with the parent company, woman-owned Sunstream Brands, or the products themselves, which launched in 2024 with a limited distribution in California. It felt like the perfect opportunity to gather my go-to crew of friends for a fun, informal tasting party where we could discuss our impressions of the concept, flavors and packaging.
Before the tasting, I decided to learn a bit more about the products. First, the ingredients are minimal: Local Motion Vodka Sodas are made with six-times distilled vodka, carbonated water and natural flavors — no sugar or artificial sweeteners or additives — which means they’re naturally low calorie, 78 calories to be precise. At only 4% ABV, they’re meant to be more of a session-style cocktail than many other high-alcohol RTD cocktails on the market, hence the tagline “Aprés Anything.”
Because Local Motion Vodka Sodas are low in alcohol, at first I thought perhaps they would be similar to some of the canned hard seltzers I’ve tried, but they’re actually a different product. Canned hard seltzers, I learned during my research, usually contain alcohol made from fermented cane sugar, malted barley, grain-neutral spirits or wine, which increases both the sugar levels and calories. Hard seltzers also tend to be flavored with fruit juice or artificial flavoring. More akin to a La Croix-style beverage, albeit lightly spiked with vodka, Local Motion Vodka Sodas are currently available in five naturally derived flavors: classic (a simple Vodka soda), mixed citrus, pear, peach and strawberry.
After sharing these details with my “tasting panel,” we were ready get started, beginning with our first impressions of the packaging. My friend who has worked in fashion for many years commented that she found the can’s simple white and blue design visually appealing, and I liked the way the Scandinavian-inspired floral and botanical illustrations conveyed the brand’s natural flavors messaging.
On to the tasting: Overall, the group really enjoyed the “light” and “crisp” taste of the Local Motion Vodka Sodas, “subtle flavors” and “refreshing carbonation.” We all appreciated the low-calorie aspect, especially one friend who recently started a new fitness regime, and we all agreed the low ABV was especially appealing for occasions like afternoon pool parties, family gatherings and picnics that aren’t well suited to high-alcohol wines and cocktails.
Of the fruit flavors, pear was the group’s favorite. My friends liked that it was an “unexpected” flavor choice with an “appealing aroma” and just a “hint of pear” that made it taste “refreshing” rather than too sweet. Peach came in as a close second for most. One friend commented that it reminded her of one of her favorite sodas from Trader Joe’s; even without any added sugar she felt that it tasted slightly sweeter than the other flavors and preferred it slightly over the pear. Of the remaining fruit flavors, the group preferred the strawberry to the mixed citrus.
Interestingly, opinion was split on the classic flavor, with half of our tasting group rating it very highly and the other half preferring the fruit flavors. One taster said he preferred the classic flavor over all the fruit flavors, enjoying the “crisp,” “refreshing” taste that would be a “good alternative to beer” (his usual go-to) on a hot day, while his wife preferred the fruit flavors, though she said she thought the classic flavor would be make a “good mixer” with a few other ingredients. Personally, I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed the classic flavor — a perfectly bubbly, thirst-quenching, low-alcohol beverage for a sunny afternoon. Add a squeeze of lime if you’re in the mood for a little extra zingy flavor, and you’re good to go.