I Tried Canada Dry’s New Ginger Ale, and I *Fully Support* this Flavor Upgrade (Perfect for Summer!)

I’m not saying I have a personality trait built around fun drinks — but I’m also not not saying that. So when I heard about Canada Dry Fruit Splash Strawberry Ginger Ale, I immediately knew I needed to try it.

As a college student, I’m always looking for little ways to romanticize my daily routine, whether that’s lighting a candle while doing homework or, apparently, drinking a strawberry-flavored soda like it’s a special occasion. Canada Dry offered me samples of the new drink, so obviously, I had to try both the regular and zero-sugar versions to see if they’re actually worth stocking in your fridge.

As you’d expect from the name, Canada Dry basically took the brand’s classic ginger ale and added a strawberry twist, although the brand’s website states that it contains less than 2% of strawberry juice concentrate. You can expect to get that crisp, slightly spicy ginger base with a fruity overlay. 

Canada Dry Strawberry Fruit Splash Ginger Ale comes in full-sugar and zero-sugar versions, which immediately made me curious: Would the strawberry flavor stand out in both sips?

You can find Canada Dry Strawberry Fruit Splash Ginger Ale in most grocery stores and online in 12-packs of cans at Amazon. Previously only available in a summer variety pack of Canada Dry Ginger Ale, according to @markie_devo on Instagram, this strawberry take on the classic drink is now available year-round as of early 2026.

The second you open the can, you get hit with a sweet strawberry scent, but not in an overwhelming, artificial way. It smells like a mix between strawberry candy and a light fruit punch, with a subtle hint of ginger underneath. It’s definitely more fruity than spicy on the nose, which surprised me because I expected the ginger to dominate.

My first sip was bright and sweet, with the strawberry flavor coming in strong right away. It tastes like a slightly elevated strawberry soda, but then the ginger ale kicks in on the backend, adding a little fizz and spice that keeps it from being too sugary. Compared to regular ginger ale, it’s definitely sweeter and more playful, but still light enough that you could even drink more than one.

It smells very similar to the regular version, but not as bold — you still get that strawberry-forward scent, just toned down a bit.

The flavor difference is more noticeable. The strawberry flavor is still there, but it’s less bold and a little more subtle, and the ginger ale base comes through more. It’s definitely crisper and lighter overall, which makes it really easy to drink. There is a slight artificial sweetener aftertaste (as expected), but it’s not super strong, especially if you’re used to diet drinks. It’s a refreshing soda, just less indulgent.

I didn’t expect to care this much about a strawberry-flavored ginger ale … but here we are. The regular version genuinely tastes like a fun upgrade to classic soda, while the zero-sugar version is a good everyday option if you don’t want something too sweet.

I would absolutely buy these if I saw them in the aisle on my next grocery run. And with summer around the corner, I can think of one fictional hockey player — looking at you, Shane Hollander — with a fondness for ginger ale who might just love sipping this version at the cottage.