This Schweppes Traditional Sarsaparilla is part of their Traditionals collection and one you’d find in most Sydney supermarkets. D and I appreciate the balance of carbonation, flavours and sweetness in the Bundaberg, but this Schweppes is the one we reach for when we’re after volume to quench our thirst or craving for sarsaparilla.
This is well-carbonated beverage using natural flavours, although not brewed, with a deep brown-black colour and prominent liquorice nose. Consumed ice-cold, the generous carbonation masks the flavours in the head of the sip briefly before pleasantly sharp notes of liquorice balanced with sweet vanilla and caramel flavours emerge and linger long in the body, followed by refreshing hints of wintergreen in the finish. Sweet liquorice notes linger on the palate. There may be too much fizz in the initial sips, but the beverage loses some of its carbonation by mid-glass and brought forward gentle hints of mint ahead of the vanilla and caramel.
We enjoy the even sweetness of the vanilla and caramel, the assertiveness of the liquorice notes and subtlety of the hints of wintergreen in this Schweppes Sarsaparilla. Fizz issues aside, we consider its taste comparable to Bundaberg’s well-rounded sarsaparilla. This is especially so when Schweppes is available for a fraction of Bundaberg’s price.
This Schweppes Traditional Sarsaparilla contained 1.25 litres. It was bottled in Australia and was purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2017.