'Tasted like licking a 9V battery': 7 lost drinks we loved in the 90s and noughties, from cider to alcopops

• These drinks were all the rage in the 90s and noughties
• But they fell out of fashion and became harder to find, with some discontinued
• How many of these beverages, from alcopops to cider and lager, do you remember drinking?

They were some of the most popular drinks of the 90s and noughties.

Yet these much-loved tipples of yesteryear have either been discontinued or fallen so dramatically from favour that you would struggle to find a pub, supermarket or off-licence selling them today.

Some alcopops, like Reef and Hooch, have come out of retirement, fuelled by nostalgia. Others, including WKD Blue, never went away.

But these drinks - including lager and cider as well as alcopops - are among the most fondly remembered from the 90s and noughties that have yet to make a comeback.

One has been branded the ‘ultimate’ drink, another has been called ‘absolutely incredible’, while the taste of a third has been likened to licking a battery.

How many of these drinks do you remember, and is your old favourite among them?

Metz

While many popular alcopops of the 90s and noughties have made a comeback, fans of Metz are still waiting for its renaissance.

The martini schnapps alcopop was famous as much for its sinister Judderman advert as for its distinctive taste.

One person called the advert ‘absolutely terrifying’, while another added: “Scared the life out of me and I was in my 20s.”

As for the taste, one person recalled how it was ‘sharp and citrusy’, another said it ‘used to dry my mouth out completely (but it was) worth it’, and a third claimed Bacadri Metz was better than Bacardi Breezers ‘by some margin’.

Jacques Cider

This fruity cider from Strongbow came in two flavours - fruits of the forest and orchard fruits - and was popular during the noughties and into the early noughties, before it was discontinued.

One person called it ‘absolutely incredible’, another recalled how it was ‘potent’, adding that it ‘tasted great but had me falling over in record time’, and a third person described it as a ‘staple of my uni days’.

Nearly 1,500 people signed a petition to bring back Jacques cider, which came in 750ml bottles.

Smirnoff Mule

Smirnoff Mule, a ready-made version of the famous Moscow Mule cocktail, was one of the early alcopops but always felt a little classier than the competition.

Whether it was the gold bottles or the flavour - a combination of vodka and ginger beer - it just seemed that bit more sophisticated.

Lots of people miss the days of the Smirnoff Mule, with one saying wistfully: “Although my grown-up palate wouldn't appreciate it nowadays, I still wish it existed.”

Other fans called it ‘yummy’ and ‘fantastic’, but one person said it ‘tasted like licking a 9V battery’.

Castaway

The Castaway spritz drink was a popular 90s alcopop, often described as tasting like an alcoholic Lilt.

It was sometimes mixed with cider to create a potent ‘Blastaway’.

The wine-based beverage made a comeback in 2014, but is hard to find today.

One fan recalled how ‘the fruity taste was lovely’, adding: “Sometimes I'd freeze it and eat it like a slushie.” Another called it the ‘taste of tropical paradise’.

Vodka Mudshake

The Vodka Mudshake, which comes in strawberry, chocolate and banana flavours, has been described by its makers as ‘the dessert you drink’.

It is still available in the UK but is much harder to find today than at the peak of the alcopops era.

One person described them as ‘basically an alcoholic milkshake in a bottle’, another recalled how they used to drink them ‘as if they were Yazoo Milkshakes’.

A third fan said: “Not something I would choose to drink now, but I remember them being delicious!”

Carling Premier

This smooth, creamy lager was launched back in 1994 to tie in with the brewer’s sponsorship of the Premier League.

One person called it ‘something else’, adding: “It was like a lager version of Guinness. Smooth and creamy, and blew your head off.”

Another fan described it as a ‘nice creamy pint for chilling in a beer garden next to a canal somewhere’.

Brewer Molson Coors announced in 2024 that it had taken the ‘difficult decision’ to pause production of Carling Premier in cans, citing falling demand, but it was still making it in kegs for sale at pubs and bars.

A petition calling for the return of Carling Premier in cans stated: “It's not just a beverage; it's a part of our social fabric that brings people together.”

Taboo

This classic 90s vodka-based fruit drink is still available, but it’s much harder to find than it was during its heyday.

One person called it ‘sooo good’, while another branded it the ‘ultimate’ drink.

Taboo and lemonade was a particularly popular combination.

While Taboo is still going, its sister spirit, Mirage, appears to have been discontinued, though not many people are too upset about its loss.

Which drink from the past would you most like to see brought back?

If you enjoyed this trip down memory lane, you might like our look back at things you could do in the 90s but you can’t do today.