In case you missed the April Fool’s Day fun this month, here’s a recap of some of the beverage gags that came across our desk and social media feeds:

7-Eleven — The convenience store chain announced a sparkling water flavor based on its signature roller grill hot dog. The drink promised the “mouthwatering experience” of a 7-Eleven hot dog, including the ketchup and mustard. The gag was used to pitch a very seltzer collaboration with Miracle Seltzer.

Poppi — Gut soda Poppi teased fans with a set of licensing deals with famous candy and snack brands: Ring Poppi, Poppi-tarts,

PepsiCo and Lipton have launched a Pure Leaf Zero Sugar Sweet Tea nationally in the US. Sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium, the ready-to-drink bottled tea contains no calories. The drink, packaged in an 18.5-oz single-serve carafe, will retail for $2.49 per bottle. It’s the first zero sugar tea produced in the US by the PepsiCo’s Lipton tea joint venture with Unilever. In an interview with BD, North America Pepsi Lipton Partnership GM Julie Raheja-Perera pointed out that...

Talking Rain has launched a Starburst line of Sparkling Ice flavors based on the taffy-like candy. The flavors are Cherry, Lemon, Orange, and Strawberry and the drink is formulated to have a “creamy, candy mouthfeel,” according to Talking Rain...

We just announced the finalists for our 2023 Beverage Digest Awards. Winners in 13 drink categories will be named at Future Smarts in New York on Dec. 11.

There are a few trends worth noting from this year’s roster of finalists:

— A range of teas came to the forefront. Vying for Best Premium Drink is a Blue Tea Jasmine variant from Rishi’s line of Sparkling Botanicals, as well as a Cold Brew Tea from...