REVIEW: Five Corners Beverage Company
Five Corners Beverage Company - Sangrita, Pickleback, Salted Lemonade
Where’d We Find It: Samples provided by the brand.
ABV: 0.0%
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Our N/ATION Review:
Five Corners Beverage Co. is a Chicagoland-based, husband-and-wife brand that was built on a clever double meaning. The name brings together the five foundational tastes of salty, savory, sour, bitter, and sweet, along with the five corners of the globe — north, south, east, west, and home. Founded in 2023 after several years of kitchen experimentation, the brand set out to bring the kind of diversity and adventure into the NA space that you’d expect from the alcohol world, all while using natural, largely Midwestern-sourced ingredients.
At present, Five Corners has three distinct offerings in their portfolio - Sangrita, Pickleback, and Salted Lemonade, offering a range of tastes that can be a healthier substitute to everything from a soft drink to an alcoholic cocktail. This broadens the occasions by which you can think about cracking one open.
Here were our thoughts on each of the options:
Sangrita - A bold swing at a under-utilized classic in the States. Inspired by the traditional Mexican accompaniment to a neat pour of tequila, the can promises citrus, chili powder, and tomato — and it absolutely delivers, though for us the flavors revealed themselves in a slightly different order. Bright citrus hit first, followed by the earthy richness of tomato, with the chili powder arriving last, right on the finish. And that finish is the real payoff to a bold, multi-layered cocktail.
Pickleback - All the rage in the drinks world these days, the classic pickle shot was always a chaser, as in, something you toss back and forget, but this version demands to be sipped slowly. Briny and tart right up front, the cucumber and dill add a cool, vegetal depth, while the gentle carbonation keeps things lively without going full-on seltzer. The hint of sweetness is just enough to round out the edges. If you’re not already drinking this with a nice hamburger, you’ll probably want to grab one before you finish it off.
Salted Lemonade - Drawing from Nimbu Pani, an ages-old Indian recipe built on citrus, salt, and spice, the first thing we noticed was a welcoming aroma of cumin, which brought us back to enjoying some dal at our favorite neighborhood Indian restaurant. The lemon and lime hit first with a bright tartness, before the Himalayan black salt adds a mineral richness that transforms the whole sip. The aforementioned cumin and coriander bring an earthy, savory backbone you wouldn't expect from something called lemonade, and a slow warmth from peppers lingers in the finish.
As for where you can find Five Corners in the wild, your best bet is to order directly from their website in 4-packs or 12-packs.