Liquid Death: Not As Fatal As You Think

When you think of water, words like "edgy" and "rebellious" don't tend to spring to mind. But Liquid Death is not an ordinary beverage brand.

Liquid Death sells canned water, but it’s not your typical bottled water experience. With its bold approach and eye-catching designs, Liquid Death sets itself apart not just with its sustainable packaging but with an entire lifestyle image that resonates with people looking for something different. To murder your thirst is Liquid Death's aim.

In a never-ending quest to make water more enticing (aside from the obvious benefits of staying hydrated), I decided to try it out. The brand offers two main varieties: Mountain Water (crisp, still water sourced straight from the Austrian Alps, known for its purity), and

Sparkling Water (also hailing from the Alps, this fizzy option comes in unique flavours like Mango Chainsaw, which is what I decided to try).

I bought a four pack of the cans (Liquid Death made a conscious choice to use aluminium cans instead of plastic bottles. Aluminium is infinitely recyclable, aligning with the brand’s commitment to environmental sustainability). The box is attractive with quirky art that wouldn't be amiss on a can of anything by Beavertown. The cans themselves are tallboys, each containing 500ml of Liquid Death, and just 20 calories.

Art from Liquid Death

Sparkling water isn't for everyone. I used to despise the stuff. But I also enjoy fizzy drinks, and they're not high on the list of healthy drinks. Sparkling water has, for me, come to bridge that gap. Specifically the flavoured variety. But where other sparkling water drinks are often too sweet, I found that Mango Chainsaw was refreshing and light. Which is intentionally contradictory to the brand's image.

Liquid Death's marketing mimics the aesthetics of heavy metal culture, with gothic fonts, skulls, and dark imagery. Their ads often feature shocking or humorous elements. And they're no stranger to a collaboration. Indeed their tagline, "Murder Your Thirst," sets the tone for the brand's counter-culture image. And yet the underlying message couldn't be more simple: drink more water.

"Murder Your Thirst" sets the tone for the brand's counter-culture image

Would I buy Liquid Death again? I would. I found myself selecting a can from the fridge rather than opting for my usual Pepsi Max. And I don't think the cans would look out of place next to the likes of Monster and Relentless on the shelves. You'd have to be sure to check the can though, you'd soon notice the absence of your usual caffeine hit.