Picking up a four-pack to give as a holiday gift doesn’t mean beer anymore. In fact, when you buy any of the cans mentioned here, it means you definitely know what’s trending.
I’m talking about canned cocktails, which continue to explode in the market. And they are upping their game in quality and variety. Here are four new products to give as gifts, or to keep in your fridge. Or both, and that way everyone wins.
Onda
A blazing orange can and sparkling tequila with notes of lime or grapefruit are the signatures of Onda, which is new on the market and available all over SoFla. This brainchild from a team of four: Noah Gray, Max Dworin, Kelli Adams and Shay Mitchell, the drinks have 5 percent ABV, 100 calories, plus zero carbs and sugars. It’s made with tequila from a woman-owned distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, has real fruit juice and it tastes like it. The carbonated water helps it become a light and refreshing drink, and puts tequila in a new drink zone. This is an anytime-of-day sipper. Cost: 4 cans for $10.99-$12.99. Find them here: https://drinkonda.com/pages/find-in-stores
‘Merican Mules
‘Merican Mule Fire Mule
With all ingredients made in the U.S., founders Dean Mahoney, Steve Pawlik and Pete Weil have turned out five (to date) versions of a mule drink since 2019. The basic is the Moscow Mule, commonly served in a copper cup, but the guys wanted a version that was easy to pick up and carry to the beach. The Moscow ‘Merican Mule tastes as if a bartender handed it to you; it’s as close as you’ll get to the drink outside of carrying a tab. The other styles are Tropical (rum, natural ginger, pineapple), Mexican (tequila, ginger, citrus, lime), Southern (bourbon, orange/cherry juices, ginger) and the newest is the Fire Mule (bourbon whiskey, hot ginger and cinnamon). They are 7 percent ABV, 120 calories and about 12 grams of sugar. Cost: 4 cans for $12.99-$14.99 at Total Wine, Whole Foods, Target. https://www.mericanmule.com
Volley
Here’s a new tequila-based seltzer in zesty lime, spicy ginger, sharp grapefruit or tropical mango, that focuses on a clean formula with blue agave tequila, sparkling water and organic juice. The flavors in each are sharper and clearer than in some other canned brands, and that’s a nice plus. Created by husband-wife team Christopher Wirth and Camila Soriano, who founded the American Cocktail Company, these drinks are light and fizzy, but extremely tasty. They are perfect for Florida, where it’s warm enough to sip these all year. Because they have organic juice, you should shake them gently before sipping. They are 5.25 percent ABV, 100-110 calories and no added sugar. Available online now: cost is $27.98 for an 8-pack, $55.96 for a 16-pack, plus shipping. It will be available in stores in January. https://drinkvolley.com
VIDE
Photo: VIDE Beverages
Co-founders Ryan Laverty and Sal Campisi are betting that SoFla is a large market for VIDE, their pre-mixed vodka soda drink in cranberry and watermelon. With cranberry and vodka a popular bar drink, that’s a good combo idea. There are no sugars in these drinks, just six-times-distilled (corn-based) vodka, lightly carbonated water and natural fruit flavors. The cranberry-flavored version is a light drink, with a slight cranberry taste on the back end. The watermelon drink has a bit more flavor and it’s a nice change of taste, because there are not a lot of canned watermelon cocktails around. They have 99 calories, are 5 percent ABV, and are available in PB County at 123 Datura Bar, West Palm Beach. They’ll be more widely available in local stores in 2021. Until then, online ordering is on the website. Cost is $11.99 for a 4-pack. https://www.drinkvide.com/
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