Slicing Up the Market

Diageo North America, New York, N.Y., extended its Captain Morgan brand with two new ready-to-drink lines: Captain Morgan Sliced and Captain Morgan Sliced Up.

Captain Morgan Sliced is a line of cocktail-inspired malt beverages. Varieties include Pineapple Daiquiri,

Strawberry Margarita, Passionfruit Hurricane and Mango Mai Tai. It offerings come in a 12-count variety pack of 12oz cans with an ABV of 5.8% (SRP $19.99).

New Captain Morgan Sliced Up comes in 23.5oz and 16oz can offerings of Long Island Iced Tea Style Beverage and Tropical Hurricane Style Beverage, with an ABV of 8%.

Hot Wings Meet Hard Seltzer

Just in time for Super Bowl parties, The Boston Beer Company, Inc., Boston, extended its Truly Hard Seltzer line with a Truly Hot Wing Hard Seltzer. Officials said they combined a hot wing sauce’s “zesty kick” with Truly’s light seltzer base. The product came in custom four-pack, 16oz cans for a limited time

“We’ve kicked things up a notch with this flavor exploration inspired by the flavor lab at Truly L.A. and can’t wait for fans to try this fun and playful combination that’s sure to score,” said Matt Withington, Truly Hard Seltzer's senior director of marketing.  

Less Sugar

Drink Mockly Inc., New Orleans, extended with ready-to-drink mocktail line with Madame L’Orange. Officials said the SKU has 52% less sugar and is the first in a new low-sugar, low-cal line titled, “Second Line.” Mockly’s new citrus elixir has notes of smoked orange, cinnamon, allspice, golden honey, and ginger, the company says.

The brand's original flavors include Love Bite (Pomegranate Ginger Tonic), Eye Opener (Tangerine Basil Elixir), Baron von Blue (Blueberry Rose Spritz). Mockly is currently available online and on Amazon starting at $13.99 per four-pack.

Ready to Serve

Pernod Ricard USA, New York, N.Y., extended its Malibu line with new ready-to-serve cocktails. Varieties include Strawberry Daiquiri, Pineapple Bay Breeze and Rum Punch.

Officials note that Malibu's RTS is an “early adopter of the Tetra Pack format making it easier than ever to enjoy favorite cocktails on-the-go, toss in a cooler or store in the fridge for anytime sipping.” The Cocktails come in a 1L bottle that contains about seven servings to share with friends. The Malibu RTS Cocktails will be available nationwide this spring for an SRP of $14.99.

"We've seen the ready-to-serve category grow more than 70%1 in the past year, including a rise in rum drinks, which is a great opportunity for Malibu to deliver on what our consumers are looking for—easy and delicious cocktails," said Matt Foley, vice president of marketing, Malibu.

Vodka Soda

Diageo North America extended its Smirnoff line with new Smirnoff SMASH Vodka Soda, the brand’s first ready-to-drink vodka soda with just 100 calories per can.  

Varieties are Watermelon Lime, Raspberry Peach, Pineapple Orange and Strawberry Dragonfruit. The gluten-free, RTD offerings are sold in a variety packs. Suggested retail price is $17.99 per 12-pack, or $8.99 per six-pack.

Bar Quality Cocktails

Pernod Ricard USA, New York, N.Y., extended its born-to-mix brand, Absolut, into the ready-to-serve category. New Absolut Cocktails line debuted in two flavors: Vodka Mojito and Raspberry Lemonade.

"With prepared cocktails as the fastest growing spirits category, trending to overtake wine and spirits this year, we're excited for Absolut to officially enter into the ready-to-serve space," said Reshma Dhati, senior brand director of marketing, Absolut. "We're giving time back with family and friends, without sacrificing on the bar-quality cocktails that Absolut is known for."

Pernod says the RTS cocktails (with 15% ABV) have a “light and sweet twist” and offer a convenient multi-serve format (five servings per bottle). Offerings come in 750mls with a SRP of $18.99 at select retailers nationwide.

Smashing Idea

Mixed-Up Cocktail Co., Silver City, N.M., greeted 2024 with a smashing idea: its new Smash lineup.

The all-natural, 6% ABV cocktails debuted with white cans in two flavors: Watermelon Hibiscus and Tangerine Punch. Officials said each flavor “boasts a strong combination of natural juice and booze” and additional varieties will include Berry Citrus and Strawberry Mango.

"One of the biggest complaints we hear about RTDs is that they taste fake or medicinal, so we set out to make something with a fresh and real taste straight out of the can,” said Teresa Dahl-Bredine, co-founder alongside husband David Crosley. “Our ingredients are so natural and delicious that customers can't tell between our product and a freshly-made bar cocktail. A chemical-free RTD is a challenge to make, but we've stubbornly stuck to a clean, simple ingredient list and find that consumers love the difference it makes."

Mix it Up!

Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., Boston, branched into the cocktail category with new Ocean Spray Cocktail Mixers in three 32oz varieties: Cosmo, Strawberry Margarita, and Rum Punch.

Ocean Spray says the assortment is “designed to be versatile,” giving consumers the freedom to dress each mixer up or down. Whether simply adding ice and a preferred spirit or using as one ingredient in a larger recipe. Officials add that Ocean Spray Cocktail Mixers feature real fruit juice and include less sugar than the leading cocktail mixer. All three flavors debuted at Amazon and will arrive at retail locations nationwide throughout 2024.

Crisp, Light Appeal

Just in time for spring break travel, Angry Orchard Cider Company, Walden, N.J., introduced Angry Orchard Crisp Light.

Officials say it’s the “perfect day-drinking cider” for its lighter taste and profile and comes in 12oz six-pack cans. With just 6g of sugar and 120 calories per 12oz serving at 4.3% ABV, each can of Crisp Light “has that same delicious crisp apple flavor Angry Orchard drinkers know and love, now with fewer grams of sugar and calories, and with a slightly less sweet finish.”