Ready-to-drink cocktails may be coming to grocery stores in Texas. Five cans to consider
Texas grocery stores may soon be able to stock canned cocktails just like they do beer and wine.
A bill in the Texas Senate and House will make it legal for stores to sell ready-to-drink canned cocktails that contain “distilled spirits” with up to 17% alcohol content. State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-Fort Worth, recently introduced Senate Bill 1288 and Rep. Justin Holland, R-Rockwall, introduced the bill’s House version, HB 2200, a few weeks ago.
These types of drinks are only currently available in liquor stores, which in Texas are open Monday through Saturday. If passed, the law would allow grocery stores to sell these alcoholic beverages every day of the week, and from 10 a.m. - midnight on Sunday.
Food and drink trade advocates are optimistic Gov. Greg Abbott will sign the legislative proposal into law — leaning on the governor’s openness in signing the alcohol-to-go bill two years ago.
President and CEO of Texas Food and Fuel Association Paul Hardin said the spirit-based drinks are a hot product that are in demand by customers.
”We see that all the time where they will come into a store and request a High Noon, or something similar, and you know, you have to go through the explanation of, well, that’s spirit based and you can only buy that in a liquor store,” Hardin said. “The packaging is very confusing for consumers. And, again, it’s something that consumers are wanting and requesting.”
Five canned cocktails that could be sold in Texas grocery stores
Here are a selection of ready-to-drink canned cocktails tastingtable.com recommends:
1. F!ve Drinks Co. — Short in stature and design, but these cans make up for it in flavor. Its core collection of six cocktail flavors include Moscow mule, margarita, mojito, paloma, gin and tonic, and watermelon vodka soda. Most of its products are listed at between 9% and 11% alcohol by volume (ABV)
2. Social Hour Cocktails — Serves up seven canned cocktails including Navy Strength Gin & Tonic, Pacific Spritz, Straight Rye Whiskey Mule, Prizefighter, Sunkissed Fizz, Harvest Whiskey Sour, and Strawberry Rhubarb Spritz. The offerings range from 8% to 20% ABV, but most hover around the 11%.
3. Elenita — This is mescal-based canned drink made in Mexico. It comes in four flavors including passion fruit paloma, strawberry mule, cucumber lime basil, and pineapple jalapeño. “The mezcal is distilled in Oaxaca, before being added to these refreshingly tropical and slightly smoky sparkling cocktails,” according to tastingtable.com.
4. Fling — These cocktails come in brightly colored cans. Made by Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City, Missouri, in serves up flavors including blood orange vodka soda, margarita, mai tai, rye whiskey mule, vodka lemonade, mojito and botanical gin and tonic.
5. Cutwater Spirits — They have by far the largest selection of canned cocktails, serving up 27 different flavors. There are flavored margaritas, vodka sodas, bloody marys, and some fruity mixed rum drinks. Then there are canned cocktails not available anywhere else like the White Russian, Long Island Iced Tea, and an Elderflower vodka spritz These ready-to-drink cocktails come in 12-ounce cans and are between 5% to 14% ABV.
Eleanor Dearman, who covers Texas government for the Star-Telegram, contributed to this report.
