Over the past five years, the explosion of canned cocktails has taken over the ready-to-drink category in the US. One of the drivers of such success is Cutwater Spirits, which uses its own liquor in each product. Since 2017 its sales have increased 640 percent.
In addition to its huge popularity among consumers, the brand is also proving to win over industry critics. The company has just received several awards, including a trio of medals at the recent LA Spirits Awards, including Best Ready-to-Drink Cocktail for its Orange Vodka Smash, Best Tequila for its Tequila Añejo and Best Rum for its Three Sheets Cask Strength Rum.
The most awarded canned cocktail brand in the US has just announced the launch of two regionally inspired RTD cocktails: Orange Vodka Smash, a mid-Atlantic classic, and Huckleberry Spritz, a tribute to the fruit from the state of Idaho.
“We were inspired by the regional ingredients and unique cocktails found in some of our favorite corners of the country,” says co-founder and master distiller Yuseff Cherney.
Orange Vodka Smash and Huckleberry Vodka Spritz are 7% ABV, gluten-free and are now available in 4-packs of 12 cans in select states. Cutwater’s Orange Vodka Smash can be found along the East Coast in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Delaware and Washington DC Cutwater’s Huckleberry Vodka Spritz can be found in Washington (state), Idaho, Montana and Colorado, as well as by special order in Wyoming, Oregon and Utah. Both are also available at Cutwater Tasting Room in San Diego, CA.
Cutwater Spirits, a San Diego-based distillery known for its acclaimed line of more than 22 classic canned cocktails made from its portfolio of bottled spirits spanning nearly every spirit category, including tequilas, vodkas and rums. gins, gin, whiskies, mezcal and liqueurs. Today, San Diego is home to more than a dozen craft distilleries.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the distillery opened its doors to help industry and hospitality workers provide socially distanced meal pick-ups. The initiative facilitated interactions among trade members, helping to support those seeking education or other job opportunities amidst industry layoffs fueled by the pandemic. Cutwater also donated 50,000 meals to the San Diego Food Bank and used a portion of its manufacturing facility to produce hand sanitizer, which the brand donated to local nonprofits.
