Remember when Mike’s Hard Lemonade was all the rage? Grab and Go cocktails have now morphed into a huge business under the Ready To Drink category. There are so many out there, and the latest trend is to keep them under 100 calories, sugar free, gluten-free, and everything else free…but what about taste? There is a compromise for sure, and most of these pre-packaged offerings do have that “chemical taste” from the addition of artificial flavours, so check the label for a lower, or zero, count there as well.

Also, these are great starting points for adding other ingredients to come up with your own creative cocktails. Perhaps added juices, some fruit, and another shot of alcohol. Of course, there goes for your calorie, sugar, and alcohol content out the window, but hey, it’s summer right!

Nude

Our products are crafted with care so that you can enjoy them guilt free. Each can has 100 calories, no carbs, zero-sugar, and zero-sweeteners. All products are made with a triple-distilled, gluten-free Vodka, Gin or Tequila. Canada’s first white-can Vodka Soda is currently available in 7 flavours. After the success of our Vodka Sodas, we created Nude Gin Soda.  A fan favourite, this product currently comes in three flavours. Nude Iced Tea comes in Lemon and Peach and is an unsweetened, non-carbonated and decaffeinated Iced Tea. It is light, refreshing and very easy to drink. Tequila Soda is unpredictably exciting and familiar at the same time.  Our Lime & Pineapple flavours hit the perfect balance with a fresh and unchanged love for tequila. 

Can’t decide? Go with a mixer pack. Nudes are available in assorted flavour packs. Depending on what Province you’re in, you can find 12-packs, 15-packs and 24-packs. See our previous post about special Pride packaging . Outside of Pride month, consumers can find Nude’s ready-to-drink cocktails across B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario, including various flavours of gin sodas and tequila sodas – the full product line-up is available online.

Click here for more info

White Claw

White Claw® Hard Seltzer is made from a blend of seltzer water, our gluten free spirit base, and a hint of natural fruit flavour. With 100 calories, 1g carbs per 355mL serving and 5% alc./vol., White Claw comes in 4 fruit flavours.
Discover the refreshing taste of White Claw® Hard Seltzer today.

We’ve made a spirit base that’s naturally gluten free and clean tasting, for you to enjoy life without compromise. This allows our fruit flavours to come through, for a hit of epic refreshment. It’s like nothing you’ve tasted before. White Claw® Hard Seltzer takes its inspiration from the legend of the White Claw wave – when three perfect crests come together to create a moment of pure refreshment. We set to make something as purely refreshing as this. The result? White Claw® Hard Seltzer. Made Pure™.

White Claw is a delicious hard seltzer, made from seltzer water, a gluten-free spirit base, and a hint of natural fruit flavour comes in four fruit flavours: Black Cherry, Mango, Natural Lime and Ruby Grapefruit. Gluten free, with only 1g of carbs and 100 calories per 355mL can.

White Claw will be available coast to coast in sleek cans, tall cans and variety packs, though flavours, formats and price points will vary by market. It’s rolling out across the country, but is available in most provinces – Ontario, Quebec, B.C., A.B., M.B., S.K., and the East Coast. Territories to come later this year.

Click here for more info

Aquarelle

Introducing Aquarelle, the light vodka soda and vodka water beverage made with natural ingredients. Every can of Aquarelle includes a light, revitalizing sip with a hint of refreshing flavour. With no added sugar and just the right amount of bubbly or water, it’s the perfect 100 calorie, 0 carb  go-to beverage to enjoy all summer long.

Featuring a variety of unique flavours, Aquarelle also offers a refreshing perspective that inspires all to embrace creativity and express yourself in your own authentic way. To showcase the brand’s passion for inspiring creativity, this year, Aquarelle has partnered with a roster of Canadian influencers and personalities who live and breathe creativity.  From the arts and poetry to fashion, modelling, photography and more, each creator will develop unique social content inspired by the brand. One of the biggest names on the influencer roster is Canada’s beloved Drag Queen Brooklyn Hytes.

  • Aquarelle is a vodka soda beverage made with pure distilled vodka, still or sparkling water, and a hint of natural fruit flavour. Every can is only 100 calories with no sugar and no carbs. 

  • There are two flavours available in Ontario: Berry Pomegranate Vodka Water, and Passion Fruit Sparkling Vodka Soda. Other Aquarelle flavours available across Canada include: Blackberry Vodka Water, Mango Vodka Water, and Lemon Lime Sparkling Vodka Soda

  • 5% ABV made with pure distilled vodka, 100 calories per 355ml, 0 grams sugar, 0 carbs, and only a hint of natural fruit flavour

  • Aquarelle is sold in 355ml slim cans which are sold in 6 packs and/or single cans at a SRP $2.70 per can

  • Aquarelle is currently available in every province except Quebec

Click here for more info.

Collective Arts

Collective Arts have launched a line of canned Sparkling Gin Cocktails with two flavours: a Dry Gin & Soda with Grapefruit, Lemon & Thyme, and a Pink Gin & Soda with Raspberry and Bitter Orange.

Dry Gin & Soda with Grapefruit, Lemon & Thyme

  • Made with our Artisanal Dry Gin + real grapefruit, lemon & thyme
  • 5.6% ABV
  • Art by: Maia Faddoul, Montreal, QC, Canada (@maiafadd)
  • Available in/Coming Soon: Ontario, Alberta, BC, New York, Rhode Island, Illinois, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Hampshire

This craft cocktail utilizes real lemon and grapefruit to build on the bright citrus notes of the Artisanal Dry Gin base. Lavender and dried thyme add a subtle floral undertone, and cardamom imparts a slight cooling sensation. Mixologist driven so that it’s perfectly balanced, crisp, and clean.

Pink Gin & Soda with Raspberry and Bitter Orange

  • Made with our Rhubarb & Hibiscus Gin + real raspberry and bitter orange
  • 5% ABV
  • Art by: Famous When Dead, Stoke-On-Trent, UK (@fwdead)
  • Available in/Coming Soon: Ontario, Alberta, BC, New York, Rhode Island, Illinois, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Hampshire

The juicy and floral components of the Collective Arts Rhubarb and Hibiscus Gin pair perfectly with tart raspberry and the sharp, pungent notes of bitter orange. Well balanced and naturally sweet, this cocktail is fruity and refreshing.

These have proven so popular since launching that the brewery ran out of the Raspberry and Bitter Orange cocktails, but they are in the select LCBO locations as well. There company also introduced three new Sparkling Hard Teas, which are only available through delivery and at the brewery as of now. Each of them is unique in flavour and definitely worth picking up this summer, or anytime of year.

Click here for an overview of all their spirits offerings.

Georgian Bay Spirit Co.

Wild juniper grows abundantly on the shores of Georgian Bay. And it was this humble, often over-looked bush that inspired the vision of Georgian Bay Gin®. Every batch of Georgian Bay Gin® includes hand-picked, Georgian Bay juniper.

First there was the Gin Smash, the the Vodka Smash, the a variety of flavoured products were introduced, including new this year to the line up, Strawberry Smashed Soda

Smashing taste, with fewer calories. Strawberry Smashed Soda is well-balanced; subtly sweetened, sparkling and flavourfully complex. This strawberry, gin, and soda cocktail is perfectly balanced, flavourful and light.  The aroma is fruity, combining strawberries, hints of peppercorn, and complex herbal notes of our Georgian Bay craft gin.

If you want to make your own cocktails, both gin and vodka can also be purchased in 750ml format bottles.

Lonetree Cider

100% Canadian-owned company, making cider the old-fashioned way – crisp, natural and real – from apples that are crushed and fermented, then filtered fresh, clear and pure – much like a premium quality wine.

Their business concept started when they were introduced to third generation family orchardists in Kelowna, BC. To this day, they still work with that same family, but have also expanded to work with a growers cooperative, made up of over 500 grower families in BC! Now available in Ontario & Quebec with Ontario Cider made from 100% Ontario apples and Quebec Cider is made from 100% Quebec apples!  

In BC, the product offerings are expanding with an Apple Pineapple, Apple Cranberry, Apple Pear, Apple Peach, a Rose, a Dark, and a Seltzer. However, as of right now only the Lonetree Authentic Dry Cider available in Ontario at LCBO. Request the others and help make them available here as well. The Apple Ginger is by far the best tasting cider on the market!

 

Arizona Hard Tea

AriZona Hard Green Tea: The vodka-based beverage is a new take on an old classic, giving you the same great taste you remember, with a new twist – 5% alcohol. Made from 100% Real Brewed Green Tea with Ginseng Extract & a touch of honey, AriZona Hard Green Tea is the perfect excuse to give the same old seltzers you’ve been drinking a break this summer.

Coors Slice Lime

Coors Slice Lime: Coors Slice is stepping into the limelight again to bring you a piece of summer with the launch of Coors Slice Lime, the refreshing taste of Coors with just a hint of lime. 

VYNE Botanicals

Finally, if you want to make your own cocktails at home, Vyne Botanicals offer the perfect mix to go with your favourite libation. Available in Herbal, Floral, and Citrus.

  • ZERO CALORIES

  • SUGAR FREE

  • NON-GMO PRODUCT VERIFIED

  • VEGAN FRIENDLY

  • NATURAL FLAVOURS

  • GLUTEN FREE

  • 0% ALCOHOL (until you add it yourself)

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.