Wrap-up of Seasonal Ready-to-Drink Cocktails for 2020

In this most unusual of holiday seasons, there is one thing upon which consumers can agree – they love seasonal flavors. Perhaps since our wassailing options are so limited this year, we are looking for new ways to enjoy traditional holiday flavors and foods.

Before fall set in, Hard Seltzer News reported on the consumer desire for more seasonal flavors of boozy bubbly water. We are happy to report that beverage makers heard that plea, and delivered in a big way.

From Bud Light Hard Seltzer’s Instagrammable holiday sweater pack to the winners of Saranac’s fan survey of holiday flavors, we recap the spiked and sparkling winter holiday drinks of 2020.

Bud Light Hard Seltzer Sweater Variety Pack

This is the third variety pack from Bud Light Hard Seltzer in its inaugural year, and as the name implies the skinny cans come dressed up for your seasonal celebrations in classic holiday sweater prints. Returning fan favorite Cranberry anchors the 12-pack, along with limited edition holiday flavors Apple Crisp, Ginger Snap, and Peppermint Pattie.

I was able to try all of these flavors, and although Cranberry is the standout, the other flavors tasted exactly as advertised. Apple Crisp is sweet and spicy with lots of cinnamon, and reminded me of drinking a light hard cider. Ginger Snap is reminiscent of a holiday-spiced Mule, and was very crisp. I was most curious about Peppermint Pattie, and it tastes exactly like a York peppermint pattie. It is a tad sweet for me, but is fun to try.

Smirnoff Seasonal Variety Pack

Smirnoff Seltzer has gotten creative with their seasonal flavors, including its limited edition Red, White, and Berry flavor released over the summer, which was meant to mimic a classic frozen Bomb Pop. The Seasonal Variety Pack includes three new flavors, Peach, Raspberry, and Blackberry, in addition to the return of Cranberry Lime.

I enjoyed this variety pack quite a bit. The flavors are distinct without being overly sweet. My favorites were the refreshingly dry Cranberry Lime and Blackberry, although I appreciated the inclusion of Peach.

PRESS Select Variety Pack

The second variety 12-pack from PRESS is full of seasonal fan favorites, with Pear Chamomile, Lingonberry Elderflower, and Pineapple Basil joining Apple Cinnamon. PRESS was named to Real Simple’s “5 Best Spiked Seltzers to Sip This Summer” list for 2020 and is one of Martha Stewart Living’s favorite woman-owned food brands.

“Apple Cinnamon in particular was in such high demand last fall that people told us they were driving across state to find it,” said Amy Walberg, founder of PRESS Premium Alcohol Seltzer. “This round, we’re producing it again to make it easier for our fans to get their hands on it.”

Saranac Holiday Spiked Seltzer

Earlier this season Hard Seltzer News reported on Saranac Hard Seltzer’s holiday survey, where it invited fans to weigh in on a possible seasonal variety pack. The people spoke, and Saranac released a variety 12-pack featuring three holiday flavors: Apple Crisp, Blackberry Crumble, Cranberry Orange Torte. The seasonal seltzer is available in glass bottles instead of cans, which was the result of another question on the survey.

Evil Water Hard Seltzer

NYC’s Evil Twin Brewing released its own line of hard seltzer, Evil Water, which features some adventurous autumnal  flavors. Sample seasonal selections like Cranberry Apple Walnut, Blackberry Apple Ginger, Pecan Pie, and even Maple.

VIVE Hard Seltzer Pumpkin Spice

VIVE set out to win the “Season of Pumpkin” with this bold seasonal release. The Braxton Brewing owned company is known for bold flavors like black raspberry, peach, and blood orange and this year they decided to take on the ultimate autumnal offering. Co-founder and CEO Jake Rouse believes the Cincinnati-based beverage company nailed the flavor.

“There are few other products where a flavor profile and a customer base align so directly, that we wanted to be sure that we nailed the flavor” Rouse said. “VIVE Pumpkin Spice is likely going to be laughed at initially, but when you try it, you’ll quickly understand why we’re thrilled to launch!”

Ohza Cranberry Mimosa

This Cambridge-based company makes canned mimosas from premium brut sparkling wine and real fruit juice. Ohza released its new Cranberry Mimosa flavor just in time for your holiday brunch. The beverage company calls it a “refreshingly tart mimosa” that is a “nod to Cape Cod roots.”

Founder Ryan Ayotte noted that the holiday favorite was requested by fans. “After months of requests and countless taste tests, we’re thrilled to introduce a refreshingly tart mimosa that uses real cranberry juice and our signature zero sugar bubbly”, said Ayotte.

Ficks Hard Seltzer Cranberry

Cranberry is the hard seltzer flavor of the winter, with Ficks joining the bog party. The San Francisco based Ficks uses real fruit from the Pacific Northwest. “Ficks Cranberry Hard Seltzer is bittersweet in the best way,” its website reads. “Real cranberry juice floats up among a bevy of bubbles like cranberries in a bog to deliver authentic taste in every sip.”

Rebel Hard Coffee Pumpkin Spice Latte

Twelve5’s new entry into the hard coffee market, Rebel, plans to release a seasonal flavor each quarter, starting with this season’s hard take on the iconic PSL.

‘Merican Mule Fire Mule

Canned cocktail company ‘Merican Mule released its holiday take on the classic, copper mug Mule, the bourbon-based Fire Mule. ‘Merican Mule also released a successful Pumpkin Spice Mule for the fall.

“The fire mule is made with bourbon whiskey, cinnamon and ginger, and one of the things that makes it a little bit different than our other flavors is that it’s going to be a little spicy,” CEO Dean Mahoney said in an interview with Hard Seltzer News. “So, the ginger is almost a hot ginger to match how we’re marketing it.”

BON V!V Holiday Gift Box

A-B InBev’s BON V!V released a special holiday gift box, curated by its creative advisor Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The gift box contains the recipe, ingredients, and glasses for a new cocktail Chopra Jonas created, the Candy Cane Crush, made with BON V!V Cranberry, tequila, and pomegranate juice. It also comes with a $15 Minibar gift card and one of two pairs of silk pajamas from Helena Quinn. I can guess what the other Jonas sisters are getting this year!

Avatar photo
Latest posts by Erin Grafton (see all)