A new hard seltzer is taking the UK by storm. Two Brooks, a new independent spirits company out of London, just received a perfect score from The Telegraph, highest among Britain’s new seltzers.

Two Brooks was created by two siblings – Francesca and Fabio Bruni. “As passionate fans of sparkling water, the guys set out to create a business around a product they love,” according to the company’s website.

“We couldn’t find the drink we wanted to drink – so we made it,” the siblings said. The spiked seltzers are made with 100% natural ingredients and contain no added sugars. As an added bonus, they are low in calories, gluten-free, and vegan.

The alcoholic sparkling water is available in three flavors: Passion Star, Mango Hi-Ball, and Lime Cooler. They each contain 4% ABV, 80 calories per serving, and are sold in 250 ml (about 8.5 ounces) cans.

Rave Reviews

“With all the big players piling into the hard seltzer space, who would have thought that a tiny independent British distiller would be the one to master the form?” Jack Rear asked in The Telegraph UK. He rated Two Brooks as 10/10, the only perfect score among the seven seltzers reviewed.

“Each flavour… is silkily, subtly sweet, making an impact but always feeling light and sophisticated. And there are fewer calories in it than White Claw,” the review continues.

Editor’s note: White Claw has 100 calories per 12 ounce can, or about 8.3 calories per ounce, or about 70.5 calories per 250 ml.

Europe Discovers Hard Seltzer

While the hard seltzer revolution has been well underway in the US since around early 2019, the genre is just starting to take off in parts of Europe. So far the UK has been a burgeoning hot spot for seltzer abroad.

“I can see why young people are drinking this,” says Siobhan Payne, drinks industry expert and one of the founders of London Cocktail Week. “It’s quite sugary, quite flavourful, but there’s something nostalgic to me; it’s almost like pop.”

To be fair, most hard seltzers have much less sugar than your average soft drink. One of the reasons the category has grown so quickly is because consumers want better-for-you alcoholic options.

“In an ever-increasing health-conscious society, [Two Brooks] offers the perfect partner for those looking for a more balanced lifestyle,” the website boasts.

Two Brooks’ Environmental Stance

Indeed, Two Brooks is all about creating balance. In addition to its healthier profile, the seltzer has a strong environmental mission. It is proud to call itself an “environmentally conscious producer.”

Two Brooks’ spirit animal is the otter. The playful creatures adorn the seltzer’s cans, and as a tribute, the company sponsors a “British otter charity aiming to protect the animal and its habitat.”

“Alcoholic sparkling water fills a gap in the market for spirit/mixer drinkers who want to venture beyond their usual drink and try something new,” said founder and managing director Fabio Bruni.

“Plus, with the rise of cocktail culture, flavour innovation in the gin category, and the premiumisation of canned alcohol driven by craft beer, alcoholic sparkling water has the perfect launch pad in the UK.”

Here’s hoping that Two Brooks brings its spiked and sparkling seltzers across the pond soon.

Erin Grafton
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