Popular sparkling water brand Spindrift is turning hard. Earlier this week the company announced Spindrift Spiked, a lightly carbonated hard sparkling water made “with only real ingredients, no synthetic natural flavors, sweeteners or additives.” The new hard seltzer will launch in select metropolitan areas on the west coast and east coast next month.
A History of Seltzer
Founded in 2010 by Bill Creelman, Spindrift was the one of the first sparkling waters made with real fruit, instead of the ambiguously named “natural flavors.” In 2017, Spindrift made the Inc 500, at #365 of the annual ranking of fastest growing private companies.
The soft seltzer doesn’t have zero calories, as the added fruit ingredients contribute between 2 and 17 calories per 12 ounce can. Flavors of the non-alcoholic drinks include Orange Mango, Raspberry Lime, Blackberry, Cucumber, Lemon, Strawberry, Grapefruit, Cranberry Raspberry, Lime, Pineapple, and “Half & Half” a blend of sparkling water, lemon juice, and brewed black tea.
The company’s website for non-alcoholic seltzers includes dozens of cocktail recipes, pairing its lineup of sparkling water with a variety of spirits, aperitifs, and even wine and beer.
Addition of Alcohol in the Can
Today Spindrift remains one of the fastest growing seltzer brands, and it is excited to be “applying its proprietary process to hard seltzers,” according to a company release.
“When we entered the flavored sparkling water category, there were hundreds of brands, all made with ‘natural flavors’, clear liquids, and no real ingredients – leading to very few real options for consumers. In the hard seltzer category, we saw many of the same characteristics,” explained Creelman.
“Spindrift Spiked breaks the hard seltzer mold: we feature simple ingredients, prominently on the front panel. The liquid has color like the fruit, huge dimension of flavor, plus no added synthetics or fillers.”
Spiked Flavors
The new spiked seltzer will be released in four flavors: Mango, Lime, Pineapple and Half & Half, a mixture of lemon juice and iced black tea. Products range in calories from 82 to 95 calories per can and contain 4% ABV.
Unlike many of its competitors, the seltzers have different natural hues to them, thanks to their refreshingly real ingredients.
“Our consumer told us they are no longer willing to put aside their ingredients standards for alcoholic beverages,” added. “With Spindrift Spiked, they have an option to extend sparkling water and real fruit into alcohol without making compromises.”
Spindrift uses a 10-day cane sugar fermentation process to “maximize ABV without additives, as well as an ultra-filtration process which purifies at the molecular level.” The concept is quite simple: the longer the yeast eats the sugar, and converts to alcohol, the less sugar in the final product.
“Listening to our Drifter community of fans has always been a top priority for us – and that’s exactly where the inspiration for Spindrift Spiked originated,” said Creelman, who wears the hat of CEO.
“We heard from our fans: hard seltzer isn’t for me unless Spindrift had an option. Spindrift Spiked flips hard seltzer on its head through its delicious taste from real squeezed fruit. We can’t wait to get these cans into hands just in time for celebrating the best summer has to offer.”
Launching in Select Markets in April
Spindrift is hitting the market at the perfect time, because demand for better-for-you alcohol options is on the rise, including drinks with clean labels and lower ABV. The spiked and sparkling seltzer makes for an ideal session beverage, as it’s light and low in alcohol.
The environmentally minded Spindrift Spiked will join its softer counterpart in donating 1% for the Planet. Started by the nature loving founders of Patagonia and Blue Ribbon Flies, the coalition is committed to donating 1% of their proceeds to environmental causes. The idea is that “because companies profit from the resources they take from the earth, they should protect those resources.”
Spindrift Spiked will be available starting in mid-April, in select test markets including Los Angeles, San Diego, and Boston. The company is headquartered in Newton, MA.
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