The party just got a little harder in Michigan. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of bills into law that will allow Michigan distillers to produce stronger canned cocktails, while lowering the tax burden on consumers.
Starting in August, distillers in the Great Lake State will be able to sell canned cocktails with as high as 13.5% ABV, which is up from 10%. The tax rate on mixed spirits will be decreased from 48 cents to 30 cents per liter.
Governor Whitmer signed the package of bills into law at Long Road Distillery in Grand Rapids on Monday.
“This is a great example of bipartisan legislation that will create jobs and help our small businesses grow, and shows what we can do when we work together,” Whitmer said in a news release.
“Distillers are a growing industry in Michigan, and these bill make it easier for distillers to distribute their products.”
The ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail segment has grown during the pandemic, as bar and restaurant closures have moved much alcohol consumption off-site. Not everyone is a mixologist, and RTDs offer an easy way to stock your home bar with consistently delicious, bar quality cocktails.
Yet even as businesses cautiously start to open back up, industry experts expect the trend to continue into the new normal.
“Ready-to-drink cocktails saw a huge increase in 2020 and show no signs of slowing down,” David Wojnar, senior vice president of the Distilled Spirits Council, said in a news release.
“Expanding the outlets where spirits-based RTDs can be sold will increase consumer convenience and provide additional revenue to the state. Consumers will also benefit from the reduced tax rate for these popular products.”
In honor of the news, let’s take a look at some of the best RTDs and hard seltzers coming out of Michigan.
New Holland Brewery – Lake Life and Dragon’s Share
New Holland recently released Dragon’s Share, a first of its kind hard seltzer that has been aged in bourbon barrels. The 4.6% ABV seltzer is available in four different flavors: Original, Blackberry, Cherry, and Orange. Each can contains 90 calories.
The brewery also sells Lake Life, a spiked seltzer made with their own vodka of the same name. At a sessionable 4% ABV, you can enjoy Lake Life in Cherry Lemonade, Cranberry Lime, Lakeshore Berry, Pineapple, and White Peach Honey.
Rounding out New Holland’s beyond beer offerings are stronger RTDs, at 9% ABV. Will we soon see new imperial offerings from this craft staple?
Founders Más Agave
The Grand Rapids-based brewery recently released its own agave-based hard seltzer. Delivering on it’s promise, Más Agave
brings you more hard seltzer to love – it is available in a variety 15 pack, featuring five cans each of Grapefruit, Lime, and Strawberry. Each serving boasts 110 calories and 4.5% ABV.
Honorable Mention: Round Barn’s Flavor Trip
While these are more of a wine spritzer, the southwest Michigan-based Round Barn is also a distiller and with these new laws, we’d love to see more RTDs from this fun company.
Great Lakes, great times, and great cocktails.
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