Hornitos is expanding its line of ready-to-drink (RTD) tequila seltzers with the addition of a Pineapple flavor, now available at a variety of outlets.

Hornitos describes its new Pineapple offering as “boast[ing] an agave character with a distinct, fresh-cut pineapple taste and a hint of creamy sweetness.” This will be the third flavor available in Hornitos line of seltzers. Parent company Beam Suntory successfully launched Hornitos Tequila Seltzer in Lime and Mango this past March.

All of the brand’s flavors are low in calories. Like the Lime variety, Pineapple contains 112 calories and an ABV of 5% per 12 ounce can. Mango comes in at 114 calories. The seltzers are made with all-natural ingredients and are now available in alcohol retail locations across the country.

“On the heels of our Lime and Mango flavors, we’re proud to offer tequila fans and seltzer drinkers another new delicious offering in Pineapple that showcases the versatility of authentic tequila flavor,” stated Rashidi Hodari, Managing Director of Tequila at Beam Suntory.

Hornitos Tequila Seltzers contain real spirits. The drinks are made with the brand’s Plata Tequila. According to the company, the premium silver tequila which serves as a base for the canned beverage “delivers a smooth, lively experience that is enjoyable from start to finish.”

Hornitos’ diverse array of tequilas also includes Hornitos Reposado Tequila, Hornitos Añejo Tequila, Hornitos Black Barrel Tequila, Hornitos Cristalino Tequila, Hornitos Lime Shot, and a line of premixed margaritas in fruit-forward flavors.

Hornitos has been crafting high quality tequila products since 1950, when it was founded in Jalisco, Mexico by Don Francisco Javier Sauza. Sauza reinvented the tequila making process by roasting the agave plant in small ovens in order to create a better tasting final product. The Spanish word “hornitos” translates to “little ovens” in English.

The tequila maker was adamant that true tequila should only be produced with 100% blue agave from Mexico. He petitioned the government to acknowledge his criteria as the standard for defining authentic tequila. Even today the spirit must be crafted the way Sauza outlined in order for it to be considered proper tequila. It has been Hornitos’ “tradition to break tradition, all in the name of bettering tequila.”

It is not surprising that Hornitos went on to break tradition in another way this spring when it merged two trending categories, tequila and RTD beverages, to create its new line of canned seltzers.

“The tequila and ready-to-drink cocktail segments are two of the fastest-growing segments in the spirits category right now, with hard seltzer retail sales up 225% in the last year alone,” explained Hodari.

“The hard seltzer category has seen incredible growth, with sales making up greater than 50% of the US Ready-To-Drink (RTD) category, and the success of our first two flavors have proven that fans are interested in a tequila-based seltzer option that doesn’t compromise on taste.”

Beam Suntory has recently become well versed in RTDs. Last year the beverage alcohol company acquired On The Rocks, a ready-to-drink cocktail brand featuring premium spirits. At the time of the acquisition Albert Baladi, President and CEO of Beam Suntory, asserted that the company has “an ambition to become #1 in the spirits-based ready-to-drink market…”

The expansion of Hornitos Tequila Seltzer appears to be another strategic move in Beam Suntory’s journey towards that coveted #1 spot in the RTD market.

Shirani Jayasuriya
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