IMBIBE: NEW PRE-MIXES & DRINKS EDIT

NIKKI BIRRELL helps to navigate the fast-growing world of clean RTDs

The first question that needs asking when examining the ever-burgeoning “clean” ready-to-drink (RTD) category, is – what exactly is it? The “clean” part refers to the fact these drinks have less sugar and therefore less calories than RTD predecessors, and often use natural flavourings – no sugary, artificially coloured concoctions here.

They can use different alcoholic bases – spirits, wine, cider, beer or fermented sugar cane – but what they all have in common is carbonated water, also known as soda, sparkling water or seltzer. Is there a difference between these terms? The short answer is, they’re largely interchangeable, although they may have varying mineral levels.

The other naming convention you might have seen, is the word “hard” preceding seltzer or soda, which just makes it clear there is an alcoholic component. Add fruit and/or other flavours and voila – you have a clean RTD.

But now to the taste – by and large this is not a complicated category in terms of flavour. It is, after all, basically watered down alcohol. Which is not to say they can’t be good – they make an excellent choice for the more health-conscious among us.

If the health angle is your priority, one relatively new category is alcoholic kombucha. All kombucha contains some alcohol due to the fermentation process, but brewers have cottoned on to the rise in popularity of health-conscious drinks and upped the ante.

And lastly, if you’re wondering why the full range isn’t at your local grocery store, supermarkets can’t stock those with a spirit base, even though the alcohol percentage might be the same as it is for a wine, beer or cider base – you’ll only find spirit versions at liquor stores.