Switch it up for fun, ready-to-drink, refreshing cocktails
Wine is fine much of the time, but sometimes, you want a cocktail. Ideally, one that’s served to you ready to drink. Therein lies the charm of RTDs. They’re handy, inexpensive and single serve — so low commitment. And some can be quite delicious. No wonder the category is booming. But they’re not all created equally.
To help you drop the best of these bevvies in your basket next time you hit the LCBO, here are six of my favourite new RTDs ranging from low-cal, low-carb seltzers to indulgent ones that taste like freezies — and everything in between. Coldstream Clear Peach Iced Tea, made in Nova Scotia (LCBO $3.25/473 ml)
If you like good, old-fashioned iced tea, this RTD is for you. It’s a silky-smooth cold brew made with Tetley tea that tastes sweetened with the ripest, freshest, treeplucked peaches. The tea’s nuttywoodland notes add umami-rich complexity, while the five per cent alcohol adds weight midpalate. In short, this gluten-free, noncarbonated RTD is perfect for channelling porch swing moments. Score: 93 Southside Fizz by Aloette Gin Beverage, made in Ontario (LCBO $2.95/355 ml)
The team behind Toronto’s Michelin-starred Alo restaurant recently launched its own craft cocktail in a can. It’s called Southside
Fizz by Aloette, a drink that blends London dry gin, vodka, mint, real cucumber juice, fresh lime and carbonated water. And it tastes as sophisticated and articulate as you’d expect from a group that has just earned themselves a coveted French etoile.
The tin is tall, elegant and mintgreen. The liquid shines frosted white in the glass — even without ice. And the drink sweeps in with subtle flavours of crisp cucumber, a squeeze of lime and a touch of juniper — lifted with tingling, delicate effervescence. After the cool, crisp attack with 5.5 per cent alcohol arcs and recedes, the gentle sweet heat of mint comes into focus then persists on the finish. This drink is sweetened with 16 grams of sugar per can, but the sweetness is wellbalanced with the drink’s components so just tastes brisk and refreshing. Score: 94 Brunch Piña Colada Rum Beverage, made in Ontario (LCBO $2.95/355 ml)
Those looking for a tasty seltzerstyle RTD that’s specifically low in calories (100 per can), low in sugar (two grams per can) and low in alcohol (four per cent) should pick up some Brunch Piña Colada. This clear, fizzy beverage opens with a quietly tropical scent that echoes gently on the palate. Natural flavours of creamy coconut and juicy pineapple achieve that yin-yang ideal, and each sip is laced lightly with smooth white rum. If your fridge is full of La Croix rather than Coca-Cola, this is the drink for you. Score: 92
Crawler Blended Citrus Seltzer, Ontario-made (LCBO $3/355 ml)
Also in the better-for-you seltzer category is Crawler, short for porchcrawler, which blends sparkling water, gin, vodka, lemon juice and a little light beer. Each can has 110 calories, two grams of carbohydrate and no sugar — instead, it’s sweetened with erythritol to keep the calorie and carb count down. In the glass, this RTD shines waterwhite shot through with effervescence, while the wispy fragrance of lemon zest and juniper draw you in. A tickle of fizz ratchets up the refreshment factor.
Frankly, this drink tastes a bit like a good gin and tonic without the quinine bitter twang and no alcoholic heat from the 5.5 per cent alcohol. Easy crowd-pleaser. And you can’t taste the beer at all. Score: 90
Tahiti Treat Fruit Punch Soda & Vodka, made in Ontario (LCBO $3.15/473 ml)
If you fondly remember growing up in the ’80s drinking Tahiti Treat Fruit Punch, meet your new guilty pleasure. Even Drake sings about how he “used to hit the corner store to get to Tahiti Treat” in his tune “Weston Road Flows.” And if you haven’t tasted that famous pop and wonder what the fuss is about, here’s your chance to find out.
Tahiti Treat Fruit Punch Soda & Vodka tastes just like the original — but spiked with a dangerously undetectable five per cent alcohol. The colour shines watermelon red. And it smells just like that ’80s fruit punch mom used to make with ginger ale, cranberry cocktail and orange juice. On the palate, all those elements smudge together and taste like licking a red Popsicle but bubbly of course. Then, there’s a pink cotton candy finish. In other words, it tastes like happy, childhood moments. Not complicated. Super sweet. And zero alcoholic flavour. Is it tasty? Not particularly, if you’re a wine-drinking adult with a discerning palate. Will you love it? Probably. If you grew up on Tahiti Treat. Score: 87
Free Sushi Electric Blue Raspberry Vodka Beverage, made in Ontario (LCBO $2.95/473 ml)
Those with fond memories of blue freezies will love this RTD because that’s exactly what it smells and tastes like. It’s not sophisticated or complex. And it’s seriously sweet, for sure. But lip-smacking acidity offsets the whack of sugar of this Day-Glo blue RTD, so it’s remarkably quenching like a good glass of lemonade. But beware, Free Sushi clocks seven per cent alcohol — and you can’t taste it. Score: 89
These last two RTDs are over-thetop sweeties that you may not drink often. But they might be just the thing for a hot, sunny day when you’d just love a grown-up version of a red Popsicle and blue freezie. So, when you’re at the LCBO grabbing a bottle of wine, pop a few of these in your basket, too. You won’t regret it.
CAROLYN EVANS HAMMOND IS A TORONTO-BASED WINE WRITER AND A FREELANCE CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST FOR THE STAR. WINERIES OCCASIONALLY SPONSOR SEGMENTS ON HER YOUTUBE SERIES YET THEY HAVE NO ROLE IN THE SELECTION OF THE WINES SHE CHOOSES TO REVIEW OR HER OPINIONS OF THOSE WINES. ALL PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY. REACH HER VIA EMAIL: CAROLYN@ CAROLYNEVANSHAMMOND.COM
If you fondly remember growing up in the ’80s drinking Tahiti Treat Fruit Punch, meet your new guilty pleasure