Canned Cocktails

Can-DO COCKtails

Craft Cocktails in a Can

By Heather L. King

It’s a rare cocktail drinker who might find themself jealous of beer drinkers — until they want to enjoy their favorite mixed drink on the trail, on a picnic or just on the go. The distinctive sound of an aluminum can popping open for a refreshing reward at the top of the mountain, at a tailgate party or down a ski run, is the sound of a mission complete, the ultimate satisfaction, not to mention a more sustainable and lighter-weight item to carry. Fortunately, cocktail imbibers can now join the rest of their can-chugging crew to raise a toast and rejoice as a handful of local distilleries are making canned cocktails for portable enjoyment.

Sugar House Distillery Owner & Distiller: James Fowler

Sugar House Distillery

Newest in the canned cocktail mix is Sugar House Distillery, which uses its own vodka, rum and rye whiskey in their recently released first three flavors of 10% ABV canned cocktails. Find Raspberry Lemonade Vodka and Raspberry Whiskey Sour at 16 DABC outlets as well as the distillery. Vodka Tonic is sold exclusively at the distillery. All are $3.49 each for a 12 oz. slim can, equating to approximately two cocktails. Look for new flavors available at the distillery beginning in April: Whiskey

Cola, Rum Cola and Bloody Mary.

Sugar House Distillery owner and distiller James Fowler worked with Thom Garwood of Garwood Ginger Beer to develop Sugar House’s flavors. “Thom was really a big part of putting these flavors together with me,” Fowler says. “He has a great palette and

knows how to come up with some fun flavors, and when I drink these I can see Thom’s influence. I really like the direction Thom got us going with these first few flavors.”

Fowler explains that he chose not to make a Moscow Mule due to many competing products. “We needed to add something different to the shelves at the liquor stores. That’s why we went with the lemonade and whiskey sour.”

He shares a typical conversation he’s recently had with many customers who say, “I am not a whiskey drinker but that Raspberry Whiskey Sour is amazing!” “Then,” Fowler thinks to himself, “they will be a whiskey drinker soon.”

In just two months, Raspberry Whiskey Sour and Raspberry Lemonade Vodka have sold equally well — more than 4000 cans each.

Fowler feels the early success is due to convenience. “I think the ease of grabbing some cans is really catching on. Beer has been in the lead for a long time with this concept, so it is nice for a consumer to have a choice of other alcoholic drinks like canned cocktails or wine in a can. These cans have changed things and they are so convenient. You don’t have to worry about other ingredients. Do you have fresh lemon or limes? Nope, you can just grab a can and enjoy.”

With the new canning equipment and tanks, Fowler’s next step is to find a new home for the distillery where he says, “we can have a better customer experience with drinks and some food. For now, we’re making the best out of our space to get these out to the public so they can get them in their hands and try a delicious Sugar House canned cocktail.”

Simplicity Cocktails

Coming to the Utah canned cocktail market in a very different way from other distilleries, Simplicity Cocktails actually started with that very delivery method in mind after co-founders Chris Weed and Chad Linville scrapped plans to open a gin distillery. Yet, in their efforts to explain and endear gin to their friends, they developed some tasty gin and tonic recipes and realized that there were few ready-to-drink options on the market.

“Canned cocktails have come a long way in recent years,” says Chris Weed, co-founder of Simplicity. “For the most part, gone are the days of cheap syrupy flavors that leave you with nasty hangovers.”

Today, Simplicity sells 11 canned cocktail flavors with a new Nitro Bourbon Sour on tap to launch in March. “Development has taken a bit longer than expected as we perfect the recipe to get the creamy head we’re looking for,” explains Weed.

You can find their most popular canned cocktail, the Moscow Mule and Cadillac Margarita in most state liquor stores along with canned bourbon and canned vodka with resealable lids. “We’re really excited about the canned spirits with resealable lids. We’re the first in the US to do this, as far as we know,” Weed says.

All of Simplicity’s products are available at their facility, with canned cocktail prices ranging from $3 to $3.80 per cocktail.

Read about Ogden’s Own Distillery and Beehive Distilling canned cocktails on UtahStories.com