Cardinal Spirits releases its first canned cocktail variety pack, adding new version
Cardinal Spirits has just released a new canned cocktail — Double Vodka Soda, with cranberry and a twist of lime — that's now available in a four-pack and in an eight-pack with two other favorites, Maui Mule and Bramble Mule.
Customers who were polled by Cardinal Spirits said cranberry and lime were what they wanted in a canned cocktail. The Double Vodka Soda will replace Vodka Soda as one of the canned cocktails to be sold in 12 states and Washington, D.C. Double Vodka Soda is the fifth canned cocktail created and sold by Bloomington's craft distillery. The distillery's other canned cocktail is Bourbon Cream Soda.
"We wanted to try something new and exciting," Jeff Wuslich, co-founder of Cardinal Spirits, told The Herald-Times.
Cardinal Spirits customers also shared that they have missed going out and getting a drink at a bar, something many have avoided since COVID-19. The new canned cocktail, along with Cardinal Spirits' two favorites, gives people something they can put on their table until such time as they return to restaurants and bars, Wuslich said.
"We thought we would do a variety pack with all our three vodkas," he said.
It's the first canned cocktail variety pack offered by Cardinal Spirits, Bloomington's craft distillery. Premixed cocktails were the fastest growing spirits category in 2021, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. Sales of premixed cocktails surged 42.3% to $1.6 billion, compared with a year earlier, according to the council. Ready-to-drink cocktails were second only to vodka in terms of volume consumption, beating American whiskey, tequila and mezcal and rum.
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While the concept for the Double Vodka Soda was formed a while ago, it took time to get ready to can it. That was largely due to the fact that Cardinal Spirits doesn't use high fructose corn syrup, instead using more natural sweeteners. Wuslich explained that means the research and development stage of production takes longer.
Double Vodka Soda, with splash of cranberry and a squeeze of lime, is available in Bloomington area Big Red Liquor stores now. Next week, the canned cocktails will be shipping out to other cities and states.
Cardinal Spirits was named one of the nation's distilleries with the Best Canned Cocktails in 2021 by USA Today. The Bloomington distillery began offering cocktails in a can in 2018.
Fuzzy's Vodka suspends Moscow Mule
Fuzzy's Vodka, created by PGA golf legend Frank Urban "Fuzzy" Zoeller Jr., recently announced it has suspended its Moscow Mule cocktail, with the launch of the American Stallion.
The new drink is similar to the Moscow Mule but uses American vodka instead of a Russian variety.
Proceeds of the American Stallion, which Fuzzy's Vodka calls a "patriotic cocktail" in a news release, will benefit the American Red Cross.
Suspension of the Moscow Mule comes after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
More: Cardinal Spirits adds to its list, now distilling, bottling Fuzzy's Vodka
Cardinal Spirits began distilling and bottling Zoeller's spirits in 2019. Zoeller's signature 80-proof vodka was previously produced in Bend, Oregon. Since the move, the corn and grain used in the vodka are grown in the Midwest. The vodka is distilled five times and charcoal-filtered 10 times.
Zoeller was born in New Albany and currently lives in Floyds Knobs.
Contact Carol Kugler at ckugler@heraldt.com, 812-331-4359 or @ckugler on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Cardinal Spirits adds new canned cocktail, part of first variety pack
