Welcome back to the BevNET spirits newsletter. Today we’re talking with one fast-growing canned cocktail company on their innovation philosophy in the time of copycats. 

Thanks for reading. 

-BevNET spirits editor, Ferron Salniker

As brands race into the new hot ready-to-drink (RTD) trend combining vodka and sports drink flavors, one brand is playing it cool. 

Better-for-you RTD Carbliss has become one of the breakout independents in a hot category – but the company is testing where it can take its brand. 

So far, there are no plans to hop into the vodka + “ade” trend that has already inspired a $75 million acquisition, plus new entrants from beer companies, Gallo, and the maker of White Claw.

Carbliss isn’t immune to trends, but where it goes next highly depends on where its zero-sugar, zero-carbs proposition can add value. 

Read the story

• Quench Ventures has put in an additional $2.4 million investment in existing portfolio company SipMARGS, the RTD sparkling margarita brand backed by social media personality Alix Earle and Palm Tree Crew, and now distributed by Sazerac. 

• Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement deal that caps the price gap between chains and nearby independents - but it may not be meaningful enough to change anything. Read the story. 

• The distributor has also locked in another vodka + ade from a beverage company that develops THC drinks.

• Reyes Beverage Group has added another major spirits supplier to its book. Read the story. 

• RNDC has settled with its unsecured creditors, creating a path forward to its Chapter 11 liquidation. Read more.

• Almost one in five (18%) U.S. adults 21 and older drank non-alcoholic beer, wine, spirits, ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, or THC-infused beverages in the past six months.

• Of note: When asked to name alcohol-alternative brands unprompted, buyers named Heineken roughly twice as often as any other brand. Athletic Brewing was the only independent at comparable salience. Ghia and Diageo-owned Ritual Zero Proof were each named by 3% of buyers.

Read the story

Spirit Awards: Nominate your RTD cocktails, NA spirits, or spirits brand for BevNET's 2026 Spirits Awards. Deadline to submit is November 20.

Submit your brand

BevNET Live Dec 6-8: Join beverage founders, retailers, investors, distributors, and industry experts sharing the strategies and perspectives shaping the next phase of emerging beverages. I’ll be on stage talking about RTDs with Michelle Ivey of Lake Hour, as well as other operators and founders in canned cocktails and spirits.  

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Have a tip to share? Reach out to Ferron Salniker, spirits editor at fsalniker@bevnet.com

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