Tequila Ready-To-Drink Roundup #3: Reviewing New Releases from Canelo Álvarez, High Noon, ‘Hard Agave’ and More

Tequila ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails are taking over the alcohol market one can at a time. Over the past few years, an endless array of margaritas, palomas and ranch waters have begun descending upon liquor store shelves at a breakneck pace. If you ask us, there are too many to count.

Following our previous RTD roundups (#1 and #2 here), we’re taking a look at six fresh releases driving the concept in new directions. From mezcal negronis to fermented agave, we got you covered.

VMC

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VMC — short for Viva Mexico Cabrones, or Long Live Mexico Bastards! — is the latest venture from world champion boxer Canelo Álvarez. The athlete grew up a stone’s throw away from the heart of tequila country in Jalisco, segwaying nicely into a trio of 6% ABV seltzer flavors featuring Margarita, Paloma and Hibiscus.

Our main takeaway: juicy. While many hard seltzer brands are happy to deliver a marginal spritz of flavor, VMC dials it up to the level of a bonafide cocktail. Both the Margarita and Paloma flavors taste like quality fruit sodas — think Squirt or Jarritos — mixed with a healthy bite of tequila. The Hibiscus is a whole other beast, swirling with a slightly tart, gummy mouthfeel criminally overlooked in the RTD market (seriously, where are all the hibiscus cocktails?).

Forget any reservations about celebrity-owned tequila. VMC is a two-thumbs up.

Thorntail Hard Agave

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Despite its inclusion on this list, Thorntail doesn’t actually contain tequila. Rather, the brand delivers a fermented rendition of Blue Weber agave similar in attitude to kombucha.

That is to say, kombucha lovers will find a lot to like in Thorntail. Though each of the flavors isn’t wildly dissimilar from one another, each fizzles with a distinctly tart, slightly lactic bite right at home within the fast-growing fermented alcoholic beverage category. The flavor of agave is subtle enough, stopping short of that saccharine sweet agave syrup flavor found in many an RTD.

If you count yourself among the legions of fermented fanatics, add Thorntail to your fridge.

Margs

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The simply named “Margs” is a huge player in the tequila RTD space, introducing varied flavors like Sparkling Classic, Spicy, Coconut, Mango and Mezcal Margarita. It’s easy to understand how these stand out in a crowded market.

So far as taste, each delivers a decidedly sweet twist on its namesake flavor. Think Mango Hi-Chew rather than fresh mango, or Almond Joy instead of coconut. For some drinkers, this should hit the perfect spot; America’s love for margaritas has been defined first and foremost by the kind of sugary bright-green cocktails found at your local dive bar. Oversized glass, chunky salt rim, etc.

For variety’s sake, it’s also nice to see a mezcal margarita getting some attention.

West Peak Sparkling Spirits

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Fresh out of California, West Peak Sparkling Spirits offers a duo of vodka-based RTDs (Spritz and Punch), a rum-based Cooler and a tequila-based Paloma.

On the cocktail-to-seltzer flavor spectrum (fuller-flavored vs. thirst-quenching), West Peak falls closer to the seltzer side. Carbonation takes the front seat, splashed up with hints of grapefruit, lime and sea salt. This is the kind of beverage you’ll chill by the dozen and save for a hot summer day. The same can be said for the rest of West Peak’s portfolio — shoutout to the Punch flavor as well.

Togronis

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Togronis — a simple amalgamation of “Negronis” and “To Go” — recently expanded its catalog with a Mezcal Negroni and Boulevardier. If the powers that be are listening: please, please give us more mezcal RTDs!

The cocktail is made with a simple three-part mix of artisanal mezcal, Italian sweet vermouth and Scrappy’s Red Bitters. On the palate, sharp flavors of vermouth and bitters come through loud and clear, followed by a subdued swash of none-too-smoky mezcal. The profile doesn’t lean too heavily into agave, but maybe that’s exactly what you want from a negroni. On a side note, the bourbon-based Boulevardier was also pretty fantastic.

Amidst an endless sea of hard seltzers and margaritas, Togronis is a welcome breath of fresh air.

High Noon Fiesta Pack

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Less than a year after introducing High Noon Tequila Seltzer, the best-selling RTD giant has expanded its lineup with Prickly Pear and Blood Orange flavors. If you’re a fan of San Pellegrino sodas, these should sound right at home.

Blood Orange delivered its tart, mouthy flavor wonderfully, tasting distinct enough from Grapefruit to warrant a purchase of its own. Prickly Pear, on the other hand, came through a little diluted, carrying less of that noticeable fruit tang High Noon is well regarded for. Admittedly, rating any prickly pear beverage is tricky; there are so few options on the market that it’s hard to know what to compare them to.

Minor complaints aside, High Noon tastes just as good as ever, deservedly maintaining its spot as one of the category’s biggest players.

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