Mezcal Reina launches RTDs
Women-founded brand Mezcal Reina has released two ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails: Paloma and Mezcalita.
The RTDs are made using the brand’s Espadín expression, which launched in February, as a base.
Mezcal Reina Paloma has an ABV of 8.5% and is described as having a ‘delicate smoky mezcal character balanced by bright pink grapefruit and fresh lime citrus with crisp refreshing bubbles’.
The Mezcalita has a higher ABV – at 10% – and has a profile of ‘signature smoke with zesty lime and a distinctive bittersweet orange note from chinotto’.
Both cocktails contain no preservatives or sweeteners and are made only from natural flavours.
They are available in the UK for £4.99 (US$6.50) per 200ml can, or £20 (US$27) for a four-pack.
Co-founder and chief commercial officer, Monica Torroella, said: “The development process for the Mezcal Reina Mezcalita and Paloma took nearly two years – firstly because it’s important to find the right production partners aligned with our values. And secondly, because with the fresh citrus and authentic mezcal that we’re using, you need to ensure complete stability in the canned material.
“We’ve achieved that and know that our cans are perfect for preserving flavour quality and product integrity over time.”
The brand’s entry into canned cocktails comes with the ready-to-drink sector being the only major alcohol category expected to grow in 2026. The IWSR has heralded the category as a “beacon of hope“.
According to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association’s (WSTA) new Sip 2 report, RTD sales have passed £700m in the UK off-trade.
The category also surpassed vodka in global value last year, according to IWSR.
Mezcal Reina also cited IWSR data to highlight mezcal as one of the fastest-growing spirits categories globally, with IWSR forecasting it to grow at a CAGR [compound annual growth rate] of 10% through to 2027.
Susana Franyutti, Mezcal Reina CEO and co-founder, added: “The incredible cocktail culture in the UK inspires us to look for ways to showcase just how delicious fresh and versatile mezcal can be.
“For us, our RTDs almost become educational tools – approachable entry points into the category, and helping make mezcal more accessible without compromising on quality.”
Franyutti and Torroella founded Mezcal Reina in 2017. Alongside Espadín, its range includes three ancestral-method expressions: Tobalá, Tobasiche, and Arroqueño.
Earlier this year, The Spirits Business spoke to the brand’s co-founders in an exclusive interview, in which they shared what sparked the decision to bring Mexico’s mezcal heritage to a global audience.
Related news
Motel Mezcal makes Australian debut
