Here’s something new that I received samples of last week: Thorntail Hard Agave, a new line of canned cocktails crafted in the Pacific Northwest. Coming in three flavors, the drinks are based on agave, the same plant from which tequila is produced, so naturally my first question is whether these are reminiscent of tequila cocktails. I’ll know more when I try them.

Press release with details that accompanied the samples:

Thorntail Hard Agave is poised to revolutionize the canned cocktail space in Washington and Oregon

Thorntail Hard Agave, the first such beverage created and produced in the Northwest, announced today it will be available in QFC and Fred Meyer locations in January 2024, thus setting its sights on becoming the quintessential drink of summer. Made with fermented Blue Weber agave sourced from small organic farms in the Jalisco region of Mexico, real fruit and all-natural sweeteners, Thorntail Hard Agave is available in three mouthwatering flavors: Sea Salt Lime, Peach Strawberry and Passionfruit Guava, in 6-packs of a single flavor or a 12-can variety pack. With a 5% ABV, and only 110 to 120 calories per can, “Thornies” are sippable and shareable year-round and in any social setting, whether heading to a backyard barbeque, on your way to one of the Northwest’s best hiking trails or for a day out on the water with friends.

“We wanted to create a delicious alternative to the canned seltzers and overly carbonated vodka drinks that were on the market,” said CEO and founder Joel VandenBrink. “We thought about the clean health benefits of fermenting agave and saw an opportunity to create a more delicious, refreshing product that tasted crisp and could be enjoyed throughout the day without feeling the impact the next day. We created Thorntail to fit into our customers’ lives and where they want to be — with friends and family, out in nature and planning the next adventure.”

Tequila, a close relative to hard agave, is made from the fermentation and subsequent distillation of agave. Hard agave starts the same way but stops after the fermentation process, allowing for a flavorful and slightly carbonated drink and lending itself to a clean, happy buzz that is sustainable all day long.

Thorntail Hard Agave will be available at Fred Meyer and QFC locations in Washington and Oregon, beginning January 3, 2024, with more retailers to be added throughout the year. For more information on Thorntail or to find out where to purchase it, visit www.drinkthorntail.com. Follow the brand on social @drinkThorntail.

About Thorntail Hard Agave
Thorntail Hard Agave is a flavorful agave-based beverage made with fermented Blue Weber agave, real fruit juice and all-natural sweeteners. In three mouthwatering flavors (sea salt lime, peach strawberry and passionfruit guava), Thorntail provides a low-ABV option that can be enjoyed all day long. It is currently available by the can in a single-flavor 6-pack or a 12-can variety pack. Fly high, live bold and grab life by the Thorns. Visit www.drinkthorntail.com for more information.

It’s the first hard/fermented agave beverage that I’ve encountered, and as I’m writing this, I wonder if the makers only need a winery license to create it, similar to mead? At any rate, I’ll try these soon and share my thoughts.