One of the leading categories in alcohol sales is ready-to-drink beverages, according to Samantha Roberts, co-founder of Avid Cider Co.

Just like a can of beer, ready-to-drink cocktails are easy to crack open after a long day and pour over a glass of ice with no fuss. These ready-for-consumption drinks, also known as RTD in the food and beverage industry, include anything from iced tea to mixed alcoholic beverages.

Last month, Avid launched a new line of what it refers to as “ready-to-clink” drinks called the Tuesday Cocktail Club, now available at retailers across Oregon and Washington.

The three new flavors — Peach Bellini, Marionberry Mojito and Mango Margarita — are packaged in retro cans featuring depictions of the fruit concentrates contained within each.

Roberts, who co-founded the cider brand, said the cocktails are made with the same apples used for Avid’s ciders but with a higher ABV. Each can holds an alcohol by volume of 10.5%, adding up to two servings of alcohol — a draw for those seeking a higher value per can.

The drinks are distilled with a wine base, making the beverages eligible to be sold in Oregon grocery stores. The law doesn’t discriminate on final alcohol by volume, but rather, by whether or not the cocktail is distilled from liquor.

The cocktails are made with all-natural ingredients, Roberts said.

“We don’t add anything strange or weird or funky to our stuff,” she said. “We know exactly where the fruit is coming from. We trust it. We’ve been using it for 11 years now. So this is kind of a natural progression for us.”

Bubbly, wine-based cocktails

Perfumy scents of honeydew wafted up to my nose upon cracking open the Peach Bellini. Inspired by the classic Italian cocktail with Prosecco and peach puree, the drink has a complex sweet-tart taste, similar to an apple cider. There’s a sophisticated flair reminiscent of champagne.

Mango Margarita is not a traditional margarita. Instead, mango and lime juice concentrate are added to the wine base, allowing for a fruitiness and a smooth finish.

Marionberry Mojito is a rich red color, almost like a glass of wine. It finishes with a strong minty flavor that seems to clash with the earthiness of the marionberry, but at the same time offers a dryness similar to a bold red wine.

At the time of writing, the company was working on developing a map for its website listing locations where its wine-based cocktails are sold. In the meantime, Roberts suggests checking with a local grocer or anywhere with Avid products on shelves to purchases the cocktails.

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Ready-to-drink cocktails by 10 Barrel

10 Barrel Brewing Co. launched two new canned cocktails this month concocted by 10 Barrel’s lead cocktail brewer Benny Shirley.

Whereas the new line by Tuesday Cocktail Club line are smooth and complex, 10 Barrel Brewing’s new AMF (Adios Mother F***er) and Disco Lemonade are ready to party and loud in color and flavor.

The color of AMF is blue as bubblegum, its label a bright montage of ice cubes, lime, leaves and a flamingo. It smells citrusy and tastes sticky-sweet, like cotton candy or a slushy. Vodka, rum, gin and tequila are combined all in one for a bang-for-your-buck ABV of 13.9%.

Disco Lemonade has the same level of ABV and is even more syrupy sweet. It’s mixed with vodka and flavors of huckleberry and lemonade.

Both are available for purchase in packages of four, sold out of the front fridge at 10 Barrel on Bend’s east side.

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New taproom for Avid Cider Co.?

Avid Cider Co. moved from its production facility of 11 years in The Box Factory to a facility in Redmond in November, according to The Bulletin’s archive.

The Redmond facility on SW Badger Avenue was previously home to Silver Moon Brewing.

Roberts hinted that a new Bend taproom for Avid could be around the corner.

“We’re definitely on the house hunt. The real estate market in Bend right now is tricky,” Roberts said. “We’re keeping our eyes open. We’re not in any rush to find something and need it to be the right thing.”