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The Popsicle Grape Vodka Soda (\u201cBlended in Canada\u201d \u2014 $31.99\/12x355ml cans, Liquor Marts) is a sugar-free vodka-based cooler (sweetened with Stevia extract) that comes as part of the 12-can mixed pack (which also contains orange and cherry). It has that textbook grape-freezie colour, and aroma-wise is quite simply just \u2026 grape popsicle. On the medium-sweet, light-bodied and carbonated palate the artificial grape flavour comes through in spades, with 4.5 per cent alcohol and (if it matters) 100 calories per 355 ml can. The nostalgia level is off the charts, and this offering doesn\u2019t come with raging sweetness, which is nice. The mix pack is on sale until the end of the month (regular $34.99). 3\/5<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Much, much sweeter is the Beatbox Fruit Punch (Toronto \u2014 $4.99\/500ml Tetra Pak, Liquor Marts and beyond), one of five flavours of this tiki-inspired drink available in our market. It\u2019s bright cherry red and aromatically is a juicy wallop of fruit punch. It\u2019s light-plus bodied, with no carbonation but plenty of sweetness, and flavour-wise captures the ultra-sweet fruit punch notes accurately. Made of \u201cgrape spirit\u201d and \u201corange pulp wine\u201d (whatever that is) as well as containing sugar, sucralose, \u201cAllura red\u201d and other ingredients, it\u2019s punchy at 7.1 per cent alcohol and is likely best served with ice and soda water. 2\/5<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Fort Garry Brewing Co. has shifted a fair bit of its focus to its Hector\u2019s Hard line of coolers; the Hector\u2019s Hard Peach Punch (Winnipeg \u2014 $3.99\/473ml can, Liquor Marts and beer vendors) is a vodka-based drink that\u2019s pale orange in appearance and aromatically brings decent peach candy and sweet citrus notes. It\u2019s medium-sweet and fizzy, and the sweetness of the peach and the carbonation combine to deliver those peach candy flavours nicely, while the seven per cent alcohol provides a relatively nuanced kick. Also available in a 1.75 litre bottle. 2.5\/5<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The Snapple Spiked Raspcherry (sic) Tea (Mississauga, Ont. \u2014 $3.24\/458ml can, Liquor Marts, beer vendors) is dubbed as \u201cnaturally flavoured\u201d and is thankfully devoid of a long list of questionable ingredients. It\u2019s pale gold in appearance and in addition to the tea notes, aromatically it brings ample raspberry and cherry candy aromas. Light-plus bodied, medium-sweet and still (not carbonated), the red berry candy flavours and tea notes work well together, the latter bringing modest tannin like you\u2019d get in regular iced tea. The 5.5 per cent alcohol works well here, and things thankfully don\u2019t get too sweet. Currently on sale (regular $3.69). 3\/5<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The Jameson Ginger & Lime (Toronto \u2014 $4.39\/473ml can, Liquor Marts) is medium gold in appearance, with the whiskey and ginger aromas bolstered by a secondary citrus rind note. Light-plus-bodied and just off-dry, big gingery spice flavours come with the slightly woody whiskey flavours, a subtle citrus note, decent carbonation and, at six per cent alcohol, a modestly warm finish. There\u2019s a little more going on here than many of the other (faux) fruit-forward RTDs tasted this week \u2014 this tastes like the actual booze from which it\u2019s made, isn\u2019t overly sweet and would be delightful on a hot day. 3.5\/5<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The White Claw Surge Blood Orange (Toronto \u2014 $4.19\/473ml can, Liquor Marts, beer vendors) is devoid of colour and offers aromas of ripe citrus, lemon-lime soda and subtle candied peach notes. It\u2019s quite light-bodied, with just a touch of sweetness that comes with the ripe orange and lemon-lime flavours, fizzy effervescence and, at seven per cent alcohol, a punchy kick on the finish. The more modest sweetness here also makes this a prime candidate to help beat the heat. 3\/5<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/bensigurdson<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tDish<\/p>\n Every Second Friday<\/p>\n The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney.<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for Dish<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t Ben Sigurdson Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press\u2018s literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben<\/a>.<\/p>\n In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press\u2019s editing team before being posted online or published in print. It\u2019s part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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Literary editor, drinks writer
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