Hard Seltzer

I've been a Hard Seltzer drinker for years and this category never gets old. The depth of flavour you get from a well-made Hard Seltzer is genuinely hard to explain to someone who hasn't tried it. I tend to drink it in a proper glass at room temperature and find that's when it shows its best charact…

My first serious Hard Seltzer was a gift and it genuinely opened a new chapter in how I think about drinking. The complexity — especially the finish — was unlike anything I'd experienced. Served on the rocks by the person who gave it, with an explanation of what I was tasting. That experience sent …

Took a bottle of Hard Seltzer to a dinner party where nobody had thought much about it before. Served it neat after the meal and it sparked a genuine conversation. The nose did the work — once people noticed it they couldn't stop asking questions. There's something satisfying about introducing peop…

Quality Hard Seltzer sits at the premium end of my drinks budget and that's fine — it's an occasion drink for me. Served neat at the right moment it's hard to beat. The nose on a well-chosen bottle is extraordinary. That said, the price variation in this category is wild. You absolutely get what yo…

One of the things I love about Hard Seltzer is the regional variation. The same category produced in different parts of the world tastes completely different. The smooth aftertaste shifts dramatically depending on origin, and served on the rocks those differences are most apparent. If you've only t…

I came to Hard Seltzer late — not until I was in my 5s. Had assumed it wasn't for me based on nothing in particular. A partner's recommendation changed that. Tried it as a long drink with ice and the depth of flavour was immediately interesting rather than off-putting. Several years on and it's fir…

I resisted Hard Seltzer for a long time based on a bad early experience. Then a friend insisted I try a properly made version served on the rocks and everything changed. The character I'd missed the first time was suddenly the point. Been drinking it regularly for about six months now and find myse…

Hard Seltzer has a specific character that isn't universally appealing and I respect that. Some people find the finish overwhelming. Served with a splash of water it's at its most polarising — full flavour, no hiding. For those it clicks with, the payoff is enormous. I'm firmly in that camp and hav…

After 5 years of drinking Hard Seltzer I'm still finding bottles that surprise me. The category has more depth than it's given credit for by people who haven't explored it properly. Served neat at its best, the character continues to evolve in interesting directions. My advice to anyone starting ou…

Hard Seltzer has become my slow-evening ritual. Served neat, no distractions, and you start to notice things — the balance between sweetness and bite, the way it develops in the glass. It's a drink that rewards attention in a way most don't. I've introduced a few friends to proper Hard Seltzer and …