15 Recommended Brands To Add To Your Home Bar In August 2021
Summer 2021 is still upon us. No matter whether you are still quarantining or regularly socializing in small groups, there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy your home bar and imbibe. As someone regularly following trends within the food and beverage worlds, I can tell you that there is no shortage of interesting new offerings from top producers of wine, spirits and even non-alcoholic beverages.
In turn, below are 15 recommendations for readers of The Hype Magazine seeking some possible, quality-oriented — yet most of which cost-effective and value-oriented, in spite of that high level of quality — additions to their home bar, recipes and non-alcoholic options included, of course.
Billed as “cocktails in a can,” Clubtails are ready-to-drink canned drinks carrying a 10 percent ABV. They are gluten-free and vegan, while free of high fructose corn syrup. Offerings from the original line of Clubtails include the following offerings: Sunny Margarita, Bahama Mama, Screwdriver, Watermelon Margarita, and the Alabama Slammer. As lighter fare, Clubtails also has a “Hard Seltzer” line — offerings include Strawberry Daiquiri, Black Cherry Margarita and Peach Cosmo — which carry 4 percent ABV and only 90 calories per can.
On The Rocks cocktails make for an ideal on-the-go drink to take with you on your spontaneous, last-minute summer adventures. Crafted in a sleek glass bottle with natural ingredients, On The Rocks premium cocktails come in 6 different expressions: Cosmopolitan, Old Fashioned, Aviation, Mai Tai, Margarita and — my personal favorite — Jalapeño Pineapple Margarita. Those interested can find where to purchase these excellent offerings via OTRCocktails.com.
Crook & Marker was reportedly the first fully-USDA-Organic alcohol beverage brand on the market. All Crook & Marker beverages are made with its proprietary BaseBrew alcohol, which is crafted using ancient supergrains including quinoa, amaranth, millet and cassava root, and finished with vibrant all natural flavors. Its latest offering is the Blackberry Lime Mojito, which carries 5 percent ABV and 100 calories in each can with no grams of sugar. This USDA Organic canned cocktail makes for a great alternative to the Cuban-inspired mojito, as made with real mint and all-natural fruit flavors, and without all the sugar, calories and endless muddling.
The Busker Irish Whiskey is a “new to world” Irish Whiskey. The collection’s Single Grain, Single Pot Still, and Single Malt whiskeys — each carrying a suggested retail price of $29.99 — are ideal for sipping neat or on the rocks, and ought to tempt a curious crowd with their rich, smooth flavors and aromas. For those who opt for a cold, long drink during the hot summer months, an ice-cold highball crafted from The Busker’s Triple Cask Triple Smooth blend is as refreshing as it gets. Walmart, Drizly, Instacart and Minibar are among the online retailers proudly selling The Busker Irish Whiskey.
Ogden’s Own is both an award-winning leading distiller of craft spirits and the largest independently-owned distillery in the state of Utah. Since its inception in 2009, Ogden’s Own has carved out a unique path by delivering unique, unexpected offerings to the market while also remaining nimble enough to respond directly to shifting consumer demands and trends, with examples such as Porter’s Fire Cinnamon Whiskey, last year’s Porter’s Peanut Butter Whiskey, and Five Wives canned cocktails. Madam Pattirini Gin & Tonic and Porter’s Whiskey Soda are its 2 newest offerings, both providing customers with two twists on classic mixed drinks that can be enjoyed across a range of settings and seasons. Each carry 7 percent per can with a retail price of $3.99.
Founded in 2016, Nine Banded Whiskey is an Austin, Texas-based, award-winning bourbon company on a mission to make damn good whiskey while embodying Austin’s rich and historic lifestyle. The brand’s name pays tribute to the nine-banded armadillo, the state mammal of Texas and a symbol of the independent and creative spirit of its people. Nine Banded’s core portfolio includes its Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey and the newly released award-winning Cask Strength Wheated Bourbon. Nine Banded’s Cask Strength Wheated Bourbon was crafted from a blend of corn, wheat and malted barley, as brought to life with the perfect touch of limestone-filtered water from the Texas Hill Country. With a mashbill comprising 51 percent corn, 45 percent wheat and 4 percent malted barley, Cask Strength Wheated Bourbon is 115 proof and features aromas of honey, melon, dark cherry and walnuts. Its high wheat content makes for an exceptionally smooth whiskey that belies its Texas-sized punch, carrying notes of graham crackers, pecans, and brown sugar on the palate.
Earlier this year I wrote about how Stone Brewing sought out and brought together 4 guest artists to design collectible labels for a special limited release of its most popular IPAs. For the Stone Guest Artist IPA Mixed Pack, the artists — both amateur and pro — brought their own personal expression to each of the labels, which can now be found nationwide. The brand’s latest offering is its Stone Hazy IPA, which is juicy, creamy and unlike any beer of Stone’s past. The 6.7 percent ABV beer has been described by its brewers as an “absolute juicy citrus bomb of a beer,” as brewed with a unique combination of fruity and tropical hops.
Also new, interesting and related to Stone Brewing, men’s natural personal care brand Dr. Squatch and Stone have collaborated on a limited-edition soap scent. Launching on Friday, August 20, 2021, the scent is fresh, zesty, refreshing and has that hoppy bite that is signature to the Stone IPA. Its anti-inflammatory hops are incorporated to help smooth and moisturize your skin, while the Stone IPA Beer helps condition the skin and the menthol included is known to provide a cooling, soothing and refreshing sensation.
It’s about to get real. #AriZonaSunRise with 4.6% ALC/VOL and 100 calories per can. pic.twitter.com/IPvwXva1aL
— AriZona SunRise (@SunriseSeltzer) March 22, 2021
AriZona SunRise Hard Seltzer is a collaboration between Heineken USA and AriZona Beverages — yes, AriZona Beverages, the ice tea people. AriZona SunRise Hard Seltzer is made with a splash of real fruit, unlike other hard seltzers currently on the market. It is currently available in 4 AriZona juice flavors: Mucho Mango, Cherry Punch, Lemon and Grapefruit. These offerings come both in a variety pack and via the bodega favorite 19.2 oz. single-serve can for the Mucho Mango and Cherry Punch flavors. Highly-recommended to have on-hand for hosting.
Brewdog’s Iron Maiden Hellcat Beer
BrewDog is a leading global craft brewer, and reportedly the world’s only carbon negative beer brand. BrewDog has teamed up with Iron Maiden, one of the world’s most successful and revered rock bands, to launch an India Pale Lager known as Hellcat in Fall 2021. The end-result is a feisty 6 percent ABV India Pale Lager where hops and malts collide. Hellcat rages with a citrus-forward flavor with a no less aggressive malty backbone. The result is a hazy-gold IPL with an epically-complex balance.
Commented Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson in a prepared statement: “I’ve been looking for the perfect partner with whom to bring a fresh, exciting beer to the U.S. I’ve long been an admirer of BrewDog, not just because of their beers, but also of their attitude and style. When I met the BrewDog team, we discovered the respect is mutual, and that we could make an undeniably unique beer together.” Brewed and exclusively available in the USA, Hellcat joins the global Trooper family of beers; Iron Maiden’s Trooper beer was launched in 2013 and has sold over 25 million pints (and counting) worldwide.
Cutwater Spirits’ Yankees Limited-Edition Vodka Mules
Cutwater Spirits is reportedly the most awarded canned cocktail brand in the U.S. with nearly 2 dozens canned cocktail classics to its credit, including tequila, vodka, rum, gin, whiskey and liqueur-based offerings. Co-Founder and Master Distiller Yuseff Cherney began distilling as a side project under Ballast Point Brewing. In 2017, Cutwater Spirits was established as a separate entity from the brewery and now operates from a 50,000 square foot distillery and production facility, which includes a world-class tasting room and restaurant. To date, Cutwater has earned over 1,000 awards across its portfolio of products and is distributed in 45 states.
Its latest offering is a limited-edition, co-branded New York Yankees Vodka Mule canned cocktail featuring the official Yankees uniform & logo on the outside and Cutwater’s vodka with ginger, a splash of bitters and a hint of lime on the inside. Perfect for Yankees fans looking to show some team spirit, this drink carries an ABV of 7 percent. Also new and notable from the brand — as unveiled in time for National Piña Colada 2021 — is Cutwater’s canned Pina Colada, as made with Cutwater’s Award-Winning White Rum, Coconut Cream Liqueur and natural pineapple and coconut.
The Landsdale, PA-based precision craft distillers known as Boardroom Spirits are known to use 100 percent all-natural ingredients like black tea for their canned cocktails, while utilizing no artificial colors, flavors, sugars or preservatives. New peach and raspberry flavors have joined Boardroom Spirits’ acclaimed line of canned cocktails, which kicked off with an original lemon flavor. Carrying an ABV of 5.5 percent per can, these beverages aim to be both tasty and refreshing, while portable and widely-appealing.
Cheeky is a line of all-natural bar-quality syrups and juices designed for mixing and matching with a range of spirits, helping you create bar-quality cocktails in the home. Cheeky’s line of mix-and-match syrups and juices replicates the essential ingredients stocked behind the bar of your favorite craft cocktail joint. Just mix 2 parts of your favorite spirit with 1 part each, Cheeky syrup and juice, for perfectly-balanced cocktails every time. These all-natural bar-quality syrups and juices are designed for mixing and matching with a range of spirits. Available in individual bottles or kits, Cheeky is a bar-cart essential and ideal for entertaining at home, no matter whether you are making 1 cocktail for yourself or batching cocktails for friend.
Waterford Whisky takes flavor and terroir so seriously that it starts not just with selecting the right grain, but by prioritizing where that grain was grown and harvested. Thus the name: Single Farm Origin. Waterford uses only barley, which founder Mark Reynier considers “the ideal blank canvas for creating flavor”; scientists at Teagasc, Ireland’s Department of Agriculture and Food Development, have reported that barley spirits contain nearly 100 major flavor compounds. Waterford is designed for you to enjoy like a great wine, as immersed in the complexity of flavors present in each pour. And because each Waterford Single Farm Origin whisky spotlights different farms and harvests, you ought to discover even deeper enjoyment through comparison — and you will never taste the same whisky twice.
Leilo is reportedly on a mission to “de-stress a stressed-out world by using only the best all-natural ingredients to craft non-alcoholic beverages filled with flavor.” Billing itself as “calm in a can,” Leilo aims to help you relax with offerings inclusive of kava root — a tropical evergreen shrub from the Pacific Islands — and l-theanine. Carefree pleasures ought to await from this New York-based brand, as acclaimed for its all-natural, gluten-free, low-calorie relaxation blends, which currently come in the following flavors: Raspberry Hibiscus, Blackberry Orange, Tango Berry, Lemon Ginger and Leilo Lite.
A monthly cocktail subscription box that delivers the craft cocktail experience to your home, Shaker & Spoon’s boxes include beautifully-curated recipes and techniques for mixing the perfect drink, every time. Billed by some as “Blue Apron for cocktails,” Shaker & Spoon aims to serve a variety of occasions and purposes, including entertaining made easy, gift ideas, date nights in and home-based relaxation. Each month’s 3 original recipes are created by world-class bartenders, as built around 1 variety of liquor for that month. In turn, assuming you have the liquor on-hand, you can make 12 delicious cocktails — 4 drinks per recipe — via that kit. Thus, one cannot deny that Shaker & Spoon is helping to elevate the at-home drinking experience in a big way.
TweetAbout the Author
Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."
Related Posts
40 New Recommended Food, Drink, Health, Lifestyle & Music Discoveries From The “Paltrobox” →
Fozzy’s Rich Ward On The New “Boombox” Album, Songwriting, Future Band Plans, Chris Jericho’s Evolution, Van Halen & More →
15 Brands With Canned Beverages Recommended For Summer 2021 →
