By Cheryl Ursin A 48
t Spec’s, the beverage alcohol retailer based in Houston, TX, with more than 70 locations throughout the state, premixed cocktail products sell year-round. The number-one type of premixed cocktail at Spec’s is the Margarita. “And Cosmopolitans are such a big hit, they’re not slowing down either,” said Lisa Key, Spec’s marketing director. “People tend to go with brand names they trust.” “Premixed cocktails,” “prepared cocktails,” “ready to drink” (RTD), “ready to serve” (RTS), “ready to go” and “progressive adult beverage” (PAB): there are a lot of terms for these products and their close cousins, the malt-based RTD brands, such as Mike’s Hard Lemonade and Smirnoff Ice. “RTDs are the single-serve, malt-based brands that
StateWays www.stateways.com March/April 2011