Wisconsin-based Carbliss is moving beyond its core 5% ABV portfolio with a four-SKU, 12% ABV Cocktail Collection launching in six Midwest states this November, marking the ready-to-drink brand's first entry into the high-ABV segment of the canned cocktail market.

The Product Line

The collection launches with Margarita and Mango Margarita — both made with tequila — alongside a Blackberry Moscow Mule made with vodka and a Mai Tai made with rum. Each can delivers 12% ABV, zero carbs, zero sugar, 250 calories, and is gluten free. The brand also notes limited carbonation across all four SKUs, a formulation choice carried over from its existing 5% line intended to let cocktail flavors dominate rather than effervescence.

Initial distribution covers Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota in November, with expansion into additional U.S. markets planned for 2027. The company has not disclosed retail price points or specific retail partners for the launch.

High-ABV Market Context

The move positions Carbliss squarely against a high-ABV RTD segment that has drawn increased attention from both craft and national producers over the past two years. Consumers trading up from hard seltzers — which typically clock in at 4% to 5% ABV — have fueled demand for canned cocktails that replicate the on-premise experience. The high-ABV tier, broadly defined as products at or above 10% ABV, has attracted entries from spirits-based RTD specialists and legacy beer brands alike, making the calorie-and-sugar profile an increasingly competitive differentiator.

For Carbliss, the strategic rationale mirrors the brand's original founding premise. Cofounders Adam and Amanda Kroener launched the 5% line as a direct challenge to the hard seltzer category, which they argued lacked authentic cocktail flavor. The 12% collection applies that same flavor-first logic to a consumer cohort seeking a full-strength, portable cocktail without the sugar load common at higher ABV levels.

"Flavor has always been where we start," said Adam Kroener, Cofounder and CEO of Carbliss. "More alcohol didn't mean we were willing to compromise on anything else."

Growth Trajectory

Carbliss has recorded two consecutive appearances as the number-one food and beverage company on the Inc. 5000 list, underscoring the pace of growth the Plymouth, Wisconsin brand has sustained since its founding. The new collection arrives with bold, distinctly packaged cans featuring ingredient illustrations designed to visually separate the 12% line from the existing 5% portfolio on shelf — a deliberate retail merchandising signal as the brand pursues new distribution agreements heading into 2027.

The launch adds competitive pressure in a segment where premiumization in ready-to-drink beverages has been a defining trend, and where better-for-you alcohol positioning — zero sugar, low calorie — has proven a durable sales driver across multiple alcohol categories. Whether Carbliss can replicate its 5% growth trajectory at full cocktail strength will be a key indicator for the broader high-ABV RTD market as it matures.

Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.