Canadian Club extends RTD range

Beam Suntory-owned Canadian Club has added a Soda & Lime variant to its ready-to-drink (RTD) range.

The Canadian whisky brand will launch its new RTD in the Australian market in October before embarking on a global release. Soda & Lime joins the brand's pre-mixed selection, which features Cola and Ginger Ale variants. With its new flavour, Canadian Club aims to meet consumer demand for lighter drinks. Soda & Lime contains 31 calories per 100ml, which the brand claims is 50% fewer calories than cola and dry RTDs on the market. Sitting at 4.8% ABV, the variant will retail for AU$24.99 per six pack at liquor stores across Australia. To promote the launch, Canadian Club will roll out a consumer promotion called Summer Shout from 1 November, giving away 50,000 Soda & Lime serves. The brand will also serve as the official dark spirits partner of the Australian Open tennis tournament, the eighth consecutive year of the collaboration. The booming RTD market is now larger in volume than total spirits in the US. According to the IWSR, it is expected to overtake wine as the second-biggest beverage alcohol category this year. Want more RTDs? Check out our pick of the best canned cocktails.