Last updated on October 9th, 2019 at 09:47 am
Crook & Marker, an alcohol brand from beverage innovator Ben Weiss, is launching a new line of Spiked Sodas made with organic alcohol and zero sugar. Crook & Marker Spiked Sodas will be available in Classic Cola, Lemon Lime, Ginger Ale and Root Beer flavors and will begin rolling out in select regional markets in October, with a national launch expected in early 2020.
“Soda has become a bad four-letter word in many households across America—not because anyone ever fell out of love with the taste of soda, just the sugar and broken ingredients that came with it,” said Weiss. “When other alcohol companies tried hard sodas, they didn’t bother fixing the ingredients, which is why consumers never held on. Imagine dumping 15 packets of sugar into your drink, which is what some of those brands are doing. That’s all about to change. Crook & Marker Spiked Sodas deliver the classic, refreshing soda taste that we all love, finally, without the sugar or artificial sweeteners.”
Crook & Marker Spiked Sodas are made with the company’s proprietary organic BaseBrew alcohol, which is made from ancient grains and superfoods including quinoa, millet, amaranth and cassava root. It is then brewed and filtered. Crook & Marker Spiked Sodas are sugar-free, caffeine-free, sweetened from natural sources, gluten-free, non-GMO and vegan, with 80 calories, no artificial flavors and less than 1g net carbs per can and 4% ABV.
“We see today’s consumers, particularly millennials who are now all of legal drinking age, reject sugar, carbs and ultimately calories, but still demand great flavor and enjoyment,” Weiss said. “We believe hard seltzers were just the first stop in their pursuit for a better way to drink. Crook & Marker’s mission is to lead the industry away from bland and compromised ingredients and give consumers what they’re seeking—a portfolio of adult beverages that are perfect for having a good time and deliver bold flavor, variety and transparency.”
Weiss previously founded Bai Antioxidant Beverages, which have 5 calories, 1g of sugar and no artificial sweeteners. Bai became one of the fastest-growing brands in the beverage industry before Dr Pepper Snapple Group acquired the business in 2017 for $1.7 billion.
Crook & Marker Spiked Sodas will be available in single-flavor four-packs and sold in retail stores, bars, restaurants and other locations nationwide.
