In the blink of an eye, spritzers became the go-to for many people, with White Claw and Cottage Springs cornering the market on flavoured vodka sodas. But, a GTA-based company, Wilda, saw a niche entry point in the market, and is now making a (delicious) case for trying something new.
Wilda markets their rendition of spritzers as a simply-made seltzer, crafted with fresh-pressed juice, honey and liquor, calling the beverage a "better-for-you beer." The stevia-free beverage offers different ranges of alcohol content, depending on the flavour, though all are relatively low. The flavours range in alcohol content from 2.5% to 5.0%. And, a huge selling feature is that these sunny spritzers are good for the environment: each is pollinator-friendly and keeps environmental consciousness at the forefront.
Based in Prince Edward County, Wilda's flavours include cucumber and lime, described as a "boozy spa water," peach tea (which the website calls "summer in a can"), "wildly delicious" blueberry and lavender, and a variety of others that use locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.
The company also released a limited-run rose petal jun kombucha, a non-alcoholic beverage made with honey and green tea. Only 250 bottles were released, available in select bottle shops and bars across the GTA.
Wilda's spritzers are also available at bars, LCBOs (in the Ontario craft beer section), and retailers across the city and into the GTA, as far east as Kingston and as far west as London, so seltzer-lovers can even snag some on the way to the cottage. A home delivery program is also available on the company's website.
The company was founded in 2022, and introduced itself to Torontonians with a party at the end of November held in the trendy Trinity-Bellwoods area. The festivities included a bee-friendly tasting menu and a create-your-own-floral arrangement station that was also conscious of pollinators.
