Not too long ago, I was getting offers to review way more wine than I could realistically handle. While I still get plenty of wine, those offers have certainly subsided over the last couple of years. I guess I could examine why that is the case, but this little blog is actually more popular than ever (going by the statistics here on WordPress, so I am not too worried about it.
In fact, it is a bit of a blessing since a) I can drink more the wine that I have actually purchased without feeling guilty about not making my way through my sample pile quickly enough and b) I can accept different kinds of offers that I have always ignored in the past.
One example? I recently received a slew of “Premium Wine Based Cocktails” from Dry Fly Distilling in Washington State. Ready-to-Drink (RTD) cocktails have become increasingly popular and have caused much angst in the wine business. It seems that these little cans (White Claw is perhaps the most well-known) have seemingly become the scourge of the wine industry and just about everyone points to the RTD as the reason for the slump in wine sales (it seems as though the industry is looking for a scape goat instead of a little self-reflection; I feel that the wine industry itself owns a large share of the blame, but no one seems to see or acknowledge that, but that is a topic for a soon to be published post).
Regardless of the reasons why these landed on my stoop, I was curious about these On the Fly cocktails. Being completely honest, I was sure I was going to hate them and then I could just discard them knowing that at least I had given them a shot.
Well, a funny thing happened: I actually liked them! Maybe even a lot? Some were more to my taste than others, but I give the entire experience a solid thumbs-up.
Here are the flavors they sent me:
On the Fly Jalapeño Margarita: Retail $3.49 ($13.99/4-pack). 9.0% ABV. I decided to start with the flavor that sounded the least appealing and here we are. Kind of a lemonade appearance with a slight green tint to the slightly sparkling “cocktail”. The initial sulfur smell was a bit overpowering, so after pouring about half of the 355ml can, I waited. While that surfer-like aroma was still there after a few minutes, some citrus (lemon, grapefruit) and, well, jalepeño were clearly evident. The palate definitely had a margarita vibe going on with plenty of tart citrus, moderate sweetness, and a decided spiciness on the finish, which stays with you for a bit. I have to say this is pretty pleasant and even tasty; paired with some fish tacos or maybe some nachos? Yeah, that would work. I am not sure it has me sold on “Premium Wine-Based Cocktails” but I definitely have not slammed that door shut. Excellent. 90 Points.
On the Fly Margarita Remix: Retail $3.49 ($13.99/4-pack). 9.0% ABV. 355ml. I stayed with the Margarita theme for the second can, and I have to say, I am actually liking this stuff. A bit cloudy and barely any color, this, like the first, has that intense sulfur smell of the bat, but that subsides, revealing wonderful citrus notes, tons of lemon-lime. The palate is both tart (even really tart) and sweet (close to really sweet, so I added ice), but the two work it all out and come together nicely; this is a delightful quaff. While I would put the first in the “pairs well with food” category, this puppy is pool-ready (even if your mid-section isn’t). It is still blazing hot down here in Houston, and this is fantastic. Outstanding. 93 Points.
On the Fly Huckleberry Twist: Retail $3.49 ($13.99/4-pack). 9.0% ABV, 355ml can. This is now the third can of On The Fly that I have popped, and this is easily my favorite thus far. A bright cherry cotton candy color in the glass, and this is the first that did not have the overpowering sulfur upon opening. Instead, luscious cherry, strawberry, and yes, huckleberry, aromas abound with a bit of a citrus backbone. The palate is fruity, juicy, and sweet (again, I served it over ice, which softened the sweetness a bit), but it all works. Honestly, I would consider buying any of the On The Fly cans, but I would gravitate toward this one, for sure. Outstanding. 95 Points.
On the Fly Watermelon Squeeze: Retail $3.49 ($13.99/4-pack). 9.0% ABV, 355ml can. Alas, this is the last can I received to sample from the fine folks at On The Fly. And while it likely has the best nose, with oodles of red fruit (yes, including watermelon) emanating from this essentially clear liquid, it is just too sweet for me. Yes, I poured this one over ice as well, and yes, all those luscious fruit aromas transfer over to the palate, but this I find has too much sugar to be “refreshing” for me, which is what I am looking for in a premium wine cocktail (along with the booze, of course). Unfortunately, the label (like all of the four I tried) simply lists “Grape Wine with Natural Flavors” as the ingredients. There is no nutritional information either, so I can’t determine if, say, one of the flavors has fewer calories, which is another important consideration for some. Very Good. 88 Points.
My dog insisted on trying them too (not really).
the drunken cyclist 