White Claw Is Finally Available In The UK And – Oh Man – I've Got Some Questions For You, America
Firstly, what is seltzer?
White Claw is finally available in the UK! This is NOT a drill.
I have seen this drink on "American Twitter" countless times, and it seems to hold an almost cult status so I was super excited to try it for myself and see what all the hype was about. I can honestly say I had no idea what to expect. Seltzer is not a word commonly used in the UK, but I'm imagining something with a tonic or soda water kinda vibe.
Currently, there are only three flavours (yes, Americans, flavours) available in the UK: Natural Lime, Raspberry, and Black Cherry. I was only able to find the Natural Lime and Raspberry flavors so if you tell me that Black Cherry is the best, I will not be ok.
So, I've got some questions...
My first question: do we have the good flavors, or are you guys holding out on us? Mango and Watermelon sound delicious, and I feel like we're missing out.
My second question is about price...
Four of these cost me £10 which is roughly $12.30. This seems like a lot to me. For comparison, I can buy a round at my local pub or a crate of 24 beers in a grocery store for that same amount. Am I being overcharged or is this about right?
We also need to address the elephant in the room. Although both drinks come from the same company, this isn't technically the same White Claw. A quick comparison of the USA and UK websites show some minor differences in the recipe.
The most obvious difference is that the American version is actually more alcoholic.
Why? There's also a few more calories in the US version, too. I thought it was the Brits who had the reputation for being the drinkers so this surprised me.
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...
After the drinks had a few hours to chill in the fridge, it was time to get down to business: the tasting. I had no idea if I was supposed to put it in a glass or if I was supposed to serve it with something, but both options seemed like a lot of effort. I was keen to get down to business so I decided to go straight from the can.
My first thoughts:
It's not as fruity as I expected. There's a subtle hint of flavour, but it's not sickly sweet which I'm a fan of. It tastes more like real fruit: natural, refreshing, and it actually quenches your thirst.
It wasn't until I was halfway through the can that I remembered this stuff actually has alcohol in it... you cannot taste it, at all. Do these catch people off guard? I could see myself getting through a few on a hot sunny day, not realising how many I've had and suddenly not being able to walk in a straight line. And no, I did not misspell realising.
Of the two, Raspberry was definitely my favourite. It was more fruity than the Lime and generally more pleasant. Having tried both, I realised that seltzer is probably just what we would call soda water which I'm not usually a fan of. Initially, it reminded me a little of dissolvable aspirin, but it's a drink that grows on you for sure.
I can definitely see the benefits of a low-carb, low-calorie alcoholic drink and think this could do well in the UK. Will I be giving up all other alcoholic drinks in favour of the infamous White Claw? Probably not. Can I see myself picking up a few for a picnic or BBQ over the summer? For sure.
TL;DR White Claw is spicy, fruity soda water that is a somewhat healthier way of getting tipsy, and I'm here for it.
Cheers.