Tag: Spirit coolers

Coolers, also known as alcopops, originated primarily as wine-based beverages in the 1980s, but significant changes in U.S. excise taxes in 1991 led most producers to switch to malt liquor as a cheaper base. Today, the alcohol in a cooler can be wine, malt, or even a distilled spirit, depending on the brand and region.

While the original Mike's Hard Lemonade launched in Canada in 1996 as a vodka-based beverage, the brand's recipe has since split along geographical lines. This creates confusion for many wondering, 'Is vodka in Mike's Harder?', as the answer hinges entirely on where the drink is sold.