What has more alcohol, High Noon or White Claw?

January 2, 2026 •

3 min read

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, standard High Noon vodka seltzers contain 4.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), while standard White Claw hard seltzers contain 5% ABV. Therefore, standard White Claw has more alcohol than standard High Noon.

Quick Summary

A comparison of standard High Noon and White Claw, detailing their alcohol content, spirit base, and other differentiating factors. The analysis covers the base products and stronger variants, providing a comprehensive overview.

Key Points

Standard ABV: Standard White Claw has a 5% ABV, while standard High Noon has a 4.5% ABV, meaning White Claw is slightly stronger.
High-ABV Options: For a stronger drink, White Claw Surge offers a higher 8% ABV.
Alcohol Base: High Noon is made with a real vodka base, whereas White Claw uses a fermented sugar or malt base.
Calories: Both standard High Noon and White Claw contain approximately 100 calories per 12 oz can.
Ingredients: High Noon is known for using real fruit juice and real vodka, which many reviewers find gives it a cleaner taste.
Taste Profile: Due to the difference in alcohol base, High Noon generally offers a cleaner finish, while White Claw has a distinct flavor from its malted base.

Comparing the Alcohol Content: High Noon vs. White Claw

When choosing a hard seltzer, many factors come into play, from flavor profiles to ingredient lists. However, a primary consideration for many consumers is the alcohol content, or Alcohol by Volume (ABV). While both High Noon and White Claw dominate the market, they differ slightly in their standard offerings' alcohol percentages, which is crucial for those monitoring their intake.

The Standard Alcohol Content

The most direct way to answer the question of what has more alcohol, High Noon or White Claw, is to look at their flagship products. For the vast majority of High Noon's vodka seltzers, the ABV is 4.5%. This is consistent across their most popular flavors, made with real vodka and real fruit juice. In contrast, the classic White Claw hard seltzer, which is a flavored malt beverage, is typically 5% ABV. This slight difference means a standard 12-ounce can of White Claw has a slightly higher alcohol concentration than a standard 12-ounce can of High Noon.

Diving Deeper: Spirit Base and Strength

The difference in alcohol content is tied to how the beverages are made. High Noon uses a distilled spirit—vodka—as its base, combined with real fruit juice and sparkling water. This results in a clean finish that many find appealing. White Claw, on the other hand, is generally made with a gluten-free fermented sugar or malt base, along with natural flavors and seltzer water.

This distinction in the alcohol's source impacts not only the flavor but also the categorization and taxation of the products. While both are hard seltzers, High Noon's use of a spirit base technically places it in the ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail category, which is often subject to different regulations than malt-based beverages like White Claw.

Beyond the Basics: Higher ABV Options

For those seeking a higher alcohol kick, both brands offer stronger versions that stray from their standard ABVs. It’s important to check the specific product label, as these can vary significantly.

White Claw Surge: The Surge line from White Claw features a higher ABV, typically around 8%. This places it well above the standard White Claw and High Noon options in terms of strength, and it is a direct competitor to other high-ABV seltzers on the market.

High Noon Tequila Seltzer: While not as potent as White Claw Surge, High Noon also offers products beyond its standard vodka line. For example, their tequila seltzers still maintain the same 4.5% ABV as their vodka counterparts.

The Rise of Higher ABV Hard Seltzers

As the hard seltzer market matures, both brands and their competitors are introducing products with higher ABVs to cater to different consumer preferences. This includes not just higher-percentage seltzers but also full-strength cocktails made with spirits.

High Noon vs. White Claw: A Comprehensive Comparison


Feature	High Noon (Standard)	White Claw (Standard)	White Claw Surge	High Noon (Tequila)
ABV	4.5%	5%	8%	4.5%
Alcohol Base	Real vodka	Gluten-free fermented sugar/malt base	Gluten-free fermented sugar/malt base	Real tequila
Calories (per 12oz)	100	Approx. 100 (differs slightly by region)	160	100
Added Sugar	No added sugar	Some variants may contain added sugar, check label	Contains sugar	No added sugar
Key Selling Point	Real spirit, real juice, clean taste	Original market leader, wide flavor variety	High ABV option	Real tequila base

Conclusion: The Stronger Seltzer

Ultimately, the question of what has more alcohol, High Noon or White Claw, depends on the specific product line. For the standard offerings, White Claw has more alcohol than High Noon, with its 5% ABV compared to High Noon's 4.5%. However, if you are looking for an even stronger option, White Claw Surge with its 8% ABV is a significantly more potent choice. The choice between the two often comes down to a preference for a malt-based product (White Claw) or a real spirit-based one (High Noon), with the latter offering a cleaner finish for many consumers. Always read the label to ensure you know the ABV of the specific product you're choosing. For more on how ingredients affect the taste profile of these popular beverages, check out this guide on the best hard seltzers reviewed by Wirecutter, which even praises High Noon's cleaner finish.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not an endorsement of alcohol consumption. Please drink responsibly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not always. While the standard 5% ABV White Claw is stronger than the standard 4.5% ABV High Noon, White Claw also has a higher ABV option called White Claw Surge, which is 8% ABV. Both brands, however, also offer similar products like tequila seltzers with the same 4.5% ABV as standard High Noon.

Yes, the source of the alcohol is different. High Noon is made with a base of real vodka and real fruit juice, whereas the standard White Claw is made with a gluten-free fermented sugar or malt base.

Standard High Noon and White Claw both have around 100 calories per 12-ounce can. However, higher ABV options like White Claw Surge contain more calories, at 160 per can.

Taste is subjective, but many taste tests report that High Noon has a cleaner, less artificial taste due to its real vodka and real fruit juice base. However, White Claw is also widely popular for its light and crisp flavor profile.

This can be a point of confusion. While both are often called hard seltzers, High Noon's use of a distilled spirit (vodka) technically classifies it as a ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktail. White Claw, using a fermented base, is typically categorized as a flavored malt beverage (FMB).

Yes, both brands have expanded their offerings. High Noon also produces tequila-based seltzers, while White Claw has a variety of products, including their Surge line with a higher ABV.

Yes, a key difference is the alcohol base. High Noon uses vodka, real fruit juice, and sparkling water. White Claw uses a fermented alcohol base, seltzer water, and natural flavors.