What seltzer drink has the most alcohol in it?

December 16, 2025 •

5 min read

While most mainstream hard seltzers hover around a 5% ABV, a growing market of stronger options is challenging that standard. For those seeking a more potent kick, the question of what seltzer drink has the most alcohol in it is a common one, with the answer depending on whether you're looking for a traditional seltzer or a canned cocktail that fits the category.

Quick Summary

Several prominent hard seltzer brands now offer high-ABV varieties, typically around 8%, to compete with stronger drinks. Some canned cocktails blur the line, providing options with significantly higher alcohol content for those seeking maximum potency. This guide covers the strongest traditional seltzers and high-ABV canned cocktails.

Key Points

Highest Traditional ABV: The highest alcohol content for a mainstream hard seltzer is typically 8% ABV, found in products like White Claw Surge, Truly Extra, and Bud Light Platinum Seltzer.
Top Canned Cocktail: For the absolute highest alcohol content in a seltzer-style canned drink, Cutwater Spirits offers options like its White Russian at 14% ABV, though it is technically a canned cocktail.
High-Proof Alternatives: Some brands, like Flying Embers and JuneShine, offer hard kombucha seltzers with ABVs reaching up to 10%.
Varying Bases: The alcohol base can differ between high-ABV seltzers, from fermented cane sugar to a vodka or spirit base, affecting the final flavor.
Not All Seltzers Are Equal: Standard hard seltzers from brands like White Claw and Truly remain around 5% ABV, while their higher-proof counterparts are separate product lines.
Increased Calories: Higher ABV often correlates with higher calorie and sugar content, so consumers should check nutritional info, especially for canned cocktails.
Read the Label: With the diversity in the market, always check the label for the specific ABV, as products within the same brand can have different alcohol strengths.

High-ABV Hard Seltzers: Beyond the Standard 5% ABV

The hard seltzer market has traditionally focused on lower-alcohol, lower-calorie drinks, with most major players like standard White Claw and Truly offering products in the 4-6% ABV range. This was a core part of their appeal, offering a lighter alternative to beer and other mixed drinks. However, as the market evolved, consumer demand for higher-strength options grew, leading to the introduction of dedicated high-ABV product lines.

The Rise of the 8% ABV Seltzer

Several of the top-selling hard seltzer brands responded by launching products with an 8% ABV, providing a more potent version of their popular flavors. These options appeal to consumers who want the refreshing, bubbly experience of a seltzer but with a stronger alcoholic kick. The alcohol content is often achieved by brewing a stronger batch and diluting it less, or by using a different alcohol base.

Truly Extra Hard Seltzer: Truly was one of the first to market with its 'Extra' line, which features an 8% ABV. Flavors have been updated over time but include options like Pineapple Orange and Berry Blast, offering a boozier version of their classic lineup.
White Claw Surge: The most popular hard seltzer brand, White Claw, also introduced a high-ABV line called 'Surge,' featuring an 8% ABV. The Surge variety pack includes flavors such as Blood Orange and Cranberry, delivering the familiar clean taste with a more substantial alcoholic effect.
Bud Light Platinum Seltzer: An early entrant into the high-ABV space, Bud Light Platinum Seltzer also offers an 8% ABV option. These seltzers typically feature a different set of flavors than the standard Bud Light seltzer line, catering specifically to the higher-proof market.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Stronger Seltzer: This brand offers an 8% ABV seltzer, directly addressing the demand for a higher-alcohol content from a recognizable name.

Canned Cocktails and High-Proof Seltzer Alternatives

Beyond traditional hard seltzers, some companies offer canned cocktails that fit the seltzer profile (carbonated, flavored) but with a much higher ABV, sometimes exceeding 10%. These products push the definition of a 'seltzer' but are essential to include when discussing maximum alcohol content.

Cutwater Spirits: The Contender for Strongest

When considering beverages that are in the canned cocktail category but function similarly to a high-ABV seltzer, Cutwater Spirits stands out. Their product line includes options far exceeding the typical 8% found in other high-proof seltzers.

White Russian: Cutwater's White Russian is notably high, at 14% ABV, effectively making it the highest alcohol seltzer-like canned beverage on the market. While not a traditional hard seltzer, it is a significant player in the high-proof, ready-to-drink space.
Long Island: Another potent option from Cutwater is its Long Island, which weighs in at 13.2% ABV. For those who prioritize alcohol content above all, this is a top contender.

Other Notable High-Proof Options

Brands like Flying Embers offer hard kombucha seltzers with higher ABVs, reaching up to 10%. JuneShine, another hard kombucha brand, also features some cocktail-inspired seltzer options with up to 10% ABV, like their Rum Mai Tai. These products often bridge the gap between traditional seltzers and more complex mixed drinks.

Comparison of High-ABV Hard Seltzers and Canned Cocktails


Brand	Product Line	Max ABV	Type	Notes
Cutwater Spirits	White Russian, Long Island	14%	Canned Cocktail	Highest ABV, often mixed with other liquors
Truly	Truly Extra	8%	Hard Seltzer	Part of a major brand's standard offering
White Claw	White Claw Surge	8%	Hard Seltzer	Popular brand with a high-ABV line
Bud Light	Platinum Seltzer	8%	Hard Seltzer	Major brand's high-alcohol variant
Pabst Blue Ribbon	Stronger Seltzer	8%	Hard Seltzer	Classic name offering a strong seltzer
Flying Embers	Hard Kombucha Seltzer	10%	Hard Kombucha	Offers a different base with a strong kick
JuneShine	Cocktail-Inspired Seltzers	10%	Hard Kombucha	Higher-proof, real-juice based options

What to Consider When Choosing a Strong Seltzer

Flavor Profile: High-ABV seltzers may have a more noticeable alcohol taste. Brands using real fruit juice or more complex bases, like kombucha, can help mask this.
Calorie and Sugar Content: While traditional seltzers are known for being low-calorie and low-sugar, higher-ABV options may contain more. Always check the nutritional information if this is a priority.
Ingredients: Some hard seltzers are made with a fermented cane sugar base, while others are vodka-based or use a different spirit. The base can significantly affect the flavor and crispness.
Brand Availability: While mainstream brands like Truly and White Claw are widely available, some of the higher-ABV niche options might be limited to certain regions or specialty stores.

The Strongest Seltzer Conclusion

So, what seltzer drink has the most alcohol in it? For a traditional hard seltzer from a widely recognized brand, the highest ABV is typically 8%, found in products like Truly Extra and White Claw Surge. However, if you expand the search to include canned cocktails that share the seltzer's carbonated and flavored profile, brands like Cutwater Spirits offer products with significantly higher alcohol content, such as their 14% ABV White Russian. The best choice ultimately depends on your preference for a cleaner seltzer taste versus a more cocktail-like experience and your desired alcohol strength. As the market continues to innovate, it is wise to check product details for the most up-to-date ABV information.

The Evolution of Hard Seltzers

The market for hard seltzers has evolved rapidly over the last decade. Originally designed as a low-calorie, low-carb alternative to beer, the category has expanded to include a wide variety of products. This evolution was driven by changing consumer preferences, including a growing demand for drinks that offer both refreshment and a stronger alcoholic kick. As a result, brands pushed the boundaries beyond the initial 4-6% ABV norm, introducing higher-proof options to stay competitive and capture a broader audience. The development of canned cocktails that emulate the seltzer experience, but with higher ABVs from spirit bases, further expanded the category and blurred the lines between different ready-to-drink options. This innovation and adaptation ensures that consumers have a vast array of choices, from light, easy-drinking seltzers to those designed for maximum potency. ScienceDirect.com

A Note on Responsibility

Regardless of the ABV, it is important to consume all alcoholic beverages responsibly. The higher alcohol content in some of these seltzers and canned cocktails means that fewer drinks are needed to achieve the same effect as a lower-ABV product. Always be mindful of your intake and drink in moderation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The highest ABV for a White Claw product is 8%, found in its 'Surge' line. The standard White Claw hard seltzers have a 5% ABV.

While the strongest traditional hard seltzers from major brands like Truly and White Claw are 8% ABV, some canned cocktails that resemble seltzers, such as Cutwater's White Russian, can have a much higher alcohol content, reaching 14% ABV.

Yes, generally speaking, higher ABV seltzers will have more calories than their lower-alcohol counterparts. For example, Truly Extra (8% ABV) contains more calories than the standard Truly (5% ABV).

Yes, some alternatives to traditional hard seltzers, such as hard kombucha seltzers from brands like Flying Embers and JuneShine, can reach ABVs of 10%.

High-ABV seltzers (like Truly Extra) are usually made from a fermented cane sugar base, while canned cocktails often mix sparkling water with a distilled spirit like vodka, tequila, or rum, which can result in a significantly higher ABV.

To increase the ABV, brands can brew a stronger initial batch of the fermented sugar base and add less diluting water, or they can use a higher-proof base alcohol, like vodka, as is common in many canned cocktail-style drinks.

Yes, many craft breweries and smaller brands also produce high-ABV hard seltzers and hybrid drinks. Products from brands like Flying Embers are examples of this growing trend towards higher alcohol offerings.