Red Tree Beverages has rolled out Minute Maid Spiked Vodka Lemonade Iced Tea, a no-fizz, vodka-based ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage now available nationally in 8-pack 12 oz. cans and 16 oz. single cans. The launch extends the brand's existing Vodka Lemonade sub-line and signals continued investment in the alcohol ready-to-drink (ARTD) category from the Coca-Cola Company's firewalled alcohol subsidiary.

What's In the Can

The new SKU is made with real vodka and 3% lemon juice, clocking in at 5% ABV. It carries a suggested retail price of $16.99 for the 8-pack and $3.49 for the 16 oz. single — price points that position it competitively within the hard tea and flavored malt alternative segment that has seen sustained shelf momentum over the past several seasons. The still-format profile distinguishes it from carbonated RTD competitors and broadens Minute Maid Spiked's appeal to consumers who prefer non-sparkling options.

"Adding a Vodka Lemonade Iced Tea to the lineup made sense," said Lou Grill, President of Red Tree Beverages, noting the SKU reflects the brand's focus on classic flavors and broad appeal.

Operator and Retail Implications

For on-premise operators and off-premise retailers alike, the addition fills a practical gap: a recognized consumer brand — Minute Maid — carrying built-in flavor credibility in a segment where trial is often driven by familiarity. The Minute Maid Spiked portfolio now spans vodka-based ARTD drinks (Vodka Lemonade Classic, Pink, Punch in four flavors, and now Iced Tea) alongside wine-based cocktails including Lime Margarita, Strawberry Daiquiri, Piña Colada, and Blue Hawaiian, available in formats ranging from 200ml mini-cans to 1.5L glass bottles.

That breadth gives retail buyers and beverage-program managers at hospitality venues a single brand family capable of covering multiple dayparts and occasions, from poolside single-serves to backyard-party multipacks. The nationwide distribution footprint — handled through independent wholesalers under Red Tree Beverages' three-tier structure — means the SKU should be broadly available without requiring buyers to navigate new distributor relationships.

Red Tree Beverages was established in 2022 as a firewalled Coca-Cola subsidiary purpose-built to manage alcohol licensing and production partnerships while keeping the parent company's core non-alcohol business separate. The structure allows Minute Maid Spiked to leverage one of the most recognizable juice and lemonade trademarks in North America while complying with responsible alcohol marketing standards, including a standardized 21+ on-pack identifier developed for the U.S. market.

The Vodka Lemonade Iced Tea is available now; operators and retailers can use the store locator at minutemaidspiked.com to confirm local availability.

Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.