Vita Coco And Captain Morgan Are Teaming Up For A Canned Cocktail Line

After a few years of spiked seltzers dominating the canned alcoholic beverage market, increasing numbers of imbibers are turning to canned cocktails for something a bit stronger (via CNN). The heightened demand for a boozier portable drink has created a booming canned cocktail market, complete with just about every option you can imagine encased in aluminum packaging.

Now, one of the world's leading rum brands, per Statista, is teaming up with one of the preeminent coconut water companies for a tropics-inspired canned adult beverage that aims to provide a buzz with a side of hydration.

In a press release, the beer and spirits company Diageo — which owns a slew of big-name brands, including Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, Casamigos, Baileys, and Ketel One — unveiled a new innovation in canned cocktails that marries its Captain Morgan rum with coconut water brand Vita Coco.

Founded in 2003, Vita Coco has since become one of the top sellers of coconut water, the juice found inside the hard-shelled fruit that is naturally rich in electrolytes like potassium, sodium, and magnesium (via Cleveland Clinic). Consuming those vital electrolytes helps to hydrate the body — a necessity when you're sipping canned cocktails well into the evening.

In recent years the coconut water business has boomed, going from nearly zero annual sales in 2004 to around $35 million by 2009 (via NPR). Today, the global coconut water market is valued at over $5 billion, according to a report by Research and Markets, indicating that the demand for the naturally sweet, healthful beverage continues to increase.

In addition to tapping into the canned cocktail and coconut water trends, Diageo notes in its press release that the popularity of rum-based cocktails is also on the rise in the U.S., growing at 269%. 

Hoping to cash in on this trio of beverage trends, the rum company has created a trio of tropical canned drinks in classic cocktail flavors. The Vita Coco Spiked with Captain Morgan drinks are set to arrive in stores across the U.S. in early 2023 and will be sold in 12-ounce cans. The beach-ready flavors will include Piña Colada (with notes of coconut, dark rum, and fresh pineapple), Strawberry Daiquiri (with fruity rum, lime, and fresh strawberry flavors), and Lime Mojito (with notes of muddled mint, lime, and simple syrup). Each canned cocktail will contain a blend of Captain Morgan rum, Vita Coco coconut water, and other flavors, coming in at 5% ABV. Whether or not the addition of coconut water will be enough to fend off a post-day drinking hangover is yet to be determined.