The Surfside Surge: 5 Reasons Why Iced Tea And Vodka Is The Fastest-Growing Alcohol Brand Of 2025
Surfside Iced Tea and Vodka has officially cemented its status as a disruptive force in the ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail market, building on its momentum to become the single fastest-growing alcohol brand in the United States. As of late December 2025, the brand is not only maintaining its triple-digit growth but is also preparing for a massive expansion with a highly anticipated new product line, signaling a major shift in consumer preference toward spirits-based, non-carbonated beverages.
The success of Surfside is a masterclass in product differentiation, moving away from the crowded malt-based hard seltzer space and focusing on a premium, authentic-tasting canned cocktail. Its unique blend of real brewed tea and high-quality vodka has captured the attention of millions of consumers, propelling a brand launched in 2022 to the forefront of the industry in just a few short years.
The Founders and the Stateside Connection: A Biography of Success
The story of Surfside is deeply rooted in family and an existing commitment to quality spirits, making its rapid success a natural extension of a proven track record. The brand was founded in 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by two key figures who understood the market's appetite for a better canned cocktail.
- Clement Pappas: A co-founder and key driving force behind the Surfside brand. Pappas, along with Quigley, leveraged their collective experience to create a product that filled a noticeable gap in the RTD category.
- Matt Quigley: The other co-founder who helped steer the brand's vision and meteoric rise. The company is often described as a "brand built by fathers and sons," emphasizing the personal and dedicated approach to the business.
- Stateside Vodka (The Parent Brand): Surfside is a product of Stateside Brands, which also produces the highly-regarded Stateside Vodka. This connection is crucial, as the Surfside cocktails are proudly made with 7x distilled Stateside Vodka, ensuring a smooth, premium, and spirits-forward base that distinguishes it from malt-based competitors.
- Launch and Growth: Launched in 2022, the brand's sales volume has nearly quadrupled, reaching just under 5 million case depletions in 2024. This explosive growth has put Surfside on track for even bigger numbers in 2025, potentially bringing in hundreds of millions in revenue.
The 2025 Green Tea Expansion and Core Flavors
Building on the massive popularity of its original line, Surfside is not resting on its laurels. The brand is kicking off 2025 with a significant product launch that is poised to further solidify its topical authority in the RTD space: the Green Tea + Vodka line extension.
This new series is scheduled for release throughout the first quarter of 2025 and will debut in a variety 8-pack, as well as single-flavor 4-packs. The move is a direct response to consumer demand for lighter, slightly earthy, and approachable new tea flavors. By expanding into the Green Tea category, Surfside is diversifying its portfolio while maintaining its core identity as a premium, vodka-based tea cocktail.
The Full Surfside Flavor Portfolio (Entities)
The brand’s success is built on a foundation of delicious, authentic flavors that utilize real brewed tea and lemonade. The core lineup offers a variety of options for every palate, all made with premium Stateside Vodka.
- Classic Iced Tea: The original flavor that started the phenomenon, offering the clean, authentic taste of real brewed tea.
- Peach Tea: A fan-favorite that perfectly balances the sweetness of peach with the crispness of tea.
- Raspberry Tea: A refreshing, slightly tart option that provides a bright berry twist.
- Lemon Tea: A classic combination that offers a zesty, invigorating profile.
- Half & Half (Iced Tea & Lemonade): The popular "Arnold Palmer" style, blending the brand's signature iced tea and lemonade with vodka for a perfect balance.
- Lemonade + Vodka: A separate line extension focusing purely on a crisp, vodka-based lemonade.
The Surfside Difference: Why It’s the Fastest-Growing Alcohol Brand
The brand's meteoric rise to the #1 fastest-growing alcohol brand in 2024, with projections for continued dominance in 2025, is not just luck. It's a strategic combination of product quality, health-conscious specifications, and smart marketing.
1. Commitment to a Premium, Spirits-Based Experience
Unlike many competitors in the "hard tea" or "hard seltzer" categories that rely on cheap malt liquor bases, Surfside uses 7x distilled Stateside Vodka. This commitment to a genuine spirit base provides a cleaner, smoother, and more authentic cocktail experience, which resonates strongly with consumers seeking high-quality RTDs.
2. Health-Conscious Product Specifications (LSI Keywords)
Surfside has successfully targeted the health-aware consumer by offering highly desirable product specifications that are often sought out in the RTD space.
- Low Calorie: Each 12 oz can contains only 100 calories.
- Low Sugar: The product contains only 2g of sugar per can.
- Non-Carbonated: A key differentiator, Surfside is non-carbonated, eliminating the bloating and gas associated with many hard seltzers and malt beverages.
- Moderate ABV: At 4.5% ABV (9 proof), it offers a balanced alcohol content suitable for prolonged enjoyment.
- Gluten-Free & Kosher: The product is certified gluten-free and OU Kosher Certified, broadening its market appeal.
3. Strategic Sports Partnerships and Market Presence
To accelerate its national expansion, Surfside has invested heavily in strategic sports marketing. The brand is the official RTD Vodka Iced Tea and Vodka Lemonade of Minor League Baseball (MiLB) and maintains partnerships with six teams across the NBA and the NHL. These high-visibility partnerships ensure the brand is seen by millions of potential consumers, driving both brand awareness and sales volume.
4. Diverse Format Options
Understanding that consumers purchase beverages for different occasions, Surfside offers various formats. The core product is available in convenient 355ml (12 oz) cans, but the brand has also introduced a new, larger 19.2-ounce can for select release, catering to those seeking a larger serving size.
The combination of a superior product, transparent ingredients, and aggressive market strategy has positioned Surfside Iced Tea and Vodka to dominate the premium RTD category throughout 2025 and beyond. The brand’s focus on real ingredients and a spirits base has clearly made it the preferred choice over traditional hard seltzers and malt beverages, riding a massive wave of success that shows no signs of breaking.
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