Whiteclaw Mango

WHITECLAW Mango is a canned hard seltzer, so the base is a light, bubbly alcoholic water carrying a mango flavor, not a spirit-forward cocktail and not a beer. The label gives us the flavor and the brand, and little else, so what follows is what styles like this usually deliver. Check the can for ABV and serving size. Expect the mango to come across as ripe, juicy and a little tropical, softened by carbonation. Mango seltzers usually avoid the heavy sweetness of a fruit punch. The fruit shows up on the first sip, then the finish dries out quickly, which keeps the can easy to drink. Without malt or hop bitterness, the flavor stays clean and fruit-led. It is fully pre-mixed. There is no juice to squeeze, no spirit to measure and no garnish to prepare. Open it and drink. Temperature matters more than anything else with a seltzer. Serve it cold, ideally refrigerated for a few hours or set in an ice bucket. A can that has warmed up tends to taste flatter and sweeter. Drinking straight from the can works well for a picnic, the beach, a tailgate or a backyard cooler. For a more finished serve, pour it into a highball or rocks glass over plenty of ice. A wedge of lime or a few frozen mango chunks suit the flavor, though neither is necessary. On the food side, the fruit and carbonation suit salty, spicy or fried dishes. Think tacos, grilled chicken or shrimp, jerk seasoning, chips and salsa, or sushi and poke. Mango's natural sweetness balances chili heat and lime. It also fits lighter brunch spreads and cookout plates where a heavy drink would be too much. Because it is canned and portable, WHITECLAW Mango is easy to keep in a cooler or stock in the fridge for guests who want something simple and not too sweet. It suits a mixed case for people who prefer fruit flavors over beer or wine.