Kinda Light launches statewide through Virginia ABC and is available for nationwide direct-to-consumer shipping at KindaLight.com.
[Lovingston, VA] – June 24, 2026 – Virginia Distillery Co. today announced the launch of Kinda Light Vodka Seltzer, a new low-alc ready-to-drink brand created to meet growing consumer demand for lighter, more moderate drinking occasions. Made with real juice, sparkling water, vodka, and natural flavors, Kinda Light is 2.5% ABV, 50 calories, zero sugar, 1 g carbs, gluten-free, and preservative-free.
At roughly half the alcohol and half the calories of many traditional RTDs, Kinda Light is designed to create a new low-alc tier within the ready-to-drink category. The brand was developed for consumers who want a great-tasting alcoholic drink that feels social and fits more occasions, from weekday wind-downs and daytime gatherings to moments when traditional RTDs feel too high in alcohol or calories.
Kinda Light’s first retail launch partner is Virginia ABC, which will offer the brand statewide for $17.99 per 8-pack. The initial variety pack includes two cans each of Cucumber, Black Cherry, Pineapple, and Grapefruit. Following its Virginia ABC debut, Kinda Light will expand across Virginia Distillery Co.’s national distribution footprint. Nationwide direct-to-consumer ordering will also be available at launch through KindaLight.com, with free shipping on orders of three or more 8-packs.
The launch brings together three parts of the Virginia Distillery Co. platform. Kinda Light was developed through American Custom Distilling, the company’s contract production and innovation arm, which leveraged its production and sourcing network to secure the right ingredients and manufacturing capabilities. The brand will be commercialized through Pound & Penny, Virginia Distillery Co.’s multi-brand sales and marketing platform. Together, this model allows Virginia Distillery Co. to expand beyond its core American Single Malt whisky portfolio while leveraging its broader sourcing, brand-building, and commercial infrastructure.
“The idea for Kinda Light started with a conversation about the rise of low- and no-alcohol drinking,” said Andrew Meissner, President of Pound & Penny Spirits. “We saw real momentum behind moderation, but also felt something was missing between a full-strength RTD and a non-alcoholic drink. We kept coming back to a familiar pattern: you have a cocktail or seltzer, then reach for water because you want to keep the day going without overdoing it. We thought, why not make that next drink a real vodka seltzer? One that still tastes great, still feels social, but has half the alcohol and half the calories. Once we landed on that idea, it felt almost too obvious. The team got excited quickly because it created a genuinely new occasion for RTDs: something light enough for more moments, but still a real drink. We knew we had to make it, even if a vodka seltzer was not exactly the most obvious next move for a whisky distillery.”
Kinda Light enters the market as moderation continues to reshape consumer behavior across beverage alcohol. Built around “occasion-fit” drinking, the brand gives consumers a lighter RTD option for moments where traditional cocktails, seltzers, or canned drinks may not be the right fit.
Kinda Light’s first 8-pack features four flavor-forward expressions: Cucumber, a crisp, refreshing vodka seltzer with a clean cucumber profile; Black Cherry, a bright, familiar fruit profile with real flavor and a lighter finish; Pineapple, a tropical, juicy vodka seltzer designed to feel flavorful without being heavy; and Grapefruit, a citrus-forward expression with a balanced, refreshing profile.
“For American Custom Distilling, Kinda Light is a great example of what our team can do,” said Jerry Heddy, President of American Custom Distilling. “We are helping create scalable spirits brands with great product-market fit, strong technical execution, and exceptional quality. Kinda Light brings together low-cost product development, beverage alcohol expertise, and commercial strategy to create the next big thing in consumers’ hands.”
The brand will be supported with retail displays, in-store POS, digital media, lifestyle influencer programming, and trade marketing built around the core messages “Half the Calories, Half the Alcohol” and “One Can = One Carb.” Kinda Light is available through its e-commerce store, with shipping to most states where permitted and free shipping on orders of three or more 8-packs. Additional retail availability, programming, and market expansion will be announced in the coming months.
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