The Origin Story of Onda Sparkling Tequila

Co-founded by actress Shay Mitchell, known primarily for her role in the television series Pretty Little Liars, Onda Sparkling Tequila has seen immediate success after their launch in 2020, offering their sparkling tequila cocktails across New York City, shipping to 25 states, and securing over $1 million in seed funding within the first three months of launching. 

The drive to launch a ready-to-drink cocktail brand was developed by identifying the lack of quality options available in the industry — despite its rapidly growing popularity. With so much of the ready-to-drink cocktails on the market being hard seltzer, consumers were left with little transparency about ingredients and underwhelming products to boot. 

Enter startup Onda Tequila, the canned cocktail that aims to take on ecommerce, ready-to-drink alcohol, and direct-to-consumer industries one can at a time. Their premium product, coupled with their retro-inspired branding, sets Mitchel’s craft cocktails apart from the competition. 

Not only is Onda a woman-owned startup, but its blanco tequila is also sourced entirely from a woman-owned and operated distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. The tequila is then combined with sparkling water and all-natural fruit juices — no sugar added (or needed). 

Therefore, it is no surprise that the brand saw immediate success. Going forward, the brand is working to increase distribution capabilities and expand the line to include merchandise and more. Their recent flavor expansion now means the brand offers more than their primary lime and grapefruit flavors. Customers can also find their “Paradise Collection” featuring four new flavors — mango, passion fruit, pineapple, and strawberry — on the website for purchase. 

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