Somebody had to contain that glorious, sometimes-sparkling, red-hot pink liquid in a portable, easy-to-open vessel fit for poolside sipping, right? It was bound to happen. In fact, the company whose rosé we sampled printed a similar sentiment on its can.
“Let’s be honest, someone had to create a sparkling rosé…”
Babe Rosé isn’t the only rosé-in-a-can out there; brands like Lila Rosé, House Wine Rosé, The Drop Rosé Wine, Presto Sparkling Rosé and Underwood Rosé are on the market, too — a good thing for us Floridians who spend significant amounts of time (imbibing) on the water. But the folks at Swish Beverages, also responsible for White Girl Rosé, do seem to package and market Babe in a way that sets them apart from the pack, which is kind of the point.
Are you 21 years old? the Swish website asks, looking for an answer of no or “YASSSS.”
Babe’s four-pack boxes are labeled with “STAY BASIC.”
You get the idea.
I’m partial to downing bottled or canned beer as-is at the bar (no pint glass necessary), so I’m all in when it comes to the canned wine wave. Babe — which I enjoyed with the completely reasonable drinking accessory that is the wine straw — is crisp, sweet and refreshing, but the best part is those bubbles. They’re a complementary element that might’ve made the California rosé a deal-breaker if omitted.
Bottom line: I’d buy this stuff if I saw it on shelves around town (I think any rosé-in-a-can would make a fun birthday or holiday gift, too). Luckily, loads of Tampa Bay bars, restaurants and retailers carry Babe for your drinking pleasure on- and off-site.
In Tampa, you'll find it at places like Cask, The Patio, Bad Monkey, The Lodge, Whole Foods Market and Total Wine & More (North Dale Mabry), Rainbow Food Mart, Datz, and Gaspar’s Patio Bar & Grille. Then there's Copper Shaker, The Blue Goose, Cask & Ale, The Bends, The Lure, Cafe Del Mar, Park & Rec, Bar@548, and Alden Suites in St. Petersburg. And for Clearwater folks, Total Wine has Babe on hand.
I believe the St. Pete Total Wine on Park Street stocks the House Wine and Lila rosé brands as well. Happy drinking!
This article appears in Oct 26 – Nov 2, 2017.