BuzzBallz, the brightly coloured spherical cocktails from Texas, have become the unexpected drink of the summer in the UK, particularly among Gen Z. Invented in 2009 by Merrilee Kick, a former high school teacher, the single-serve premixed cocktails have seen a sales boom in the past year, driven by organic discovery in independent retailers and viral word-of-mouth on social media.
Kick created BuzzBallz after being inspired by a snow globe from Sweden, opting for plastic containers to avoid breakage. Initially struggling to secure funding, she eventually used her mother's ranch cows and her old car as collateral for a loan. The company was bought by Sazerac in 2022 for an estimated $500m, and as of January 2025 is valued at over $1bn.
Popular flavours in Britain include Strawberry 'Rita, Tequila 'Rita and Chili Mango. Fans praise their convenience and nostalgic appeal. Freya McCann, 29, a sales worker from Edinburgh, says they remind her of school discos and are perfect for parties. Each BuzzBallz contains about five teaspoons of sugar, close to the maximum daily recommendation for a woman.
The resurgence of BuzzBallz is part of a wider trend of 90s and early 00s alcopops making a comeback. Reef, Bacardi Breezer and Smirnoff Ice have all returned or launched new campaigns. However, Alcohol Change UK warns that such palatable drinks could appeal to underage drinkers, echoing concerns from the mid-90s.
