THE RESULTS OF OUR BLIND HARD TEA CHALLENGE ARE IN, AND IT’S HIGH NOON’S TIME TO SHINE
photos by Grace Stufkosky
As a growing number of alcoholic tea brands enter the market, we decided to dedicate our yearly blind-tasting challenge of ready-to-drink products to this burgeoning category. We gathered a group of energetic wine and spirits professionals from the Scottsdale/Phoenix, Arizona, area whom we knew had the most discerning palates for the task.
After several rounds of tasting through eight brands and their assorted flavors at the lovely Soul Cafe in Scottsdale, the results are in.
HIGH NOON IS THE BEST-TASTING HARD TEA BRAND
OVERALL WINNER: High Noon Iced Tea
Second Place: Arnold Palmer Spiked Half & Half
Third Place: Twisted Tea Original
The Judges
Brian Downey, sommelier and bar manager, LON’s at The Hermosa Inn
Tanner Warnol, bartender, Mensho
Maxwell Berlin, beverage manager, Quartz
Kyla Dahl, owner, TWP Hospitality Group (Pigtails, Coabana, Rough Rider)
David Tyda, owner, Barcoa Agaveria
Nick Padua, beverage director, Mott 32 at The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley (opening early 2025)
PJ Baron, bar manager, Melinda’s Alley at the Renaissance
Participating Brands
AriZona Hard Iced Tea
Arnold Palmer Spiked Half & Half
Dunkin’ Spiked
High Noon
NOCA
Owl’s Brew
Twisted Tea