Kirin Hyoketsu and its refreshing blend of vodka, soda and frozen natural lemon juice is coming Down Under. Australia will be the first country outside of Japan to sell a localised version of the hugely popular pre-mix drink, with Kirin’s number-one-selling flavour, Lemon, the first of the Hyoketsu (which means ‘freeze’ in Japanese) range to launch here. 

Not as high in alcohol as the brand’s ‘Strong’ offering (which clocks in at 9% ABV), Kirin Hyoketsu Lemon is still punching above its weight in the RTD stakes, at 6% ABV. But with just 0.3g sugar and only 116 calories per can, Kirin Hyoketsu Lemon looks set to rival Suntory’s -196° Double Lemon and the much-maligned Hard Solo as the RTD of summer 2023.

The clean, crisp lemon flavour of the drink is created using what’s known as the Hyoten Toketsu method. This signature technique freezes the lemon juice to deliver a perfect blend of sweet and sour lemon notes. Too easy to drink? Possibly. Worth splitting a four-pack with your mates? One hundred percent yes. 

Kirin Hyoketsu is available now at $21.99 for a four-pack and $47.99 for a 10-pack.

Related story: Meet Suntory’s lemon melon, a new sweet-sour hybrid fruit from Japan