What is Gay Water?

two answers, because it's both a thing people say and a thing you can buy.

the slang

"gay water" is what gay men have called a vodka soda for years: the go-to gay bar order. light, low-calorie, gets the job done, and you can drink a few without regret. order one anywhere with a rainbow flag in the window and the bartender knows exactly what you mean.

the brand

in 2023, founder spencer hoddeson made it official. gay water is a queer-owned canned vodka soda made with three ingredients: real vodka, sparkling water, and natural fruit flavor. every can is 80 calories, 0 sugar, 4% abv, gluten-free and vegan. it comes in four flavors (lime, grapefruit, watermelon, peach) and has been covered by cnn business, cnbc, yahoo finance, the new york post and buzzfeed.

what is a gay drink?

the honest answer is that there isn't an official list, but there is a consensus, and a vodka soda sits at the top of it. it's light, it's low-calorie, it doesn't fill you up, and you can have several over a long night without your body filing a complaint. that combination is why it became the default order.

after that, the usual suspects: an espresso martini when the night needs a second act, an aperol spritz in any weather that vaguely permits it, a cosmopolitan ordered with full sincerity, a white wine spritzer, a ranch water, and a Diet Coke for whoever is driving. none of these are gay in any literal sense. they're just what tends to be in everyone's hand.

what's the gayest alcoholic drink?

vodka soda, and it isn't close. it's the order that needs no explanation at a gay bar, which is the actual test. the espresso martini has a strong case and the cosmopolitan has history on its side, but the vodka soda is the one an entire community landed on without a meeting.

which is the whole reason this brand exists. if the drink already had our name on it, it may as well come in a can that says so. if you'd rather buy from the wider category, we keep a running list of queer-owned alcohol brands over at The Watering Hole, including ones that compete with us.

do you have to be gay to drink gay water?

no. you just have to be 21. allies welcome, obviously.

how does that compare to high noon, nütrl and white claw? see the side-by-side.

where do i get it?

order online, or see where to buy gay water in bars and liquor stores. questions? the faqs have you.