Waterbird Spirits started in Charlottesville in 2019 from a simple idea shared among friends: there had to be a better option than the typical ones found at the convenience store.
After college, founder Wilson Craig spent a few years in New York, but he kept hearing the same thing from his friends back home. They wanted an alternative to light beer and hard seltzer that didn’t skip on flavor or convenience.
Wilson moved back to Charlottesville determined to build exactly that. He testified before lawmakers in Richmond to help change Virginia law, which finally allowed real canned cocktails to hit the shelves of local grocery and convenience stores.
Waterbird launched soon after, crafted with real juice and premium distilled spirits—vodka and tequila. From the start, the goal was simple: an honest mixed drink in a can, made the right way, without shortcuts or limitations.
What began in Charlottesville quickly grew a loyal following, and today Waterbird is enjoyed nationwide. But the spirit behind it remains the same: great drinks made for good company.
