As the holidays quickly roll in, so do the collection of seasonal food and beverages. Cherry soda brand Cheerwine is adding to the holiday festivities with the return of Cheerwine Holiday Punch, but for the first time it will be available in 12-packs of 12-ounce cans, alongside 2-liter bottles.

Inspired by the recipe for blending Cheerwine, ginger ale and pineapple, Cheerwine Holiday Punch in 2-liter bottles was first introduced in 2014. The release has delivered year-over-year growth, but with the introduction of 12-pack cans  offers new opportunities.

Joy Harper, vice president of marketing and fifth-generation founding family member of Cheerwine, explains that although the 2-liter format remains popular with consumers, demand has emerged over the years for more convenient formats. 

“Over the past few years, as the 2-liter Cheerwine Holiday Punch has grown in popularity, we’ve consistently heard requests for a single-serve option, both from consumers and retailers,” Harper says. “The 2-liter is perfect for holiday gatherings, but fans also want something they can enjoy on the go. That mirrors a broader industry shift toward smaller packages, which retailers are increasingly prioritizing. With that in mind, we’re excited to expand this format to retailers this year.”

Harper explains that aluminum cans allow the beverage brand to fit more moments.

“A single-serve, easy-to-carry format lets people enjoy them at tailgates, holiday parades, backyard cookouts, firepit hangouts and anywhere they’re on the go,” she says. “They also chill fast, so they’re cold and ready. And because Cheerwine Holiday Punch is already a staple in cocktail and mocktail recipes, the single-can trend on social media makes it even easier for fans to showcase creative holiday recipes using Punch.”

Harper notes that reaction to the new format has been quite positive.

“Retail partners love seasonal flavors that spark discovery and bigger baskets,” she says. “Adding cans should be another strong holiday traffic driver, right in line with shopper trends and great for seasonal sales.”

Cheerwine Holiday Punch is available for a limited time in 2-liter bottles and 12-pack cans at major retailers across North Carolina, South Carolina and in Savannah, Ga. Cans also are available outside of the Carolinas at Food Lion (Virginia) and all Food City locations (Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia). To support the new packaging format as well as the distribution expansion, Cheerwine is rolling out activations across a range of marketing and media channels this season. 

“We are supporting Cheerwine Holiday Punch with paid media, social media and event activation,” Harper says. “Additionally, we launched a fun, festive consumer-focused campaign partnering with popular Carolinas mixologists to create Cheerwine Holiday Punch recipes. They’re featuring those as seasonal specials throughout the holidays at their establishments.”

Over the years, Cheerwine has teamed up with popular mixologists to mark Holiday Punch’s yearly return, debuting creative cocktail and mocktail recipes. This year, the beverage company partnered with 20 mixologists across the Carolinas to welcome the seasonal favorite back, further expanding its reach through a creative consumer-focused campaign, it says.